Steve Earle - Iowa City

In the strictest sense, Steve Earle isn't a country artist, he is a roots rocker. Earle emerged in the mid-80s, after Bruce Springsteen had popularized populist rock & roll and Dwight Yoakam had kick-started the neo-traditionalist movement in country music. At first, Earle appeared to be more toward the rock side than country. He played stripped-down neo-rockabilly that occasionally verged on outlaw country. His unwillingness to conform to the rules of Nashville or to rock & roll meant that he never broke into the mainstream. Instead, he cultivated a dedicated cult following, drawing from both country and rock audiences. He remains an vital element in contemporary American music.