Hot Club of Cowtown

The Hot Club of Cowtown is an Austin-based acoustic trio that blends Bob Wills-style western swing with the Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli-inspired hot jazz of 1930s Paris. Founded in 1997 by fiddler/vocalist Elana James and guitarist/vocalist Whit Smith, the group solidified its lineup with upright bassist Jake Erwin and has toured worldwide for over twenty-five years. The band has released more than a dozen albums, including the Bob Wills tribute What Makes Bob Holler, the gypsy-jazz collection Rendezvous in Rhythm, and 2025's Limelight, and has been inducted into the Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame. Known for three-part harmony, virtuosic string playing, and a live show built for dancing, they have shared stages with Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, and Roxy Music.