STAFF REPORT
ALAMOSA — Bill Hearne – well known icon who’s admired by the likes of Guy Clark and Robert Earl Keen and certainly much beloved by folks in the San Luis Valley – is set to once again grace the stage at Society Hall where, along with his trio, he’ll be appearing on Friday night, December 5, at 7:00 p.m..
Appearing with Hearne will be well known Santa Fe bassist Susan Holmes and pedal steel and guitar ace John Grabof, also from Santa Fe. Alamosa multi-instrumentalist and producer Don Richmond will also be sitting in.
Hearne will be featuring selections from his many CDs on Alamosa label Howlin’ Dog Records. as well as tunes from his earlier CDs. His latest CD is “Always Trust Your Cape”, which features songs from Bill’s musical influences and his many friends from across the music world, such as Guy Clark and Robert Earl Keen. In response to Hearne’s cover of Keen’s song “I Gotta Go”, Keen says, “Bravo my friend and thanks for doing my song. I like it better your way. It’s awesome. Looking forward to the entire record – these are great choices.”
Hearne is no stranger to the San Luis Valley, having performed in the area many times over the years, from way back at the Sunshine Festival in the 1970s as well as numerous shows in area clubs and concert stages.
He began performing in Austin, Texas in the late 1960s, where he met his wife Bonnie. They began performing as Bill and Bonnie Hearne, achieving national recognition as well as a near legendary reputation among fellow musicians such as Nancy Griffith, Lyle Lovett, and Jerry Jeff Walker, all of whom have appeared on Bill’s recordings. Bonnie retired from active performing in 2003 due to health issues, and passed away in 2017, but Bill has continued to perform solo, with his trio, and in other band configurations.
Hearne is widely known for his amazing flat-picking acoustic guitar style, using a cross-picking technique that combines accompaniment chords, rhythm, and lead runs simultaneously, all with one single pick, as well as his husky baritone and his gift of song interpretation.
Richmond also credits Hearne as being a profound influence on his own music, saying, “Back in the 70’s I used to watch Bill and Bonnie play in Red River, New Mexico, at their house gig at the Alpine, whenever I was in the area, and I never left there feeling anything but good. I really feel like they taught me what live music was supposed to do, and how it was supposed to make you feel.”
The Society Hall board, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a place for community celebrations of all kinds, invites everyone to join them on Friday, December 5 at 7:00 p.m. for a wonderful night of country-folk-Americana music with Bill Hearne and his trio. Society Hall is located at the corner of 4th Street and Ross Avenue in Alamosa. Doors open at 6:00. The concert will also stream live on the Society Hall Facebook page and You-Tube channel.