It will be an evening of literature and music as James Von Lenz and Geoffrey Himes celebrate the publication of new books at An die Musik Live. Von Lenz will read selections from his “Haikus from the Bandstand,” featuring a forward by Geoffrey Himes, while Himes will read selections from his own book of poetry “Fables from Italy and Beyond” (co-written with Grace Cavalieri) plus the recently published “In-Law Country: How Emmylou Harris, Rosanne Cash and Their Circle Fashioned a New Kind of Country Music.” Each writer will follow a reading by playing a related song, and both will be signing their books after the show.

JAMES VON LENZ: Whether performing as a solo artist or as a principal singer-songwriter in Doc Pine & The Respect He Deserves, The Thorn Apples, and Voodoo Pharmacology, James von Lenz combines old, creepy Appalachian music, off kilter honky-tonk, murder ballads, yodeling, and down-and-out blues stomps. He claims his songs “have been filtered through ten feet of sugar maple charcoal, which imparts a distinct smoothness to the music.” www.jamesvonlenz.com

GEOFFREY HIMES: Though he is best known as a music critic for the Washington Post, American Songwriter, Nashville Scene, Jazz Times, No Depression, Paste and many more, Himes is also a longtime singer-songwriter who has co-written songs with Si Kahn, Fred Koller, Walter Egan, Sonia Rutstein, Billy Kemp, Stephen Wade, Jim Patton, Tony Denikos, Alan MacEwan, Ed Pettersen, James von Lenz, Andrew Grimm, Bob Kannenberg and others. His songs have been recorded by Kemp, the Kinsey Report, Denikos, Koller, Mojo Filter, Patton and others. For this show, he will be performing the premiere of his song, “Thought Love Was Enough. http://www.facebook.com/RootsCafeBaltimore

Limited in-person seats: $15/ $10 students
In-person attendees receive a link to the recording to view for one week.

Streaming passes: $12
The link will remain active through April 20