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Nathan Blake Lynn, one of Paducah's favorite Americana musicians, returns to WKCTC's Clemens Fine Arts Center November 23

Paducah, KY (11/19/2019) — Nathan Blake Lynn returns to West Kentucky Community and Technical College's Clemens Fine Arts Center for another rousing Backstage Pass concert November 23 at 7:30 p.m. Lynn is a western Kentucky native, whose stomping ground is firmly planted in Paducah, and his songs highlight his love for American roots music.

A songwriter and folklorist, who along with being a founding member of the local, popular bands Bawn In The Mash and the Wheelhouse Rousters, Lynn has recorded five solo albums. He is also a supporting musician in the Solid Rock'it Boosters and legendary dobro player Jack Martin's band, Good Company. Lynn is also honorable Kentucky Colonel and standing board member of the Kentucky Oral History Commission.

Growing up near Paducah, Lynn has been influenced by the hills and bottoms that collide in the rich cultural area known for its river confluences. His family has played a role in his sound through gospel and country music, including the introduction to western Kentucky thumbpicking.

After graduating from Murray State University in 2003, Lynn was employed at the Homeplace 1850 Living History Farm in Land Between the Lakes. There he studied American history and worked in many traditional trades, including delving deeper into historic southern music. During this time, he and a number of friends formed the Americana band Bawn in the Mash.

Over the years Lynn has shared bills with many artist including Tim O'Brien, Darrell Scott, Pokey Lafarge and the South City Three, Tony Rice, Peter Rowan, Leftover Salmon, Cowboy Jack Clement, J.D. Wilkes, Eddie Pennington, and many others. In 2011, Nathan received an honorable mention in the Telluride Troubadour Competition. The same year, his song "Last Night in Grandma's Bed," was featured as the intro music for the acclaimed show, Bluegrass Underground.

He has spent many years working as a transporter, traveling in a white Freightliner across the country and also had the fortune of performing upon numerous excursion boats on the Ohio, Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, including the Delta Queen. He currently works as the head of the Local and Family History Department at the McCracken County Public Library.

Lynn has also appeared on numerous KET programs as well as in Paducah Life, Tribal, Story Magazine and many other publications. In 2014 he began presenting and advocating for the preservation of western Kentucky roustabout music and the work of musicologist Mary Wheeler. In early 2018 Lynn's music took him to San Cristobal de las Casas with other artists from Paducah to Icheon, South Korea, Ensenada, Baja California, and Popayan, Colombia to participate in Sabores y Saberes, a UNESCO Cultural City festival.

Backstage Pass tickets to Nathan Blake Lynn's November 23 concert can be purchased at artsinfocus.org. Advance tickets are $8 or $10 at the door. Student tickets are $5.

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