LIVERMORE, CA – (June 5, 2017) – Following Livermore’s Annual Rodeo in June, the Bankhead Theater will keep the western theme going with a special Father’s Day event featuring country legend Jerry Jeff Walker and his son Django Walker. Perhaps best known for his hit song “Mr. Bojangles,” Jerry Jeff Walker’s folk-rock spin on country music has inspired subsequent generations, including Django, whose own style has been called “classic rock with undertones of good old Southern Comfort” by The Vail Daily. The two generations will unite their talents in “Father and Son: Up Close and Personal” on Sunday afternoon, June 18, 2017.

All seats for the Father’s Day event are just $40 with $16 tickets for students and active military personnel.

With a style of folk-rock country music shot through with a touch of the “outlaw,” Jerry Jeff Walker has been introduced as a man who has broken more new ground in the field of having fun than anyone else. A powerful songwriter who covers all of life’s ups and downs, from rowdy odes to drinking to mournful ballads for a misspent life, his concerts have been described as “like hanging out at your favorite Irish pub.”

Walker left his hometown in upstate New York for the Florida Keys where he and another young musician named Jimmy Buffett discovered a lifelong love for the tropical atmosphere. He sang on street corners in New Orleans, filled small cafes in Greenwich Village, and crossed Canada on a motorcycle with his guitar on his back, before settling into Texas and the new country sound taking root in the 1970s. With a blend of a little less bluegrass and a lot more rock, his music landed Walker in the realm of other singer/songwriters such as Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard and Hank Williams. Their larger than life, rough and ready “outlaw” personalities brought a new sense and style to country music. In the decades since, Walker has released more than 30 albums and built a large and loyal audience. His signature tune, “Mr. Bojangles,” has been covered by nearly four dozen artists from all musical genres.

Django Walker, named after the famous guitarist Django Reinhardt, started following in his father’s footsteps from an early age. By age 16, he was already performing his first song “The Road You Choose” on stage at his father’s shows and his debut album “Down the Road” was released when he was just 21. His song “Texas Longhorn” was adopted by the college football team of University of Texas, and his song “Texas on my Mind” was recorded by Pat Green and reached number one on the Texas Music Chart.

“Father and Son: Up Close and Personal” is a rare opportunity to see two generations of country music-making talent on stage together and the 3:00 p.m. curtain leaves time for a Father’s Day dinner following the show. Tickets are on sale now through the Bankhead Theater ticket office at 2400 First Street in downtown Livermore, by phone (925) 373-6800, or online at www.lvpac.org

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The Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center offers wide-ranging programs that provide access to the arts for the Tri-Valley community and beyond. The Bankhead Theater, which houses the Livermore Visitor’s Center and Gallery, together with the Bothwell Arts Center, are home to nine resident performing arts companies and over 40 studio artists and cultural arts instructors.