Antsy McClain & the Trailer Park Troubadours

The Center for Southern Folklore presents a rare Sunday afternoon show October 4 featuring Antsy McClain ‑ songwriter, artist, author and all around humorist. Antsy will do a very special concert and discussion of how his visual art and songwriting influence one another in his creative process. Showtime is from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Folklore Store, 123 S. Main Street @ The Peabody Place Trolley Stop in the heart of downtown Memphis. Admission is $10.

Antsy McClain grew up about as Southern as it gets – the son of an Avon-selling mom and a truck driving dad living in the Pine View trailer park in Kentucky. McClain had what he calls “a memorable and idyllic childhood,” filled with colorful characters and extraordinary events which he draws on frequently for inspiration. Antsy (nicknamed for his high energy antics by a junior high football coach) grew up listening to his mother’s record collection which meandered all over the musical highway ‑ from Aretha Franklin and Steely Dan to Bill Monroe and Buck Owens and 1970s singer/songwriters such as Jim Croce.

For many years, Antsy has been a prolific songwriter and producer, penning the lyrics and music to seven Trailer Park Troubadour albums, as well as his own critically-acclaimed solo record, Time-Sweetened Lies. The guest list of “Lies” reads like a who’s who of friends and influences ‑ Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac, Bobby Cochran of Steppenwolf, Tommy Smothers, Bonnie Bramlett, and a host of other gifted musicians including Australian guitar legend and Grammy Nominee Tommy Emmanuel.

Antsy and his band will be appearing in Memphis for several special events including a recording session at famed Sun Studios. During his appearance at the Center for Southern Folklore, he will also be displaying examples of his prolific artwork. Antsy is quite proud of his Southern upbringing and it shows in his songs, his art and his stories which celebrate the warmth and humor and “realness” he initially found growing up in a Kentucky trailer park and continuing throughout his life.

Antsy will also be a guest of Marybeth Conley and Alex Coleman on WREG-TV’s “Live @ 9” on Monday, October 5. For more info on Antsy McClain, go to www.unhitched.com.