While three years have passed since the News last spoke to virtuoso guitarist Carl Verheyen, he’s a regular at Boulevard Music. He’s back again for another show, this time with fellow virtuoso John Jorgenson, so he told the News about what the pair has in store for Culver City…
It’s been three years since we chatted — how have things been since then, music-wise?
I’ve been very busy touring with my band. Last year we did five weeks in Europe, went back to Switzerland and played a festival for 8,000 people, and did a west coast tour. This year we just finished an east coast run that included some midwest dates and have upcoming tours in the west followed by another month in Europe. I never stop!
How has your 2025 been so far? Do you have any new music out?
The latest release was my album Riverboat Sky that came out in 2023. But I do have new music and the plan is to record a live album later this year. We were planning on recording the Midwest / East Coast tour but the logistics were complicated. But now I wish we had because the music was on a very high level the entire tour.
How was the show at Boulevard last time?
My most recent performance at Boulevard was last year when I played with Pat Colgan, a singer-songwriter whose album I produced. I brought some amazing musicians together to back him for his record release concert and it was a very successful night!
What can we expect from the set this time? You’re playing with John Jorgenson, correct?
John and I have known each other for many years and played together at a handful of festivals including the Ullapool Guitar Festival in Scotland and the Guitar Town Festival in Copper Mountain, Colorado. We have a lot of the same musical influences and our playing styles seem to mesh seamlessly. I’m really looking forward to seeing what we’ll come up with!
What else do you have coming up in 2025?
Besides my ongoing tours with the CVB I’ll continue to write, practice and produce other artists in the studio here in LA. Next week I head down to New Zealand for their International Jazz and Blues Festival for two performances and two master classes. Then there are 40 more CVB shows to play the rest of this year.
Carl Verheyen performs with John Jorgenson at 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 14 at Boulevard Music. Go to boulevardmusic.com for more information about the show.
Elsewhere this week
The Culver Hotel will be hosting the likes of Sylvia & the Rhythm Boys, and Scotty Bramer. Go to culverhotel.com for more info.
There’s a full program of music at the Cinema Bar this week, as usual. The Hot Club of Los Angeles plays every Monday, and Wednesdays are singer/songwriter and open mic night. Go to thecinemabar.com for more info.