Season 5 Begins at Zoe Coffee with Amy LaVere, Will Sexton & Jon Byrd
The summer pause is over. Season 5 of the Hush Puppy Music Coop Concert Series officially begins on Tuesday, September 22!
We're kicking things off in a brand-new venue: Zoe Coffee Co. at 319 Howard Street in downtown Greenwood. This cozy café blends exposed brick, warm lighting, and seasonal drinks with the kind of friendly energy you only find in small towns. It's the perfect setting for an intimate evening of songwriting and storytelling with three exceptional artists.
And here's the best part: this show is all ages and free for Hush Puppy members!
Meet the Artists
Amy Lavere
Amy LaVere
Amy LaVere is a force of nature. A Memphis-based singer, songwriter, and upright bass player, her music is classified as Americana — a blend of folk, rockabilly, and indie-folk with a darkly romantic edge. NPR's Robert Siegel says she "specializes in lyrics that are more barbed than her sweet soprano prepares you for." Her voice is instantly recognizable, and her songwriting is pointed and clever with lyrics that are hard to shake.
Born near the border of Texas and Louisiana to parents who were part-time musicians, LaVere lived in 13 different places before finishing high school — a nomadic childhood that seems tailor-made for a woman who is "seemingly one part upright bassist and another part gypsy." She moved to Memphis in 1999 and began hitting the local music scene hard, performing regularly on Beale Street.
Music fans first discovered her sweet soprano on This World is Not My Home in 2006, but it was her Jim Dickinson-produced breakout album Anchors & Anvils two years later that put Amy LaVere on the map. Her 2011 release Stranger Me was called "the break-up album of the year" by Spin and earned a first-listen feature from NPR's All Things Considered. She followed it with Runaway's Diary (2014), a concept album based on her own experience as a teenage runaway, produced by Luther Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars.
Her live performances have been called hypnotic, mesmerizing, and legendary. She's performed everywhere from St. Andrew's Hall in London to Bonnaroo and the Beale Street Music Festival. She's been voted "Best of Memphis" on three separate occasions.
Will Sexton and Amy Lavere
Will Sexton
Amy LaVere performs alongside her husband and longtime collaborator, Will Sexton. The two have been music collaborators and touring companions for 11 years. Over the past three decades, Will Sexton has grown into a skilled musical polymath: an esteemed writer, producer, session player, and solo artist with a string of acclaimed LPs to his credit.
Sexton's seasoned guitar playing and velvet vocals are a superb fit to LaVere's distinctive talent. His guitar work has been heard on hundreds of records, including the latest EP released by legendary soul artist Al Green. His solo album Don't Walk the Darkness combines his Austin roots with a soulful Memphis style.
Together, Amy and Will are among the finest musical craftsmen and performers in the Americana genre. Their spellbinding show is incomparable — something you must see for yourself.
John Byrd
Jon Byrd
Ag Pilot and Greenwood Native
Greenwood's own Jon Byrd takes the Hush Puppy stage to start us off on a good foot!
Born and raised on a Mississippi Delta farm, Jon Byrd learned guitar at 14 and has been crafting genuine, roots-driven songs ever since. His unique, crisp vocals blend traditional country with a shot of rock 'n' roll, reflecting a life spent on the farm, on dirt roads, and in the great outdoors.
He can play guitar, drums, bass, banjo, harmonica, and dobro — making him a versatile player on both stage and in the studio. Growing up, Jon played music in church and with friends, and he married his college sweetheart — they can often be seen singing together, reminiscing as the duo Jon and Angela.
Jon writes songs that relate to everyone, and when you hear them, you know they're true. He'll perform an opening set mixing originals and a few old favorites to start us off on a good foot!
Plan Your Evening
Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Time: Doors 6:30 pm · Music 7:00 pm
Venue: Zoe Coffee, 319 Howard St., Greenwood, MS
Ages: All ages welcome
Admission: Members free · $10 suggested donation for non-members
BYOB: Bring your own beer/wine
Food/Drinks: Available for purchase from Zoe Coffee
Please support our new venue partner! Drinks and snacks will be available for sale—and we're thrilled to have Zoe Coffee as a host. We hope this is the start of a long partnership!
Members: Sign Up NOW!
This show is included in Season 5 Membership. If you haven't already signed up or renewed, we encourage you to do so now—we're hoping not to drag out fundraising this season, and your early support makes a huge difference.
Not a member yet? No problem! You can still join us for $10 at the door.
John Primer
SAVE THE DATE!
And mark your calendars now — Thursday, October 8th, Chicago Blues legend John Primer visits the Hush Puppy Music Co-op. More details coming soon!
A two-time Grammy-nominated artist and Blues Hall of Fame inductee, John Primer is one of the last traditional blues players with a direct link to the original world of Chicago blues. He was the bandleader and guitarist for Muddy Waters, playing with the Chicago blues king until his 1983 death. He also played with Willie Dixon and Magic Slim. He has recorded more than 100 albums, with 17 in his own name.
Don't miss this living legend when he comes to Greenwood!
See you at Zoe Coffee for a great night of music!
— The Hush Puppy Music Coop Team
