Folk singer and multi instrumentalist. He has an MFA in Poetry from the University of Arkansas and a BA in Writing and Performance Studies from Knox College. With a vast array of performative, academic, and teaching experiences, he approaches folklore and theatre-arts with an interdisciplinary bent, especially in his "all-ages" programming. He calls square dances, plays fiddle, banjo, squeezebox, and guitar, presents and publishes folklore, and occasionally makes moving panoramas (or "crankies" as they are sometimes known). A full resume, writing sample, and additional performance videos are available upon request. With a style forged in the fire of Ozark oldtime music and his ever-growing collection of antique music, Carlisle’s musical stories hoot, stomp, and saunter through joys and troubles uniquely southern and timelessly true. Equally comfortable on banjo, accordion, fiddle, and guitar, Carlisle has earned accolades for his versatility with performances in the UK, Canada, and across the USA, appearing with acts like Dom Flemons, Los Texmaniacs, Cory Branan, and more. While his big frame and expressive voice draw comparison to old balladeers and bluesmen, Willi sings new songs for the oldest reasons: love, heartache, and joy. People who watch and listen will find that he laughs and sheds a tear onstage almost as often as his audiences do, fire- and-brimstone proof of larger-than-life songs and stories.
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Willi Carlisle
Willi Carlisle
Willi Carlisle
Willi Carlisle
Willi Carlisle
Willi Carlisle
Willi Carlisle
Willi Carlisle
Willi Carlisle
Willi Carlisle
Willi Carlisle
Willi Carlisle
Willi Carlisle
Willi Carlisle
Willi Carlisle
Willi Carlisle
Willi Carlisle
Willi Carlisle
Willi Carlisle
Willi Carlisle
November 20, 2025
The Basement East
Nashville, Tennessee, United States1. Sound and Fury
2. Work is Work
3. Tulsa's Last Magician
4. Vanlife
5. Wildflowers Growin'
6. Winged Victory
7. The Arrangements
8. Higher Lonesome
9. All of the Redheaded Stranger
10. Critterland
11. Old Bill Pickett(Mark Ross cover)
12. Cheap Cocaine
13. The Cottonwood Tree
14. Beeswing(Richard Thompson cover)
15. Cryin' these Cocksucking Tears(Lavender Country cover)
16. Jaybird
17. Your Heart's a Big Tent
November 2, 2025
Pappy & Harriet's Palace
Pioneertown, California, United States1. Sound and Fury
2. Work is Work
3. Tulsa's Last Magician
4. Vanlife
5. Wildflowers Growin'
6. Winged Victory
7. The Great Depression
8. Higher Lonesome
9. We Have Fed You All for 1000 Years
10. All of the Redheaded Stranger
11. Critterland
12. Old Bill Pickett(Mark Ross cover)
13. Cheap Cocaine
14. The Cottonwood Tree
15. The Arrangements
16. Big Butt Billy
17. Cryin' these Cocksucking Tears(Lavender Country cover)
18. Beeswing(Richard Thompson cover)
19. Your Heart's a Big Tent
November 1, 2025
Troubadour
West Hollywood, California, United States1. Do Re Mi
2. Sound and Fury
3. Work is Work
4. Tulsa's Last Magician
5. Vanlife
6. Wildflowers Growin'
7. Winged Victory
8. The Great Depression
9. Higher Lonesome
10. We Have Fed You All for 1000 Years
11. All of the Redheaded Stranger
12. Critterland
13. Old Bill Pickett(Mark Ross cover)
14. Cheap Cocaine
15. The Cottonwood Tree
16. The Arrangements
17. Big Butt Billy
18. Cryin' these Cocksucking Tears(Lavender Country cover)
19. Beeswing(Richard Thompson cover)
20. Your Heart's a Big Tent
21. Which Side Are You On?
October 16, 2025
Bluebird Theater
Denver, Colorado, United StatesSetlist incomplete and out of order
1. Sound and Fury
2. Tulsa's Last Magician
3. Vanlife
4. Critterland
5. Old Bill Pickett(Mark Ross cover)
6. Winged Victory
7. The Cottonwood Tree
8. We Fed You All For A Thousand Years
9. Cryin' these Cocksucking Tears(Lavender Country cover)
10. Cheap Cocaine
11. Higher Lonesome
12. Big Butt Billy
13. Beeswing(Richard Thompson cover)
14. Your Heart's a Big Tent
September 30, 2025
Fine Line Music Cafe
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United StatesSeptember 27, 2025
The Ark
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States1. Sound and Fury
2. Work is Work
3. Tulsa's Last Magician
4. Vanlife
5. Wildflowers Growin'
6. Winged Victory
7. A Certain Kind of Fool
8. Critterland
9. We Have Fed You All for 1000 Years
10. Old Bill Pickett(Mark Ross cover)
11. The Cottonwood Tree
12. Higher Lonesome
13. Cheap Cocaine
