Sunken Lands Songwriting Circle Concert to be held at Fowler Center
The stage of Riceland Hall at Fowler Center on the campus of Arkansas State University will once again be shared by a series of talented artists for the Sunken Lands Songwriting Circle.
The event, presented by the Historic Dyess Colony: Johnny Cash Boyhood Home, will be held on Saturday, Aug. 24. Featured performers include Rosanne Cash, who will host the event, joined by Brandy Clark and John Hiatt, accompanied by John Leventhal.
Tickets go on sale for the general public on May 1.
“The Sunken Lands Songwriting Circle expands Johnny Cash’s musical legacy by recognizing world-class songwriters and performers. Each year, the Songwriting Circle invites three artists to share the stage for an evening of music and storytelling,“said Dr. Adam Long, executive director of the A-State Heritage Sites.
Proceeds benefit ongoing preservation and operation of the Boyhood Home.
“My father’s music began in the sunken lands in the Arkansas Delta, and the gumbo soil stayed with him for his entire life. I am excited to return to Arkansas for the second Sunken Lands Songwriting Circle with John Leventhal, who released his first solo album this year,” said Rosanne Cash.
Rosanne Cash is one of America’s great singersongwriters, woman of letters, and historic preservationist. She has released 15 albums and taken home four Grammy awards with 11 additional nominations. She has written four books and numerous essays published in national publications.
A performer who has toured the world, Cash has partnered in programming or served as an artist in residence at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, San Francisco Jazz, the Minnesota Orchestra and The Library of Congress.
A long-time supporter of Arkansas State University’s Heritage Sites, Cash is one of the family founders of the Johnny Cash Heritage Festival and a founder of the Historic Dyess Colony and Johnny Cash Boyhood Home. For her contributions to higher education and the public good, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from A-State in May 2022.
“Joining us will be legendary songwriter and longtime friend John Hiatt and Brandy Clark, who I have long admired and who won her first Grammy just this year. The evening promises to be full of great songs with good friends and we look forward to seeing our friends in the Sunken Lands once again,” added Cash.
Clark is a Grammy and Country Music Award-winning musician. She won a Grammy for Best Americana Performance for her song “Dear Security,” which featured 11-time Grammy-winner Brandi Carlile. Her self-titled debut album was listed on many best of 2023 lists.
In addition to her work as a solo artist, Clark has written songs for other performers including Carlile, Alicia Keys, and Kacey Musgraves. She composed the music and lyrics for the musical comedy, "Shucked,” which received nine Tony nominations overall last year.
Singer-songwriter John Hiatt released his debut album “Hangin’ Around the Observatory” in 1974. Since then, a new collection of his music has been released every couple of years. In total, Hiatt has released 26 critically acclaimed solo albums as well as an album with the group Little Village with Ry Cooder, Nick Lowe and Jim Keltner.
His most recent studio album, “Leftover Feelings,” is a collaboration with dobro master Jerry Douglas and was recorded at RCA Studio B in Nashville. More than 400 of his songs have been recorded by artists ranging from Bonnie Raitt to B.B. King.
The Historic Dyess Colony: Johnny Cash Boyhood Home preserves the 1935 home of the Cash family in Dyess and celebrates Johnny Cash’s life and music. Restoration of the New Deal-era home was made possible through a series of music festival benefits first held at A-State before moving to the grounds of the Boyhood Home.