Darden Smith

In September, UT-Austin named Darden Smith as its inaugural Songwriter in Residence, providing the musician with a nine-month stipend to lead workshops and concerts at the university. Now, Smith – a UT alum and musician of 35 years, who’s toured with the likes of Stevie Nicks and Joan Baez – debuts Western Skies, a project inspired by pandemic road trips across West Texas. Combining songs, stories, and photographs all accumulated during his travels, Smith and a fourpiece band premiere a real-deal work of musical theatre, complete with direction, lighting, and sound design from Texas Performing Arts. – Carys Anderson