ALAMOSA — Society Hall is excited to welcome famed Texas songwriter George Ensle on Saturday April 27, at 7:30 p.m. Valley favorite Fred Hargrove will open the show, accompanied by Alamosa multi-instrumentalist and producer Don Richmond.

Doors at 400 Ross Ave., Alamosa, open at 6:30 p.m. with the show beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and are available online at www.societyhall.org and in Alamosa at The Green Spot, 711 State Ave. The concert will also stream live on both the Society Hall Facebook page and You-Tube channel.

During the 60’s Houston Folk Music scene Ensle was sharing stories, songs, and stages with Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark and Billy Joe Shaver. And after more than five decades he still maintains the essence of that folk tradition, the story song.

Society Hall board member Richmond remarks, “We're excited to welcome George to Alamosa and get a taste of that great Texas songwriting lineage that goes pretty much straight back to folks like Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt – a chance that doesn't come along very often!”

Ensle has released 15 albums in the US and Europe and was inducted into the Houston Folk Music Archives, the Corpus Christi Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the South Austin Pop Culture Museum. He’s been awarded government grants to serve as Artist in the Schools in economically disadvantaged school districts and published two books of his students’ work. His song, “Build A Bridge” was adopted by the Build a Bridge Foundation for Healing through the Arts, and included on the “Music to Life” CD.

Five songs he wrote with children at the Hill Country Youth Ranch for abused and abandoned children were included on their “Brand New Start" CD. He created PortraitSongs, a custom songwriting service, and partnered with Swan Songs to write songs honoring the life stories of those on hospice.

His songs have been featured in movies, and his own Movie-In-Song, “Small Town Sundown,” includes poetry and songs he’s performed as a one-man song-play. His songwriting has won numerous competitions, including the American Songwriter Festival, the Kerrville Folk Festival, and the Texas Heritage Songwriters Association Songwriter U. He has been an official showcase artist at Southwest Regional Folk Alliance conference and served as producer on album projects for other songwriters. He was nominated as Songwriter of the Year by the Texas Music Academy.

A member of the Texas Arts Commission Touring Roster, Ensle conducts songwriting workshops and performs for schools, libraries, and the special needs community, while maintaining a robust touring schedule filled with festivals, clubs, coffeehouses, churches, and cause concerts. He also serves as an ambassador for Soldier Songs and Voices, teaching songwriting to veterans and active-duty personnel.

His performances are filled with wit, wisdom, grit, and always hope, accompanying his edgy vocals with intricate fingerstyle guitar, resonator, and keyboard.

The board of Society Hall invites all to come join them and tap into the deep and rich Texas songwriting tradition with Ensle, with special guest Hargrove, on Saturday, April 27.