Giveaway: Merle Haggard @ the Paramount

Merle Haggard
Wednesday, June 18
Paramount Theater (713 Congress Avenue)
Doors at 7 PM, $81
[info] | [tickets]

Next week, Merle Haggard, undoubtedly one of country music's great legends will take the stage at the Paramount Theater downtown. Haggard's backstory is the kind that inspires, well, good country songs. Raised in a no-frills Great Depression-era household in Bakersfield, he found himself in and out of trouble as a young man, eventually landing in prison. At San Quinton. It was there that he watched Johnny Cash perform (three times), and decided to focus on his songwriting pipe dream. He earned his diploma and performed with the prison band for years before his release in 1960, which he has described as being "One of the loneliest feelings I've ever had." Luckily for him, his incredible voice and visionary approach to country music -- which incorporated electric telecasters and revolutionized the country rebel image, earned him 38 #1 hits, several Grammys and Country Music Awards, Hall of Fame honors and an official pardon for past crimes from Ronald Reagan.

The good news for longtime fans as well as a younger crowd learning to appreciate the gritty classics is that Haggard is not supporting any sort of new effort (well, unless he decides to play something from 2007's Bluegrass Sessions). He's simply performing old classics like "Let's Chase Each Other Around The Room," "Kentucky Gambler" and "Hungry Eyes." Such a performance is undoubtedly one in a million, as it's not clear how many more years our favorite old roughneck will be able to tour. Promoters and big wigs agree: tickets are starting at $81. Because of this (and these gas prices, we tell you what ... ) slap in the face to our Lone Star addicted pocketbooks, Austinist is happy to offer one lucky winner a pair of complimentary tickets to the event. Just fill out the form and cross your fingers.