Lakeland's Michael McArthur will perform newest album ‘Milky Stars’ at Polk Theatre

LAKELAND – Michael McArthur is a Lakeland-born musician with recordings straight out of Nashville.

For his latest album “Milky Stars,”  McArthur ventured to Nashville, Tennessee, and in April and May 2021, recorded the album in three weeks in a studio built inside of a 125-year-old home.

Along with four other musicians, McArthur will perform his latest album live in the 94-year-old Polk Theatre on Sept. 23. It will be his fourth time playing the Polk: the first in 2015 with a full bad for an EP-release show; the second in 2016, when he performed with Lakeland’s Imperial Symphony Orchestra; and in 2019 for the release of his album “Ever Green, Ever Rain.”

Joining McArthur for the Polk Theatre show will be longtime collaborator guitarist Josh Davis and Nashville-based musicians Logan Todd, drums; Austin Mercuri, bass; and Patrick Sewalk, keyboards.

The 8 p.m. show will include all 12 tracks from “Milky Stars,” with songs from his previous releases and a cover or two added. McArthur — who lives in Lakeland with his wife and Born & Bread Bakehouse owner, Jenn, and their bluetick coonhound June — said his show will be a “listenable event.”

“I think there will be something for everybody. There will be up-tempo songs, there will be songs that are more introspective and intimate,” said McArthur, 37. “I feel like for the most part, any age group can listen to this stuff and find something to like about it.” McArthur’s second LP is a blend of rock, traditional soul and melodic indie folk.

McArthur cites Bill Withers, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen and John Prine as some musical influences.

Also contributing to the new album’s sound was Grammy-winning producer Jacquire King, who has collaborated with artists such as Tom Waits, Kings of Leon, James Bay, Kaleo and Modest Mouse. 

Once completed, “Milky Stars” was sent to Transoceanic Records/Soundly Music, Palm Beach, which led to two more tracks being added in January to the original 10. The song lead single “Lady Luck” debuted on Billboard Adult Alternative Airplay Top 40 chart.

Leaving the audience feeling impacted by his word and melodies is what McArthur deems a successful show, which will include “surprises we can’t talk about yet.”

“It’s going to be a wonderful night,” he said. “Our goal is for people, when they leave, to have experienced something that touches them in some way, and it affects them in such a way that they remember the experience they had.”

Opening the show will be San Diego-based singer-songwriter Jenny Dee.

IF YOU GO:

WHAT: Michael McArthur

WHEN: 8 p.m., Sept. 23

WHERE: Polk Theatre, 121 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland

COST: $20, includes a CD of “Milky Stars.”

INFO: 863-682-7553; www.polktheatre.org;