Old pals Vince Gill and Lyle Lovett have been through the country-music machine more than once, and they’re pretty far from the flashy, pop-oriented sound of current mainstream country. It makes sense that these two laid-back veterans would team up. Dubbed Songs & Stories, the tour features an emphasis on improvisation, collaboration and exploration. “Just two guys sitting on stools, telling stories and singing songs,” as Gill described it in the tour announcement.

Gill and Lovett will perform both solo and together, drawing on a friendship and collaboration that goes back decades. In 1986, Gill played guitar on Lovett’s debut album, and the two have worked together numerous times since then. Lovett is known for his quirkier style and melding country with jazz, Americana and blues, while Gill has stuck more to traditional country, with more than 40 singles on the Billboard country charts. But they have a similar outlook and a similar ability to adapt, something that’s essential for career longevity.

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m. March 24, starting at $30 plus tax and fee. 702.749.2000