Los Angeles musician Austin Hanks, at left, who will be this year's direct support act for Shellabration, poses with ZZ TOP guitarist and vocalist Billy Gibbons, one of the three members of headliner ZZ TOP. Tickets for this year's Shellabration concert go on sale at midnight this evening.

When ZZ TOP takes the stage June 30 for the annual Shellabration concert, they’ll be playing to an audience warmed up into the red zone by direct support act Austin Hanks.

Shellabration Inc. President Jim Reed announced his appearance this week.

Hanks and ZZ TOP have a strong connection.

“There’s a kinship there,” Reed said. “Especially with Billy Gibbons.”

Reed said Hanks has played at scores of tour dates with ZZ TOP during their 2017 tour.

“That was one of the things that attracted us to Austin,” Reed said.

Gibbons produced Hanks’ latest album, called “Alabastard” and also played guitar on it.

“If the kid’s good enough for the Reverend Billy G,” Reed said. “He’s definitely good enough for Shellabration.”

Hanks has also worked with Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bad Company, Blues Traveler, Widespread Panic and many others, Reed said.

In addition, six of Hanks’ songs have been featured on the FX Television series ”Sons of Anarchy.”

Hanks’ biography reads like something a future legend might have written about them.

“A left-handed guitar player from the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Alabama,” Reed said. “He started as a member of the Birmingham based band Slick Lilly.”

Hanks went to California in 2005 and has also worked in Nashville.

What can listeners expect?

“Rockin’ country soul and genuine juke from the deep dirty south,” Reed said.

They can also sample his songs on the net.

“It was Austin’s video on You Tube for the song ‘Risin’ Water Blues’ with Billy Gibbons that sealed the deal for me,” Reed said. “It’s got a dirty delta blues vibe that just exudes cool.”

Reed said that selecting the direct support act is a process that starts way ahead of the actual show. The act is subject to approval by the headliner and their management. Reed said that working with an artist that’s already familiar to the main act helps ease the process. He said that while he would like to book local bands to open the shows, it’s still up to the headliner who ultimately plays.

“At the end of the day it’s what the headliner and their management approve,” he said.

Not only is the direct support act selected months ahead, planning for the next concert actually starts before the current show is played.

“We’re getting ready to make offers for 2019 headliners,” Reed said.

No, he can’t tell who that might be.