Dwight Yoakam & Jason Isbell - Cincinnati Event

Co-headlining for the first time ever, country icon Dwight Yoakam and soul sensation Jason Isbell will put on a can't-miss show this summer, featuring support from special guest Amanda Shires.

Few entertainers have attained the iconic status of Dwight Yoakam. Perhaps that is because so few have consistently and repeatedly met the high standard of excellence delivered by the Kentucky native no matter what his endeavor. His name immediately conjures up compelling, provocative images: A pale cowboy hat with the brim pulled low; poured-on blue jeans; intricate, catchy melodies paired with poignant, brilliant lyrics that mesmerize with their indelible imprint. 

Much has been written about the Kentucky-born, Ohio-raised Yoakam being too country for Nashville when he first sought out his musical fortune in the mid-80s, but the truth is his music has always been too unique, too ruggedly individualistic to fit neatly into any one box. Like the icons he so admires - Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Buck Owens - Yoakam is one of a kind. He has taken his influences and filtered them into his own potent blend of country and rock that honors his musical predecessors and yet creates something beautifully new.

Alabama native Jason Isbell is both a product of his Northern Alabama roots and an example of how musical influences can help an artist evolve and mature. Born in Greenhill, Alabama, Isbell is undeniably inspired by the soul-tinged rock, country, and blues produced in neighboring Muscle Shoals. His sound continues to evolve but is equal parts loud and thoughtful, Southern and worldly. As a lyricist, Isbell is willing to tell the difficult stories, whether raw, introspective, messy, or poetic. As an artist, he reveals his own vulnerabilities - his successes and failures - that listeners might find kinship, or perspective. The Wall Street Journal writes, "A composer of splendidly crafted songs, he performs with an intensity that connects the listener to the deep and genuine emotions that inspire his work."

His past albums include Sirens of the Ditch, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Here We Rest, and Live from Alabama. His most recent release, Southeastern, garnered significant critical acclaim. In 2014, Isbell earned three Americana Music Awards, including Artist of the Year, Song of the Year (for "Cover Me Up"), and Album of the Year, for Southeastern.