Casey James at Hey Nonny!

Name: Casey James at Hey Nonny!
Start: 2025-11-20T19:30:00-06:00
Location: HeyNonnyAH

Schedule

Thu, 20 Nov, 2025 at 07:30 pm

UTC-06:00

Location

HeyNonnyAH | Arlington Heights, IL

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2025
DOORS: 6:30PM
SHOW: 7:30PM
Casey James rose to national attention and became a household name overnight as a contestant on American Idol. Using his fierce instrumental skills, emotional tenor and musical talent, he landed high among the finalists, 3rd to be exact. After over a decade of playing shows as a local musician in the DFW area of Texas, James suddenly had opportunities he had only dreamed of. The success he experienced during the show brought him a recording contract with a major country label. He took the offer, although the tight creative limitations on commercial country overlapped only partially with the music at the center of his soul. James made the opportunity work. He landed hits with “Let’s Don’t Call It A Night” and “Crying on A Suitcase” – however, thethree-minute time frames and limits on instrumental playing did not allow him to showcase hisartistic vision. Five years and four radio singles later, James left his major label deal with hopes of being able to make music without limitations.
With his 2017 album Strip It Down, he made the blues project he’d always envisioned introducing his music to a whole new demographic, which was well received worldwide. Teaming up with Grammy Award Winner Tom Hambridge was a great start, and James was left with a record that garnered rave reviews from Blues/Rock/Americana media outlets and fans across the world – with the Rock Doctor raving that that Strip It Down was “one hell of a delightful surprise!” He had finally busted into the scene he’d always wanted to be a part of. With his 2020 follow-up, If You Don’t Know By Now, James dug in deeper on the genre, exploring its range while setting himself apart as an inspired, melodic guitarist as well as an expressive, soulful vocalist. It’s a stark commitment to a musical form lodged firmly in his soul. James attacked If You Don’t Know By Now with a new level of confidence, thanks in part to his affirming experience with Strip It Down.