The Country Music Hall of Fame’s upcoming exhibit, Outlaws & Armadillos: Country’s Roaring ’70s, will explore the era of cultural and artistic exchange between Nashville, Tenn., and Austin, Texas, that spawned artists like Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, Jessi Colter, Bobby Bare, Jerry Jeff Walker, David Allan Coe, Cowboy Jack Clement, Tom T. Hall, Billy Joe Shaver, Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt and Tompall Glaser.
The exhibition, which opens May 25 for a nearly three-year run, will focus on the relationship between the two cities and the musical revolution created by the aforementioned artists. The music of that era influenced many of today’s Americana and country artists, including Dierks Bentley, Jack Ingram, Jason Isbell, Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, Margo Price, Sturgill Simpson and Chris Stapleton. The Outlaws exhibit will feature film content, including exclusive interviews and concert footage, by Austin-based filmmaker and exhibit co-curator, Eric Geadelmann, as well as visual art from Austin’s underground.
Outlaws & Armadillos will be accompanied by educational programs, including live performances, panel discussions and films. The Museum will produce a companion book that will be available on May 25. In addition, the Museum in partnership with Legacy Recordings, will release CD and LP sets featuring music by artists included in the exhibition.