14. Cryin' these Cocksucking Tears(Lavender Country cover)
15. Big Butt Billy
16. Beeswing(Richard Thompson cover)
17. Your Heart's a Big Tent
September 26, 2025
Mahall's 20 Lanes
Lakewood, Ohio, United States1. Work is Work
2. Tulsa's Last Magician
3. Vanlife
4. Wildflowers Growin'
5. Winged Victory
6. A Certain Kind of Fool
7. We Have Fed You All for 1000 Years
8. All of the Redheaded Stranger
9. Critterland
10. Old Bill Pickett(Mark Ross cover)
11. Cheap Cocaine
12. The Cottonwood Tree
13. Cryin' these Cocksucking Tears(Lavender Country cover)
14. Higher Lonesome
15. The Arrangements
16. Big Butt Billy
17. Beeswing(Richard Thompson cover)
18. Your Heart's a Big Tent
September 24, 2025
Horseshoe Tavern
Toronto, Ontario, CanadaSeptember 18, 2025
Higher Ground Showcase Lounge
South Burlington, Vermont, United StatesSeptember 17, 2025
The Sinclair
Cambridge, Massachusetts, United StatesSetlist incomplete
1. Sound and Fury
2. Work is Work
3. Tulsa's Last Magician
4. Wildflowers Growin'
5. Winged Victory
6. A Certain Kind of Fool
7. Vanlife
8. We Have Fed You All for 1000 Years
9. I Want No Children
10. The Down and Back
11. Cheap Cocaine
12. Old Bill Pickett(Mark Ross cover)
September 15, 2025
Mercury Lounge
New York, New York, United StatesSetlist incomplete and out of order
1. Work is Work
2. Tulsa's Last Magician
3. Cheap Cocaine
4. Vanlife
5. Beeswing(Richard Thompson cover)
6. Winged Victory
7. Cryin' these Cocksucking Tears(Lavender Country cover)
8. Higher Lonesome
9. Wildflowers Growin'
10. I Want No Children
11. The Cottonwood Tree
12. Big Butt Billy
13. We Fed You All For A Thousand Years
14. Old Bill Pickett(Mark Ross cover)
15. Critterland
16. Your Heart's a Big Tent
September 13, 2025
The Foundry at The Fillmore
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesSeptember 12, 2025
Union Stage
Washington, Washington, D.C., United States1. Tulsa's Last Magician
2. Cheap Cocaine
3. Vanlife
4. Your Heart's a Big Tent
5. Beeswing(Richard Thompson cover)
6. We Fed You All For A Thousand Years
7. Higher Lonesome
8. Big Butt Billy
9. Old Bill Pickett(Mark Ross cover)
10. Winged Victory
11. Cryin' these Cocksucking Tears(Lavender Country cover)
12. Work is Work
September 11, 2025
Love and Exile Winery
Nashville, Tennessee, United StatesSeptember 4, 2025
Vanguard
Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States1. Work is Work
2. Tulsa's Last Magician
3. Winged Victory
4. We Fed You All For A Thousand Years
5. Wildflowers Growin'
6. Vanlife
7. All of the Redheaded Stranger
8. Old Bill Pickett(Mark Ross cover)
9. Cryin' these Cocksucking Tears(Lavender Country cover)
10. Higher Lonesome
11. The Cottonwood Tree
12. Big Butt Billy
13. Beeswing(Richard Thompson cover)
14. Critterland
15. Your Heart's a Big Tent
16. I Won't Be Afraid
EncoreAugust 23, 2025
Riverside Park
La Crosse, Wisconsin, United StatesJuly 27, 2025
Salmon Arm Fairgrounds
Salmon Arm, British Columbia, CanadaJuly 6, 2025
Tudhope Park
Orillia, Ontario, CanadaLast song only
1. Your Heart's a Big Tent
June 28, 2025
The Pines Music Park
Eau Claire, Wisconsin, United StatesJune 14, 2025
Club Nine
Utrecht, Utrecht, NetherlandsWilli Carlisle has 5 upcoming concerts. They will be performing in cities including Bristol, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 2PQ, Glasgow, Oslo. Check the tour dates section for the complete schedule and ticket information.
You can purchase Willi Carlisle concert tickets through our partner Ticketmaster. View all upcoming tour dates on this page and click on any event to see available tickets and seating options.
Willi Carlisle has released 6+ albums. Some of their notable releases include Winged Victory, Critterland, When She's Too Drunk To Cry / Luzita. Explore their complete discography on this page.
Some of Willi Carlisle's most popular tracks include Cheap Cocaine, Critterland, Higher Lonesome, Dry County Dust, The Arrangements. Listen to these songs and discover more from their extensive catalog.
Folk singer and multi instrumentalist. He has an MFA in Poetry from the University of Arkansas and a BA in Writing and Performance Studies from Knox College. With a vast array of performative, acad... Read the full biography on this page.
You can find Willi Carlisle vinyl records and merchandise on eBay. We feature a curated selection of vinyl releases and collectibles available for purchase.
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