J. Scott Thompson to play DeSoto Theatre Sept. 23

Local singer/songwriter J. Scott Thompson will perform an intimate evening of original songs and stories at the DeSoto Theatre on Sept. 23. Hope Cassity will open the show. Thompson, who has played local and area venues for years, including First Friday concerts, said when the Historic DeSoto Theatre Foundation approached him about playing a fundraiser, he was eager to help.

“I love the theater and will love it even more now that they’ve improved the acoustics,” Thompson said.

The concert will inaugurate the much anticipated acoustic treatment panels at the DeSoto and will showcase how the improved sound quality will benefit the venue and its performances.

The show will begin at 8 p.m. with Hope Cassity taking the stage after which Thompson, with a full band, with play a few original songs.

“I’ll also do a few songs where it’s just me and the guitar,” he said. “Then Hope will come out and we’ll do a duet together. After that, the band will come back out and we’ll finish out the show.”

Thompson doesn’t like to label his music, saying his songs range from “straight up country” to “straight up blues” and everything in Photo by Cristina Arrigoni between. His influences include classic country crooners as well as Ray Charles, Sam Cooke and other blues legends.

“I was joking with a friend that I wanna do an album called ‘All Over the Map,’” he said. “My stuff’s all over the place. I guess you’d call it Americana. There’s such a variety of influences and sounds.”

Thompson said he’s excited to play at a venue like the DeSoto. He enjoys playing gigs at local bars and venues but is thrilled at the opportunity to play his original music for an audience that appreciates it.

“It’s just the greatest feeling to have people sitting listening to you play the music you wrote,” he said. “You get feed back from the audience and they might up and talk to you about it after or buy a CD. That’s very moving to me to know that they’re touched by my music. Its really the best feeling in the world.”

J. Scott Thompson in concert at the DeSoto Theatre takes place Friday, Sept. 23 starting at 8 p.m. Hope Cassity will open. General admission tickets are $17. VIP tickets are $55 and include reserved-area seating and a meet-and-greet patron party at the Seven Hills Building (538 Broad Street) starting at 6:30 p.m.

“This is going to be a very fun, relaxed show,” Thompson added. “When I’m up there and I see people sittin’ back and enjoying the music, I’m having the time of my life.”