Tech alum, renaissance son set to perform Friday at the Dixie
James Linden Hogg (left) and his father, Jim Hogg, perform Americana folk music on stage. Jim Hogg, a Tech alum, returns to Ruston with his son to kick off Peach Festival activities Friday. Courtesy photo
Jim Hogg remembers Ruston well, since he was in school at Louisiana Tech in the late 1970s as a journalism student. It was a natural fit to return to the city this week with his son, James Linden Hogg, to open up the 2023 Peach Festival with a performance at the Dixie Center for the Arts.
If James Linden Hogg is a renaissance man, as described by many regarding his wide array of accomplishments in entertainment, the peach didn’t fall far from the tree.
Father and son will take the stage Friday at 7 p.m. to open for Arkansauce as a prelude to Saturday’s Peach Festival in downtown Ruston.
Since James is also a writer, in addition to his growing musical career, it’s fitting he sees his music as telling a story.
“I love history and folk music is really telling a story and preserving history,” James Linden Hogg said. “This is America’s music. My goal is to inspire people about the past through my songs and I am really looking forward to being in Ruston this weekend.”
Jim is also ready to return to the land of the peaches. Based in Baton Rouge, he runs his own advertising and marketing company, the Jim Hogg Group, and has an eye on the piney hills.
“ I absolutely love Ruston and that area of the state,” Jim Hogg said. “Hey, I may move back there some day. I would love to live there. It’s just beautiful country.
“We are excited about this performance,” he continued. “We have a lot of old friends who are coming to the show and it’s an honor to not only perform at the Dixie but to open up the Peach Festival.”
The Hoggs plan a full set for their performance, and you can expect a little bit of everything. James Linden Hogg will utilize everything from traditional instruments such as the guitar and piano to a banjo, harmonica, accordion, mandolin, Scottish Highland bagpipes and even an Irish penny whistle. He also performs with a 230-year-old violin.
James’ musical odyssey began at a young age when he began playing music at the age of 8. At 13 he became the youngest artist featured at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. By the time he was 15 he was named Louisiana State Fiddle Champion, a title earned in Natchitoches at state competition.
As an LSU student in recent years, James put out his first three albums, aptly titled “College Fund, Volume I,” “College Fund, Volume II” and “College Fund, Volume III.” As you may guess, he used the proceeds from those albums to pay for school.
Now graduated, James’ most recent album titled, “The Expedition,” has been released along with a book he has written. “Finding Faith in the Waste Land,” will be available for purchase at his show Friday.
“ People are going to enjoy James’ performance,” Jim Hogg said. “He really connects with the audience. He’s a story teller. The music he plays is what you could have listened to 200 years ago. It’s a little bit American, some Celtic, Folk and even European French. “
If you thought that was the extent of James’ talent, you’d be wrong. He’s also a fledgling filmmaker and won the Cane River Film Festival in Natchitoches with “The Night of Prayers.”
When he’s not performing around the south on dry land, you could find James aboard the Viking River Cruises up and down the Mississippi River. He’s a regular performer aboard ships that cruise from New Orleans to St. Paul, Minnesota.
Tickets for Friday night’s show are available. Visit dixiecenter. org to purchase your ticket.
