Paul Thorn

Among those who value originality, inspiration, eccentricity and character – as well as talent that hovers somewhere on the outskirts of genius, the story of Paul Thorn may be familiar. Raised in Tupelo, Mississippi, among the same spirits (and some of the actual people) who nurtured the young Elvis generations before, Paul Thorn has rambled down back roads and jumped out of airplanes, worked for years in a furniture factory, battled four-time world champion boxer Roberto Duran on national television, signed with and been dropped by a major label, performed on stages with Bonnie Raitt, Mark Knopfler, Sting, and John Prine among many others, and made some of the most emotionally restless yet fully accessible music of our time. He’s also appeared on major television shows such as Late Night with Conan O’Brien and Jimmy Kimmel Live, received numerous National Public Radio features and charted multiple times on the Billboard Top 100 and Americana Radio Charts.

His mission for his latest record, “Too Blessed To Be Stressed,” which can be heard as a running conversation about life between Paul and listeners – is to ignite a conversation leavened with gentle insights, small inspirations and plenty of cheer.“I wrote these songs hoping they might put people in a positive mindset and encourage them to count their own blessings, like I count mine,” Thorn observes. “There’s no higher goal I could set for myself than to help other people find some happiness and gratitude in their lives.”

Paul Thorn has created an innovative and impressive career, pleasing crowds with his muscular brand of roots music – bluesy, rocking and thoroughly Southern American, yet also speaking universal truths.

Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.

Events featuring Paul Thorn

Mar 15, 2017
10:00pm — 10:40pm
Presented by
New Frontier Touring