Often called the “Kings of Western Swing,” Grammy Award-winning band Asleep at the Wheel will roll into Livermore on Monday, Aug. 20, at 7:30 p.m.

Making a welcome fifth appearance at the Bankhead Theater, Asleep at the Wheel brings a unique and irresistible swing style that frontman and founder Ray Benson has described as “jazz with a cowboy hat.” Their show falls just ahead of the release of “New Routes,” their first album in more than a decade featuring new material.

Tickets are selling fast for the show. While the $20 regular ticket level is already sold out, discounted tickets for students and active military personnel are still available at that price. All remaining seats start at just $30. Call 925-373-6800 or visit www.lvpac.org for tickets.

One of the longest-running acts in country western music, Asleep at the Wheel has kept western swing music in the hearts and minds of fans for nearly 50 years, earning 10 Grammy Awards. Benson launched the band in Austin, Texas in the early 1970s, inspired by the music of western swing pioneer Bob Wills. Asleep at the Wheel developed their own style with rich harmonies and toe tapping rhythms that are a natural melting pot of American music, from cowboy fiddle tunes and country bluegrass, to blues and traditional big band.

Honored with the Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009, Asleep at the Wheel never fails to deliver the satisfying swing style they are known for, while continuing to evolve and reinvent themselves. Their new album represents a new chapter in the band’s history, with Benson joined by a fresh group of musicians whose musical styles instill a newfound energy into the music, while preserving its unique sound.