On Saturday, singer-songwriters Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt will close out the inaugural Westobou Festival with an acoustic performance at Bell Auditorium.

Both artists have defied easy categorization, flirting with elements of pop and country, jazz and folk during long careers.

Below is a concise guide to each artist's life and music, a primer to Saturday's concert.

Lyle Lovett

BORN: Nov. 1, 1957, in Klein, Texas, near Houston

SOUNDS LIKE: Bob Wills, Duke Ellington and Hank Williams

FACTS: Born in a town named for his great-grandfather. His high school also bears his great-grandfather's name.

Studied journalism and German at Texas A&M University in College Station.

Shared an early musical kinship with Robert Earl Keen.

Five singles of his self-titled 1986 debut made the Billboard Country Top 40 -- Further Down the Line, Cowboy Man, God Will, Why I Don't Know and Give Back My Heart.

His second album, Pontiac, incorporated the now-standard elements of pop, jazz and big band music to his sound.

Made his acting debut in Robert Altman's 1991 film The Player. He became part of the filmmaker's stock company, appearing in Short Cuts, Prêt-à-Porter (Ready to Wear) and Cookie's Fortune and contributing music to Dr. T and the Women.

He was married to Julia Roberts from 1993 to 1995.

Was seriously injured by a bull in 2002, shattering his leg. Rehabilitation took nearly six months.

He has released 12 albums, including a live album, a collection of covers and a movie soundtrack.

His latest album is 2007's It's Not Big It's Large.

NOTABLE SONGS

Give Back My Heart

Here I Am

If I Had a Boat

Skinny Legs

That's Right (You're Not From Texas)

This Old Porch

Cowboy Man

I've Been To Memphis

All Downhill

The Truck Song

John Hiatt

BORN: Aug. 20, 1952, in Indianapolis

SOUNDS LIKE: Bob Dylan, Joe Jackson, John Fogerty and Hank Williams

FACTS: One of his first bands was the Indianapolis-based White Ducks.

Moved to Nashville, Tenn., at 18 and became a staff songwriter for Tree Publishing.

Early success stemmed from having his songs recorded by the likes of Ronnie Milsap and Three Dog Night.

Solo debut was the 1974 album Hangin' Around the Observatory.

Slug Line released in 1979, replaced rootsy American rock with a New Wave sound similar to Elvis Costello and Graham Parker.

Released Bring the Family in 1986. The album featured an all-star band that included Ry Cooder, Nick Lowe and Jim Keltner.

His greatest commercial success was the 1988 release Slow Turning.

NOTABLE SONGS

Old Days

Angel Eyes

Ethylene

Have a Little Faith in Me

Perfectly Good Guitar

Radio Girl

She Loves the Jerk

Slow Turning

Thing Called Love