CTAC! Live to host Fire & Rain in Duncan

Apr. 4—The sounds of the 70s will fill the stage as the Chisholm Trail Arts Council (CTAC) opens its final concert of the season Friday night.

CTAC Live! will host Fire & Rain April 5 in Duncan at the Simmons Center.

Executive Director Darcy Reeves said they would love to have a great attendance for their last show of the season with AJ Swearingen and Jayne Kelli.

She said the CTAC Live! Concert Series brought successful shows to the city.

"What better way than to enjoy some music from the 70s," she said.

With excitement and eagerness to perform in Duncan, the duo can't wait to check out museums and meet the community.

Kelli said she would love to make a stop at the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center.

"My mom almost named me Calamity Jane, instead of Kelli Jayne," she said. "I might try to rope a longhorn."

While never making the stop in Duncan prior to this visit, Swearingen said he's always excited to see a new city and meet the people.

During each of their shows, Kelli and Swearingen love to connect with their audience.

Kelli said she loves hearing the audience sing along to the songs. She said she loves to engage with the community after the show and hear their stories about their first encounter with Kelli and Swearingen's music.

During this show, Swearingen said they will perform songs from well-known singers and songwriters of the 70s.

"The music is so nostalgic for so many people," he said. "We love this music and really love playing it for people who want to hear it."

With music in her heart at a young age, Kelli said she recalls performing in front of her stuffed animal audience at five years old.

"My dad and mom sang 60s and 70s tunes around the campfire when I was growing up, introducing me to all the good stuff," she said. "Once I took my dad's Martin into my bedroom in the 8th grade, it was all over...I was preoccupied with singing and writing songs ever since."

It was at 18 when Kelli took her first official steps to pursue music as a career.

Although college was still at the top of her list, Kelli said she took a brief pause with music to earn her Bachelor of Arts in psychology, but after graduating from college she jumped right back into her music.

Swearingen said he became infatuated with the guitar at 12 years old after attending a concert.

"I had some guitar lessons to learn the basics, but quickly started playing everything by ear," he said. "I knew very early on that if there was any way to make a living with music I was going to figure out a way."

A full-time musician since 18, Swearingen said he feels blessed to get to make a living playing music.

Swearingen said a lot of his his inspiration for music comes from several 60s and 70s artists.

"So much of that music was unfiltered, it was honest and perfectly imperfect," he said. "It's hard for me to find new music that isn't completely homogenized and auto-tuned."

Kelli said they recently released a new album, "Build Myself Up From the Ground," this past year.

Arvest Bank will sponsor the Fire & Rain concert.

The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Simmons Center Theatre. Ticket prices cost $25 for adults, $20 for seniors or military and $10 for students 18 and under.

For more information on CTAC, call 580-252-4160. To purchase tickets, visit http://chisholmtrailarts.com/.

The Simmons Center Theatre is located at 800 Chisholm Trail Parkway in Duncan.

For more information about the artists, visit https://www.swearingenandkelli.com/.