Robert Earl Keen

Robert Earl Keen's exploration of bluegrass in his 2015 album Happy Prisoner is not a gimmick; a Texas native whose songs more often reflect the twang of the Lone Star state, the singer-songwriter nevertheless grew up with bluegrass playing in the background. Now he revisits some of those old favorites with what NPR's Ken Tucker calls "a firm grasp on the way the best of this music is at once high-spirited and rigorously controlled." Keen will undoubtedly be showcasing some bluegrass "picks," along with the outlaw Texas country style upon which he made his name, at The Varsity tonight. Doors open at 7 pm; show starts at 8 pm. $30 in advance; $35 at the door. varsitytheatre.com.