Jack Ingram digs into the psychology of music

The late Waylon Jennings called him “an incredible talent” and Billy Joe Shaver calls him “one of the best performers around.”

Jack Ingram started writing songs and performing while studying psychology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where he discovered that music and psychology come from the same place.

“It’s about studying why people tick,” said Ingram, who performs Sunday at The Skagit Valley Casino Resort in Bow. And in Ingram’s case, it’s about translating that knowledge into his songs’ characters.

Since college, “Wherever You Are” hit the top spot on Billboard’s country singles chart; “Love You” made the top-10; he developed his weekly radio show, sang the National Anthem at the first game of the 2006 NBA finals, toured with Sheryl Crow, recorded a duet with Willie Nelson and acted in a LeeAnn Womack video that earned a CMA nomination for Music Video of the Year.

Annemarie Russell: The Everett High School graduate returns to her hometown for a concert with music from her latest release, “The Finest Hour.” Now a Portland, Ore., resident, Russell’s work bridges the gap between acoustic folk and pop-rock, and reflects life’s joys and hardships.

Rodrigo y Gabriela: The Mexican acoustic musicians were once barred from entering the country by U.S. Homeland Security because Rodrigo Sanchez has a similar name to a banned foreigner. The duo had to cancel several shows before Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., stepped in. Rod &Gab mix Spanish guitar, trash metal and Latin stylings; the result often brings standing ovations, sometimes after each song.

Earshot Jazz Festival: Many treats are in store for audiences at this annual festival, including Whidbey Island-based bassist Buell Neidlinger’s Stringlickers, ex-French rocket scientist turned jazz pianist Jean-Michel Pilc, jazz historian and pianist Butch Thompson, Pat Matheny sideman Cuong Vu, Dutch sax legend Willem Breuker Kollek­tief, the Tuareg rebel band Tinariwen, and Musafir, which plays music of the Rajasthan desert of North India.

Los Straitjackets: The band just released “Rock en Espanol Vol. 1,” a collection of Spanish language covers of classic 1950s and 1960s rock inspired by garage and rockabilly bands (and Freddy Fender). The Straightjackets have performed from Moscow to Amsterdam to Boston.

Sue Bell: Join the vocalist for a CD release party and go home with “Only Love” as part of the admission price after listening to Bell nail an assortment of jazz ballads, bolero, swings and waltzes. Bell moved to Seattle when she was 6 and became involved with vocal lessons, drums, choirs and plays; later she took vocal lessons at the Cornish College of the Arts.

Out and About: Singer, pianist and composer Tony DeSare performs in support of his “Last First Kiss” CD (Wednesday and Thursday, Jazz Alley), a mix of classics and originals from Prince’s “Kiss” to Carole King’s “I Feel the Earth Move.” He’s been the star of the off-Broadway revue, “Our Sinatra” and performed at the Apollo Theater … Singer-songwriter A.J. Roach’s contemporary songs have been influenced by bluegrass and traditional mountain music (Saturday, Sunset Tavern, Seattle) … The Tiger Lilies (think Berlin cabarets of the 1920s) bring dark musical humor (Saturday, Moore) … three-time Grammy-nominated Brazilian vocalist Luciana Souza tours in support of her new CD, “New Bossa Nova” (Tuesday, Jazz Alley) … Eric Church’s show at Blazing Saddles (Monroe) is sold out … Kelly Rowland, co-founder of Destiny’s Child, is a four-time Grammy-winning pop and R&B artist (Sunday, Showbox SoDo).