The Mighty Orq is so many things. He is bayou blues in a suit and tie. He’s gritty folk storytelling, unfurling from under an open road Stetson. He’s swampy juke joint fun, mischievous and free. He is classical virtuosity, improvised on a cigar box guitar. He is growling rock-and-roll. Critics and audiences have known and loved the Houston-based Orq for decades now. His fanbase is loyal, international, and always growing, thanks not just to his albums, but to consistent touring throughout the US and Europe. On his 9th album Stolen, Orq proves his wild exploration of roots music remains a gift to the rest of us. “I’m an independent artist, so I don’t have to fit neatly here or there,” he says. “I like a lot of stuff and I want to play it all.” Orq laughs, then adds, “There’s a freedom here, if I just let it be.”