The Musical Box

The Herald-Leader published its mighty Falls Arts Calendar today. So let’s use the occasion to roundup nine seasonal shows that will make autumn anyone’s favorite time of year.

More concerts will undoubtedly be announced as autumn progresses. But here is the pick of the fall performance harvest so far.

bettye lavette

+ Sept. 26: Bettye LaVette at the Singletary Center for the Arts:  A true soul music diva that, at age 63, can turn songs by such disparate artists as Dolly Parton, The Who and Lucinda Williams into R&B oratories as elegant as they are urgent.

mary-chapin carpenter

+ Oct. 2: Mary-Chapin Carpenter at Equus Run Vineyards: Like the performances by LaVette and The Decemberists, the first local outing by folk and Americana songstress Carpenter in ages is part of the Alltech Fortnight Festival.

mark o'connor

+ Oct. 5: Mark O’Connor at the Kentucky Theatre: A leading composer and violinist known for classical works soaked in Americana inspiration, O’Connor now brings his Appalachian Waltz Trio to the WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour.

the decemberists

+ Oct. 6: The Decemberists at the Singletary Center for the Arts- Their songs can take place in the belly of a whale or the presence of a forest witch. Their music shifts from British folk to prog rock. Expect anything at the Lexington debut of The Decemberists.

os mutantes

+ Oct. 9-11: Boomslang - Billed as a “celebration of music and art,” Boomslang will take over a half dozen venues around town with performances by The Black Angels, Faust and Os Mutantes as well as “a circus themed fashion show.”

kings of leon

+ Oct. 10: Kings of Leon at Rupp Arena - Who could have predicted that Only By the Night, the fourth album by Kings of Leon would still be a Top 10 hit a year after its release? Guess that’s why it took to so long to get the Followill clan to perform in Lexington.

leo kottke

+ Oct. 29: Leo Kottke at the Kentucky Theatre - A guitarist of playful and unspoiled majesty and a storyteller full of deliciously warped spontaneity. How lucky we are to get Leo back in town every few years.

robert earl keen

+ Nov. 5: Robert Earl Keen/Todd Snider/Bruce Robison at the Opera House: Texas troubadour Keen, fresh off the release of The Rose Hotel, his first album of new songs in over four years, returns to the Opera House with misfit folkie Snider and country songsmith Robison.

jean-luc ponty

+ Nov. 14: Jean-Luc Ponty at the Singletary Center for the Arts - Another Lexington debut, which is remarkable given how this jazz violinist versed in everything from fusion to world music has been performing in the U.S. for over 40 years.