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Livermore Valley Arts has tapped four-time Grammy Award winner Lyle Lovett to usher in its 20th season, with the country musician anointed as “the thinking man’s cowboy” an apt pick to headline the newly rebranded gala to celebrate and support the arts in a city known for its ranching heritage.
An American singer, songwriter and actor known for “his soulful vocal talents and his unique blend of country, swing, folk and jazz”, Lovett was the ideal performer and storyteller to showcase in the debut “Opening Night at the Bankhead” fundraiser this summer, according to LVA officials.
“Lyle Lovett has been on my short list for years to bring here,” CEO Chris Carter told Livermore Vine. “His musical style and songwriting are a perfect fit for the intimate acoustics of the Bankhead. It will be a very special evening.”
A Texas native whose musical career began to hit the airwaves in the 1980s, Lovett has released 14 albums and earned Grammys for Best Male Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Album. His resume also features more than 40 years acting in film and television, including “The Player” and “Short Cuts” by the late Robert Altman.
“With his Americana catalog of impressive hits coupled with his distinctive storytelling and consistent artistic quality, Lyle Lovett has mesmerized audiences around the globe with his powerful voice and passionate stage presence,” LVA officials said.
That long touring record included stops in the Tri-Valley in the past, most recently at the Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center in San Ramon in 2024.
“An Evening with Lyle Lovett” is set for 6 p.m. Aug. 29 in the Bankhead Theater in downtown Livermore.
The event represents more than just a concert; it’s the ceremonial start of the 2026-27 season of programming for the Bankhead and its sister Bothwell Arts Center, as well as the biggest annual fundraiser for LVA – albeit with a new look for this milestone season.
“After 10 years of Brilliance at the Bankhead, we felt like the timing was good to raise the bar once again and introduce some new elements to the evening,” Carter said. “The concert will start earlier than in the past, and will feature a celebration on the Bankhead Plaza after the show with live music, food, drinks and dancing as a way to kick off our landmark 20th season in style.”
Rebranded as “Opening Night at the Bankhead”, the 2026 event will feature hors d’oeuvres and sparkling wine before Lovett’s concert inside the theater and then tapas-style bites, desserts, no-host bar and a live band under the summer sky after the show. There will also be a live auction, raffle and Fund-a-Need initiative to support LVA programs.
General admission tickets are $295 and VIP tickets are $750, on sale starting this Wednesday at livermorearts.org.
“As a nonprofit, cultural arts organization, we are heavily dependent on contributions to fulfill our mission of serving the community through the arts in the best way possible,” Carter said. “Funds raised from this event cover nearly one-third of our overall fundraising goals for the year, with much of it going towards our critical arts education programming.”
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