Sturgill Simpson and Chris Stapleton | still from video
Watch #XPNFest headliner Sturgill Simpson perform with Chris Stapleton on SNL
Call it a meeting of metamodern country greats. Last night on Saturday Night Live, Nashville’s Chris Stapleton was the musical guest, in support of last year’s two-volume From A Room project. As a surprise for fans, Stapleton’s lead guitarist was his Kentucky neighbor Sturgill Simpson, who co-headlines this year’s Saturday night concert at the XPoNential Music Festival alongside The War on Drugs.
During “Midnight Train to Memphis,” Simpson appeared in a low-key, cameo style — no formal introduction was made, he just played licks and bopped around until the camera panned over on him taking the spotlight for a verse. For the second performance, “Hard Livin’,” his presence was no longer a secret, as host Will Ferrell introduced it as “Chris Stapleton and Sturgill Simpson.”
Simpson plays XPNFest on Saturday, July 28th and tickets are available now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWk0NKu7Eso
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFVfPZeEVOY