WARREN — A country and western band based in Warren, Co. Townes, is opening a show for one of their musical heroes, Dwight Yoakam, at Struthers Library Theatre on Saturday.

“When I think of country music, I think of Dwight Yoakam,” said Jody Aiello of Co. Townes (Company Townes). “The whole thing is surreal.”

Co. Townes will share the stage with Yoakam and his band at the Capitol Theatre in Wheeling, West Virginia Wednesday night, The Maryland Theatre in Hagerstown tonight and the Canton Palace Theatre in Canton, Ohio Friday night before returning home to Warren to perform on Saturday.

Co. Townes bassist and art teacher Sara Aiello said, “Dwight’s agent called us on Friday and asked us to join his tour. My students had to fan me when I found out.”

Co. Townes presents a new take on an old sound.

“We’ve added a psychedelic twist to country music,” said guitarist Eric Morelli, “which gives a dreamlike quality to the western myths we’re writing about.”

The band is working on their third album with plans for a fall release.

Yoakam has sold more than 25 million albums worldwide, is a 21-time nominated, multiple Grammy Award winner and was the fastest sellout in Struthers Library Theatre history, selling over 600 tickets during presale alone.

“Since I’ve been in Warren and affiliated with the theater, I have seen a plethora of local talents enter its doors,” said Struthers executive director Karen Austin. “As director of the theater, I wanted to showcase that local talent. Now we have a beloved local band, Co. Townes, opening for Dwight Yoakam and negotiations for folk duo Six Pence and Molly Dies Dance Express involvement in a coming 2023 celebrity series event.”

Austin said the inclusion of Co. Townes in Yoakam’s tour “further validates our confidence in our local artistic community.”

The Saturday Yoakam concert is sold out, but visit www.strutherslibrarytheatre.org for other events, including the Irish Tenors with Full Symphony Orchestra on March 12.