Ever since the Australian-born Hughes took first place at a music festival at eight, it's been his life. He cultivated a love of country through his teens, eventually heading for South Plains College to study bluegrass. There he met Terry McBride (McBride and the Ride), who began writing with Hughes when he moved to Nashville in '02. Hughes got a job as sideman to Patty Loveless and eventually scored a deal with MCA Nashville (home to fellow Aussie Keith Urban) for 2004's Transcontinental, which produced a pair of minor hits. There’s been plenty of treading water since that first splash, including the loss of his major label benefactor. Hughes recently finished a self-titled EP, which stretches beyond the twangy, whiskey-drinking "High Lonesome" tone of his debut for smokier rock-driven moments. He's joined by Carnival Recordings labelmate Mando Saenz, whose second album Bucket blends warm folk-pop and parched, Tex-Mex-tinged Americana.
Sun., March 1, 7 p.m., 2009
