BEAVER CREEK – “Be free little birdie.” That’s what legendary country music singer-songwriter Hal Ketchum’s parents said when he wanted to try yet another instrument, artistic endeavor or occupation.

Hal Ketchum will play his first full-band show in a long time at 8 p.m. Friday at Gruene Hall, where he began his career in 1981 singing at open-mike sessions when not doing carpentry work on the ...