Emmylou Harris to drive ‘Hard Bargain’ at the El Rey

MUSIC

Emmylou Harris is the Helen Mirren of country music. Dashing silver fox? Absolutely. Been around forever yet achieved hipster cachet in recent years? Ryan Adams, Conor Oberst and even Mark Knopfler would say so. Harris’ voice has always been one of the genre’s most visible yet its most adaptable to others’ idiosyncrasies, and on her new record, “Hard Bargain,” she very firmly takes center stage with wistful, heartrending tunes that pay tribute to Emmett Till, New Orleans and her late friend, songwriter Kate McGarrigle. El Rey Theatre, 5515 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 7 p.m. Thur. $35. Theelrey.com.