From the moment he made his debut in the 1970s, Joe Ely has blended rock-and-roll sensibilities to hardcore honkytonk and become one of the most recognizable and respected artists to hail from the Lone Star state. Growing up on the vast and empty plains of West Texas, his legend was forged onstage with relentlessly riveting live performances, hammered out over thousands of shows and countless touring miles from Lubbock to London and back again the long way around. He is embraced as a kindred spirit by artists as diverse as Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty and The Clash. Over his career, he’s been at the forefront of Outlaw Country, Alt-Country, Texas Country and Americana, and has been recognized as one of the best songwriters of his generation. Ely is a member of the prestigious Texas Institute of Letters (with active members Cormac McCarthy and Larry McMurtry) as the first musician ever honored by the group. The invitation was the result of Ely’s second book, Reverb: An Odyssey. Also, Ely was recognized by the Texas Legislature as the Official 2016 Texas State Musician, a coveted honor given to only a few - past recipients include Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Dale Watson & Billy Joe Shaver. Additionally the Texas Songwriters Hall of Fame recently announced Ely has been inducted alongside such legends as Roy Orbison and J.D. Souther. There’s no mistaking a Joe Ely album,” wrote noted Dallas Morning News critic Mario Tarradell. “His stinging, road-hued voice commands lyrics about life, love and the wandering spirit. When you listen to any Joe Ely music, you’re enjoying the essence of Joe Ely. That’s the essence of Texas Music.” Ely has appeared on ACL eleven times: as a headliner in 1980, 1985, 1991, 1996 and 2000, with the Flatlanders in 2002, with Los Super 7 in 1999, with the touring aggregation of himself, Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt and Guy Clark in 2008, and as a guest of Kevin Welch in 1992, of Ryan Bingham in 2009 and with Steve Earle and the Dukes in 2019 as part of their Guy Clark tribute.