Preston’s picks: Asleep at the Wheel at Kessler Theater; Gordon Lightfoot at Winspear Opera House

Asleep at the Wheel at Kessler Theater

Ray Benson and his Western swing collective are no strangers to the DFW area, making multiple appearances over the course of their yearly travels (indeed, they’re already booked return engagements in Dallas for April and July). Given their relative ubiquity, it’s easy to take the ace musicians and their music for granted. Thanks to Still the King, a stunning new album celebrating the art of Bob Wills, and which features a slew of A-list talent — everyone from Willie Nelson and Brad Paisley to Kat Edmonson and Pokey LaFarge turns up over the course of 22 tunes — it’s possible to appreciate anew Asleep at the Wheel’s peerless skill and dedication to preserving a style of country music as fresh today as it was in Wills’ heyday.

7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Friday. Kessler Theater, Dallas. $20-$32.50.

Gordon Lightfoot at Winspear Opera House

The Canadian singer-songwriter has titled his latest tour “50 Years on the Carefree Highway,” which is an admittedly formidable and impressive moniker. Lightfoot, who has sustained that lengthy career on the strength of ‘70s FM chestnuts like If You Could Read My Mind and Sundown, will pull from all corners of his catalog during his Dallas show, making it a treat for casual and die-hard fans alike.

8 p.m. Wednesday. Winspear Opera House, Dallas. $25-$75.

This story was originally published February 16, 2015 at 2:17 PM with the headline "Preston’s picks: Asleep at the Wheel at Kessler Theater; Gordon Lightfoot at Winspear Opera House."