Smooth and beguiling country artist Hal Ketchum, crooner of the hit song “Small Town Saturday Night,” makes another return appearance at Music City Texas Theater on Saturday, May 31.

Nashville, Tenn.-based Ketchum’s latest album is “One More Midnight,” which will be released in the U.S. later this year. And the Grand Ole Opry member will be playing some June dates at that venerable institution.

First, though, he’ll grace the stage in Linden, Texas.

Richard Bowden, Music City Texas Theater president, has high praise for Ketchum’s approach to singing and songwriting.

“He’s one of our favorites for sure,” said Bowden. About Ketchum’s music, he said, “It kind of steps outside the borders of both traditional country and new country. He’s very smooth and professional. And of course I love his hits that he’s had, like ‘Small Town Saturday Night,’ which is perfect for Linden ... he keeps pumping out great music. His songwriting skills are superb. And he’s such a nice guy that even if he wasn’t any good we’d have to have him here.”

Originally hailing from New York, Ketchum moved to Austin and started hanging out at the famed Gruene Hall in nearby Greune, Texas. Eventually, Curb Records noticed Ketchum and his career took off.

Accompanying Ketchum for—appropriately enough—a Saturday night show is Megan Wellborn, an aspiring country singer from Hallsville, Texas, who’s also played MCT before.

The opener, who’s studying acting at Tyler Junior College, has performed at the Gladewater Opry. She’ll perform both new and older material for the show, and she’ll be backed up by both Steve Auburn and Richard Bowden with Moon & the Starz.

Bowden said only a few Golden Circle seats in the first three rows remain. In addition to the up-close seating, the ticket includes a chance to meet Ketchum and get a free Ketchum CD.



(The performance starts at 8 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets to patrons are $50 and $30. All other tickets are $50 and $35. Seating is reserved. For more information and tickets: www.musiccitytexas.org or 903-756-9934.)