With the kick-off to summer this Memorial Day weekend, the Austin Area Commission for the Arts is preparing for our first ever Summer Under the Stars season.

Our first event begins this at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 2, with Charlie Parr and the Bosso Poetry Company. It is being presented in partnership with KSMQ, and features Austin natives Charlie Parr, Michael Hall, and J Keyser. Although they use different mediums to express themselves, each of these artists’ work is heavily influenced by their experience growing up in Austin.

A self-taught guitarist and banjo player, Charlie’s music has been described as heartfelt, original folk blues. According to Charlie’s website, “The combination of industrial meat factory where both of his parents worked proud union jobs, set in a largely rural environment, had a broad impact on Parr.”

To get a sense of what he means visit charlieparr.com for a taste of Charlie’s music.

Michael Hall and J Keyser are members of Bosso Poetry, a collection of artists, poets, and musicians who have performed together for nearly 20 years. Michael also uses Austin as the setting for most of his writing.

According to Michael, “Through all of my artistic journeys I’ve still held on to the narrative of my youth, growing up in a slaughterhouse town. I realized the importance of my place in history after the Hormel strike and have never stopped drawing from this experience. Showing that even the simple, mundane events carry meaning beyond the relentless smokestacks of my Midwestern home.”

Some of Michael’s work along with the rest of Bosso Poetry can be sampled at bossopoetryenterprises.com. Tickets for this event are on sale now and can be purchased by calling 434-0934 or visiting paramounttheatre.org.