Keith Sykes, Grace Askew, and Mark Edgar Stuart Tonight at Proud Larrys’

Keith Sykes. He’s not strange, he’s just like you.

Memphis songwriters present stellar musical opportunity tonight.

Three craftsmanlike songwriters from Memphis will strap on guitars and tell tales at Proud Larrys’ tonight. Keith Sykes is a songwriting legend. He may be best known as the writer of a few classic songs recorded by Jimmy Buffett, including “Volcano” and “Coast of Marseilles,” but his own career as an artist parallels peers including John Prine, Guy Clark, Steve Goodman, and Jerry Jeff Walker. Some may know of Sykes as a crucial mentor for a young Todd Snider in the latter’s Memphis days.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cLCy0osbo8

And, of course, here is Sykes’s theme song:

A sixth-generation Memphian, Grace Askew has a voice beyond her relatively young years. She has called the Delta her home for her entire life, drawing much of her inspiration and style from the rural, muddy roots of her hometown. Her talent has propelled her into opportunities to open and tour with some of her musical heroes, such as Marty Stuart, Hayes Carll, Ray Wylie Hubbard, James McMurtry, Band of Heathens, and Jesse Winchester. Most recently, she has gained nationwide notoriety as a contestant on the network television talent program The Voice.

In 2011, Mark Edgar Stuart had a bad year. A few months after being diagnosed with cancer, his father passed.From that heartache came a new, unexpected outlet: the decorated sideman (band-mate of Alvin Youngblood Hart, John Paul Keith, Jack Oblivian, and more) began writing his own songs. The bassist became a singer-songwriter, and Mark Edgar Stuart began to tell his own story.

The show starts at 7:30. Tickets are $15. — Tad Wilkes, Nightlife & Entertainment Editor, tad.wilkes@hottytoddy.com