Questions + Answers

From Mark H.

Have you considered a tour with just you and Hayes? Your duets and solo work during the pandemic were awesome. Would pay a lot to see both of you!

Mark H
Pennsylvania

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Dear Mark,

Thank you for this perfectly-timed question.

I simply adore singing with my husband. And we have, in fact, already toured together — the last time was March 2020, right before the world changed.

Our first connection was musical. And that’s not uncommon among all kinds of people, not just our kind. I was introduced to Hayes in the early 2000s — we think it was 2003 — by a mutual friend. He asked me shortly after to sing some background parts on his second album, Little Rock. We remained friendly and Hayes even once announced from the stage at Merlefest, when we played back to back, that he wanted to “thank his secret crush for opening for him.” That was a bit surprisingly bold, and I even took it as a joke (he later told me he hadn’t meant it as one), but no one batted an eye, even the guy I’d married just 7 months earlier. Truth be told, he probably didn’t notice, but that’s another story.

Hayes and I began singing together quite often once we became romantically involved. For one thing, it’s convenient — I’m there and I’ve hardly ever met a harmony part I couldn’t wrangle, so it just makes sense. But it goes beyond me just being an available girl singer to ooh and aah. One of our first and deepest connections was about art and the making of art — what it meant to us, how we wanted to do it, how it was a lifelong pursuit. So we’re connected deeply on an artistic level – we trust each other to be honest listeners and trusted collaborators when we are called to be those things.

We’ve always loved performing together, and Hayes has asked me to join his holiday tour this year. The dates are:

Dec 1&2: Houston, TX The Heights Theatre

Dec 8&9: Dallas, TX The Kessler Theatre

Dec 15: New Braunfels, TX Gruene Hall

Dec 16: Austin, TX The Paramount Theatre

I don’t know what I’ll be doing exactly, but I know that I’ll be singing. Come see us. I know it’s gonna be a good time. Melissa Carper and Emily Gimble are joining too, and special guests will pop up on probably every show.

get tickets here:

https://hayescarll.com

Your question made me think about those very early days, and I wanted to put this link here, in case anyone wants to go back to 2014 🖤

Ahhh. It’s like a cool breeze and a forest fire all at the same time.

I hope y’all will come see us in December if you’re in Texas or feel like a trip there. I’m looking forward to it. I love performing when it feels like fun and not like I’m taking an emotional cheese grater to myself. Christmas music only takes me there occasionally.

Have a fantastic weekend.

Peace. Love.

Allison

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