2016 30A Songwriters Festival: Hayes Carll

Texas singer and songwriter Hayes Carll received his first guitar at the age of 15 and almost immediately began writing songs, influenced by the likes of Bob Dylan, John Prine, Kris Kristofferson, Dead Poets Society, and the work of the Beat writers. After graduating with a history degree from Hendrix College in Conway, AR in 1998, Carll returned to his Texas roots and began playing in local bars and recording his songs. Carll’s second album, ‘Little Rock,’ on his own Highway 87 Records, reached the top spot on the Americana charts in 2005. His 2011 album, ‘KMAG YOYO’ (the title comes from the military and is an abbreviation for “Kiss My Ass Guys, You’re On Your Own”), won the Americana Music Association’s Album of the Year award and was placed on several year best of lists by various media outlets.

Hayes Carll (and guest vocalist Allison Moorer) sat down with Folk Alley at the 30A Songwriters Festival — beginning with a performance of his 2015 Grammy-nominated “Chances Are,” which also earned a nomination for singer Lee Ann Womack. Hayes’ new songs from ‘Lovers and Leavers’ take listeners along on his journey from the joys of fatherhood to break-up of his marriage and the start of something new.