Split Lip Rayfield back in Durango at Balcony Backstage on TuesdayIt’s a pretty big deal when the Kansas trio Split Lip Rayfield comes to town, and next week we’re in luck.

The guys will be back in Durango at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Balcony Backstage, 600 Main Ave.

Split Lip Rayfield is Eric Mardis on banjo, Jeff Eaton on bass and Wayne Gottstine on mandolin.

(Their music is) “just acoustic, American music,” Gottstine said. “Sometimes it’s aggressive; a lot of people would call it folk/punk, but I would lean away from the punk aspect.

“I don’t feel very punk; I’m a 48-year-old man. It’s just good old American music.”

Gottstine said the band is on a fairly quick tour.

“It’s good to get out and about, and go wander through the mountains and enjoy the lower humidity than I’m used to here,” Gottstine said. “It’s a great tradeoff for the lack of oxygen.”

While the band is in Colorado, they’ll be finishing their latest album.

“We have a couple of days off, and what we’ll actually be doing is recording,” Gottstine said. “We’re just going to hole up in a hotel for a couple of days and get this record done. I think its going to be the best record we’ve ever put out.”

Gottstine also said that the band will playing some of their new stuff Tuesday night.

And if you’ve never been to one of their shows, wait until you see Eaton’s bass.

“We’re kind of an eclectic bunch of old guys,” Gottstine said. “Our bass player plays a gas-tank bass. It’s a little bit more percussive than a regular bass. But he plays it wonderfully. He’s probably the best gas-tank bass player in the world.

“This one is unique and the way he plays it is unique, and it’s really a sight to behold,” he said.

Tickets are $10.

For more information, call (970) 422-8008.