An all-star group of artists will take the stage at Los Angeles’ Troubadour on Nov. 11 to pay tribute to the “Grievous Angel,” late country rock icon Gram Parsons. The event, “A Song for Gram Parsons: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Celebration,” will take place three days before Parsons — who died in Sept. 1973 at age 26 of an accidental overdose — is inducted into the Rock Hall in the early influence category.
Emmylou Harris, one of Parsons’ key musical collaborators during his short lifetime, will top the bill, along with Elvis Costello, who covered a pair of Parsons songs on his 1981 country covers album Almost Blue and contributed to the 1999 tribute album Return of the Grievous Angel: A Tribute to Gram Parsons.
The jam-packed lineup will also feature sets from the Black Crowes, Margo Price, Grace Potter, Jesse Welles, the Head and the Heart, Madison Cunningham, Jim Lauderdale, Harper Simon and Grahame Lesh. The house band for the night will be L.A.’s Parsons-influenced country rock band Beachwood Sparks, who, according to the poster, will provide “cosmic accompaniment.” Tickets for the show will go on sale on Thursday (Oct. 22) at 10 a.m. PT here.
The event is being co-produced by Parson’s daughter, Polly Parsons, along with Vector Management and Rolling Stone editor-in-chief Shirley Halperin, along with the Parsons estate and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The show will benefit the L.A. sober living house for women Friendly House Foundation and Backline, which provides mental health and wellness resources for music industry professionals and their families.
During his brief, hugely influential career, Parsons (born Ingram Cecil Conner III) performed with the Bryds, the Flying Burrito Brothers and the International Submarine Band and released two beloved solo albums, honing a unique sound that drew from country, R&B and folk and is widely credited with laying the groundwork for the alt-country and country rock genres.
Parsons will be inducted into the Rock Hall at this year’s ceremony at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Nov. 14, alongside fellow inductees Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Oasis, Sade, Luther Vandross and Wu-Tang Clan. Among the other early influence artists joining Parsons on this year’s list are queen of salsa Celia Cruz, Afrobeat architect Fela Kuti and hip-hop icons Queen Latifah and MC Lyte. This year’s induction will air on ABC and Disney+ in December.
Check out the poster for the show below.
