Pokey Lafarge

Pokey LaFarge brings his traveling songbook to the Hollywood Theatre in Vancouver on December 12, 2026. Born Andrew Heissler in Illinois and shaped on the road before settling in St. Louis, LaFarge has built a catalogue that threads together early jazz swing, country blues, folk storytelling and a dose of western swing. From Riverboat Soul and Middle of Everywhere with The South City Three to his period on Third Man Records, he moved from a raw acoustic frame to a more electric, tightly arranged songwriting on Something in the Water and Manic Revelations. More recently, Rock Bottom Rhapsody, In the Blossom of Their Shade and Rhumba Country have leaned into rhythm and blues shades and Latin inflections, without losing his feel for narrative lyrics and nimble grooves.

On stage, he keeps the focus on rhythm, voice and interplay: close-mic croon, springy guitar lines, upright bass and a percussive shuffle that lifts the room. Expect a set that balances new cuts with long-haul staples, delivered with an ear for dynamics and space. Special guests join the bill to open the night and set the pace.