Uncle Kracker brings country-rap to Tower

Published 12:00 am Thursday, August 30, 2018

Uncle Kracker comes in many flavors. The Michigan singer-songwriter born Matthew Shafer, who will play the Tower Theatre on Saturday, got his start as a turntablist with Kid Rock’s band, but is probably best remembered for a pair of easygoing, early 2000s chart toppers, “Follow Me” and a cover of Dobie Gray’s “Drift Away” (featuring Gray on guest vocals).

His first two albums, “Double Wide” and “No Stranger to Shame,” mixed introspective songwriter tropes with flourishes of hip-hop and country, but by 2004’s “Seventy Two and Sunny,” he began a steady shift toward pure country (a guest spot on Kenny Chesney’s chart-topping hit “When the Sun Goes Down,” released the same year, helped out immensely). This year’s breezy, country-pop single “Floatin’” comes six years after his last album, “Midnight Special.”

Uncle Kracker, with DJ Vacay: 8 p.m. Saturday; $55 plus theater preservation fee; Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., Bend; towertheatre.org or 541-317-0700.

In other Tower Theatre news, The Travelin’ McCourys — featuring Ronnie McCoury and Rob McCoury, sons of bluegrass legend Del McCoury — will perform Nov. 26 with The Jacob Jolliff Band (the group, featuring Jolliff of Yonder Mountain String Band, canceled a performance at the venue in February). Tickets cost $27, $37 or $42 plus a theater preservation fee and go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at towertheatre.org, the Tower box office or 541-317-0700.

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