Mark Olson (ex Jayhawks)

Mark Olson plays The Lescar on Friday 30 October, as part of the Lescar Live Music series. If the name rings a bell but you can't quite place it, it's because he founded the Jayhawks in Minneapolis back in 1985. He was a principal songwriter, singer and guitarist on their self-titled debut and on later records like Blue Earth, Hollywood Town Hall, Tomorrow the Green Grass and Mockingbird Time.

For a good while, the Jayhawks were fronted by the songwriting and harmonies of Olson and guitarist Gary Louris. Together they blended country, folk and bar-band rock, and became one of the most acclaimed acts of the 1980s alternative country scene. Their sound drew on Gram Parsons, the Louvin Brothers, Tim Hardin and the Nashville Skyline-era Bob Dylan. After leaving the band, Olson formed the Original Harmony Ridge Creekdippers in 1997, later known as the Creekdippers, who went on to make seven albums.

Olson is a Minnesota native, raised in a family of mostly farmers and schoolteachers, and he's largely self-taught. He's known for his use of alternate tunings and for two-part unison singing that breaks into harmony. The Sheffield date is part of The Lescar Live Music series, and it's just him on the bill.

Doors open at 7:30pm, with the music starting at 8:00pm. Tickets are £16.00 plus a £1.60 booking fee, so £17.60 in total. The Lescar is at 303 Sharrow Vale Road, Sheffield, S11 8ZF.