Kevn Kinney
» When: 7 p.m. Thursday, June 21
» Admission: $20
Kevn Kinney flew under the radar in Atlanta with his newly formed band Drivin' N Cryin' in the mid-'80s until the release of "Fly Me Courageous." They made a name for themselves around the South with their blistering live shows; the song and album put the band on the national scene, thanks to mainstream rock radio.
It also helped make him a popular collaborator with other musicians. He recorded a folk album called "MacDougal Blues" with some of the guys in R.E.M. in 1990 and later did "The Flower & the Knife" with Warren Haynes and John Popper in 2000.
He has continued to record and tour with Drivin' N Cryin' and formed a new project called Sun Tangle Angel Revival in 2002 to promote Americana music.
His musical tastes run the gamut of rock, folk, alt-country and punk. The band's name Drivin' N Cryin' provides a clue as to their musical tastes, hinting at the driving sound of rock and tear-in-your-beer lyrics of country music.
Ray Wylie Hubbard
» When: 7 p.m. Friday, June 22
» Admission: $30
Somewhere on a Ray Wylie Hubbard album, the devil always gets his due, and the singer's 2017 album, "Tell the Devil I'm Getting There as Fast as I Can," is no exception.
And Hubbard has just as much fun playing with the voice of the devil's nemesis on the album's opening track, "God Looked Around," his telling of the story of creation.
In addition to his memoir, "A Life Well, Lived," he has more than a dozen albums to his credit. They have won numerous awards, including Best Independent Album of the Year and Texas Album of the Year from Kerrville Music Awards, No. 1 CD of the Year by Austin Music Pundit's Awards and Song of the Year for "Conversations With the Devil" by Austin AMP Award.
He has received the Living Legends Award from Kerrville Music Awards and been inducted into the Austin Music Awards Hall of Fame.
Scott Mulvahill
» When: 7 p.m. Saturday, June 23
» Admission: $15
You might have seen Scott Mulvahill on his last Songbirds visit when he opened for Sierra Hull. Now he's touring in support of his new EP, "Top of the Stairs."
Mulvahill picked up a bass guitar on a whim during his teen years, then discovered his love for singing, songwriting and the upright bass.
After college, he moved to Nashville, met Ricky Skaggs and toured with Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder five years, leaving the band last November.
Paul Thorn
» When: 7 p.m. Sunday, June 24
» Admission: $35
Paul Thorn had a seemingly simple, but grand goal with the making of his latest CD, "Don't Let the Devil Ride."
"This is the culmination of my whole life in music, coming back to my gospel roots," says Thorn.
"My message on this record is 'let's get together' - I want to help lighten your load and make you smile."
Thorn grew up in Mississippi, attending many of the same churches in Tupelo that Elvis Presley did. He would later hone his craft performing in clubs around the small town. He supplemented his income by boxing, once making it to the sixth round against eventual four-time world champion Roberto Duran.
The album is a collection of songs originally recorded by Southern black gospel groups and includes guest appearances by Blind Boys of Alabama, the McCrary Sisters, Preservation Hall Jazz Horns and Bonnie Bishop.
The songs on the new record have been described as "gospel lyrics set to stripper music," a description he says comes pretty close.
Parker Millsap
» When: 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 27
» Admission: $15
Hot off a killer performance on The What stage at Bonnaroo, Parker Millsap said he was "still recovering" from that show during a phone interview last week.
"It was wild and huge and way more people than I had fathomed," he describes of his Bonnaroo debut.
Millsap - who already has four albums to his credit at age 25 - stops at Songbirds on Wednesday, June 27, as part of his tour supporting new album "Other Arrangements."
The Oklahoman says the album features "a lot more electric guitar, and the songs are a little shorter. I just wanted to write simple, catchy songs. I feel like I've been trying to learn to make songs smaller, but more impactful."
Millsap is as excited to see the Songbirds Museum's collection as he is about the new music he'll be playing for his fans.
"I haven't been talking as much in shows," he says, "because when I go to a show I want to see as much music as I can. So that's what I'm trying to do - give them enough music before everybody is tired and ready to go to bed. It'll be a rock 'n' roll show, but we also throw in some ballads."
ALSO AT SONGBIRDS
35 Station St. (N), 41 Station St. (S)
» For more information: 423-531-2473
Rubiks Groove
» When: 9 p.m. Friday, June 22
» Admission: $12
If you love the '80s, this show is for you. Dressed as pop-culture characters of the '80s, Rubiks Groove creates the biggest dance party imaginable.
CBDB with Bird Dog Jubilee
» When: 9 p.m. Saturday, June 23
» Admission: $12
CBDB is a prog-rock jam band from Alabama that plays "joyfunk," what they call their Southern blend of progressive funk-rock 'n' roll.
Heartbeat Percussion Showcase
» When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Wednesday, June 27
» Admission: Free
Hear music by Heartbeat artists, meet owners of Heartbeat Percussion and check out their variety of cymbals on display. Admission includes tour of Songbirds Guitar Museum.
Compiled by staff writers Barry Courter and Susan Pierce. Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354. Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.