East Hampton Rides With The Outlaws

In the beginning of the 1970s, the power structure in Nashville was shaken by a new kind of music called “outlaw country,” made popular by singers like Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson.

On Saturday, April 6 at 1 p.m., Tennessee Walt (aka Gayden Wren) brings his “Riding with the Outlaws” concert to the East Hampton Library. The one-man show features songs by the aforementioned performers as well as classics by borderline-outlaw greats Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard, and underappreciated rarities from lesser-known outlaws like David Allan Coe, Tompall Glaser and Billy Joe Shaver.“People think of the outlaw movement as country’s version of the counterculture, and I get that,” said Mr. Wren. “They dressed like rock stars, sometimes, and they messed around with drugs. If you really look at the music, though, the outlaw movement was more of a conservative backlash against the Nashville Sound, a slick, pop-oriented style that wasn’t very country at all.

“The outlaws wanted to get back to the heart of classic country—singers and songs, stories about country life played on country instruments,” he added, “and that’s what they did.”While the East End isn’t particularly known as a hot bed for country music, Mr. Wren has found audiences at the East Hampton Library to be appreciative of his music. He premiered all three of his previous shows in the library’s Baldwin Family Room.

“People don’t think of the Hamptons as a country area,” Mr. Wren said, “but I’ve played shows in Florida, Michigan, Tennessee and Texas, not to mention all over Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester, and I’ve rarely found an audience more knowledgeable, curious and interested in learning new things.

“I come a long way for these shows—I live in Queens—but I’m happy to do it,” he added. “East Hampton is a show I look forward to each year, and it’s a great place to debut a new show.

“If people enjoy hearing the show as much as I enjoy playing it, we’ll all go home happy.”

Tennessee Walt’s Riding with the Outlaws will be presented on Saturday, April 6, at 1 p.m. at the East Hampton Library, 159 Main Street in East Hampton. Admission is free. For information, call (631) 324-0222 or visit easthamptonlibrary.org.