ALAMOSA — Society Hall, at 400 Ross Avenue in Alamosa, is thrilled to host the wonderful four times Grammy nominated duo Trout Fishing in America, Saturday, March 9 at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance, or $25 at the door, and are available online at www.societyhall.org, or in Alamosa at the Green Spot at 711 State Ave. Trout has a lot of fans in the area from their yearly shows up on the Rio Grand Scenic Railroad and also at the Big Barn Dance festival in Taos, but this will be their first appearance at Society Hall.

They are one of the most endearing and best-loved duos anywhere — well-known for their hilarious and touching children’s shows and albums, but equally engaging to adult audiences with their stellar musicianship and songwriting — and by the time those two aspects combine into their live show, it’s hard to imagine how it could be any better!

Trout Fishing in America is the long-standing (40 years this year!) and yet seemingly unlikely musical partnership of Keith Grimwood and Ezra Idlet. As individuals, they are about as different as one can imagine. Together, they blend seamlessly in a way that has captured the imagination (and hearts) of audiences of all ages for over four decades. Ezra on guitar and banjo stands 6’8” tall while Keith on bass stretches to 5’5 1/2” on a humid day. Ezra is more playful and extroverted while Keith is more serious and reserved. Each of them bring out the best in the other and the joy that comes from this musical interaction is contagious and impossible to deny.

The duo has earned four Grammy Nominations for their family CDs. The most recent family release is “Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers”. (Try saying that five times fast!) The CD features tongue twisters, mind-benders, spooky situations and instantly identifiable slices of a kid’s life. In April 2017, they changed gears and released a folk/rock CD called “The Strangest Times”. The project is a return to the roots of the band. There are 11 new, original tunes and one cover (BW Stevenson’s On My Own). The songs explore a wide range of feelings and musical styles that blend seamlessly into an inspired and cohesive work. Included in their catalog is a children’s book/CD “Chicken Joe Forgets Something Important” published through Secret Mountain. The spoken-word tale is followed by 11 original songs relating to the story. Real people and animals in Keith and Ezra’s lives inspired the characters in the songs.

Trout’s bassist Keith Grimwood began playing music professionally when he was still in his teens. In school, he made the Texas All-State Orchestra four years and later earned a degree in music from the University of Houston. At 22, he landed a position with the Houston Symphony Orchestra. Keith put himself through college playing pop music in local clubs and that led to his fortuitous meeting with Ezra. Ezra attended McClennan College in Waco, Texas on a basketball scholarship. He was a “One-and-Done” player, but not exactly because of his incredible basketball skills. Instead, he decided to leave college and pursue his true love, a lifetime of playing music. In 1976, Idlet and Grimwood met as members of the Houston based eclectic folk/rock band St. Elmo’s Fire. Ezra and Keith became the best of friends and musical partners. When St. Elmo’s dissolved in 1979, Trout Fishing in America (named for Keith’s love of Richard Brautigan’s writing and Ezra’s love of fishing) was officially born.

The board of Society Hall, a 501c-3 non-profit organization, invites you to another great musical evening with Trout Fishing in America, Saturday, March 9th.