Nick Lowe, a remarkable songwriter and performer who rose to fame as a member of Brinsley Schwarz and as a New Wave artist and producer, will appear at the Country Music Hall of Fame at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 20, in an interview setting. It’s a treat to see him in any format, but the Country Music Hall of Fame goes to some lengths to explain why he’s a welcome guest in a country music setting:
British pop legend Nick Lowe could claim legitimate country credentials on the strength of having written “The Beast in Me,” recorded by Johnny Cash for 1994’s American Recordings, and having married Carlene Carter, daughter of Country Music Hall of Fame member Carl Smith and June Carter. That would be enough. But there’s a whole lot more that points to Lowe’s affinity for hillbilly fare: Cash also recorded his “Without Love,” and Lowe’s own recording of “Man That I’ve Become” bows deeply to Cash (and Luther Perkins). Over the years, Lowe’s repertoire has included covers of country pearls from Faron Young, Ray Price, and Charlie Feathers, among others. On The Old Magic, due Sept. 13, Lowe picks off another gem with a cover of Tom T. Hall’s “Shame on the Rain.” Lowe has graciously agreed to visit the museum to talk about his work in a special Songwriters Session that will combine interview and performance.
Lowe’s work spans almost four decades and the quality remains high. His new album “The Old Magic” will be released Sept. 13 and Lowe will be back in Nashville to open for Wilco at the Ryman Auditorium on Oct. 1 and 2.