Two different groups take to one stage in a celebration of The Band.

Performing [the music of The Band] developed us as players,” Hot Club of Cowtown singer-songwriter/violinist Elana James says. “That’s all you ever want to be doing anyway.”

Hot Club is an Austin,Texas-based Western swing outfit with Americana and Gypsy jazz influences. The group, which features James, guitarist Whit Smith and upright bassist Jake Erwin, recently released Crossing the Great Divide, a compilation of songs from The Band’sMusic From Big Pink and The Band. One of the standouts: a soul-shaking version of “I Shall be Released,” complete with James’ face-melting violin solo.

James admits that she hadn’t spent much time with these tunes before recording the album, even though she had been exposed to them as a touring member of Bob Dylan’s band.

“It was all about taking apart the vocals and putting them together through our three-part harmonies,” James says. “Some of the more rocking songs I wanted to leave for Dustbowl because they’re a bigger band with a lot more textures and resources.”

Dustbowl Revival is a rollicking eight-piece – well, call them a jam orchestra versed in swing, Americana and festive New Orleans spirit. But there are roadhouse strains running through the group that can lend a soulful background.

They are a uniquely evocative band. The vocals of Liz Beebe (who also wields a ukulele, as well) have been referred to as sexy and Ulf Bjorlin’s trombone solos as dirty, giving old-time songs a modern edge.

Founder Zach Lupetin started Dustbowl Revival in Los Angeles – with a Craigslist post. He wound up with a band composed of strings (guitar, mandolin, fiddle, ukulele, bass), horns (trumpet and trombone) and drums.

Clearly the concert pairs two very different bands to celebrate The Band. But Lupetin recently told L.A. Weekly that the legendary group was a role model for both Hot Club of Cowtown and Dustbowl Revival, both bands that draw from the various styles under the umbrella of roots music.

“They were one of the only bands to make it their own,” Lupetin said.

Together, Hot Club and Dustbowl can evoke the breadth of roots music – it’s not just a singular sound – as well as give an appreciation of The Band’s long reach. The quieter tunes, like The Band’s version of “Long Black Veil,” are ideal for a trio like Hot Club, who unearth a folkier, more stripped-down approach.

“It was an education,” James says of The Band’s music. “There’s such sophistication. We put so much effort into [the songs], which are so different from what we usually do.”

“When You Awake” channels gospel roots in the complexly enchanting harmonies, while “The Wheel’s on Fire” engages a steady reggae vibe.

While The Band gained entry to the big time by backing Dylan on tour, they have also been credited with influencing the likes of Eric Clapton and the post-Beatles work of George Harrison.

Some also suggest The Band’s take on Americana and their broad appeal helped to create a new genre, country-rock.

This rich history comes from a group that first entered the recording studio in 1967 without a name. As the story goes, Dylan and other frontline performers generally referred to them as “the band” (in lower case). At some point they grudgingly settled on The Band, then grew into the name.

The Band bid farewell to constant touring with a memorable concert on Thanksgiving Day of 1976 at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. The event featured appearances by Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Muddy Waters, Ringo Starr, Neil Diamond and others, and was filmed by Martin Scorsese for a big screen release as The Last Waltz.

The March 31 concert at Sunset Center celebrates The Band’s first two albums, Music From Big Pink and The Band, which feature the beloved songs that started it all. For both Hot Club and Dustbowl, the performance is fitting. And for James, it’s also a personal (and musical) exploration.

“[Crossing the Great Divide] is a snapshot that we achieved together that caused us to really grow,” she says. “It’s really inspiring to get out there and do these tunes – they really pushed in a way we’ve never been pushed.”

After 20 years, Hot Club will release their first record of all original tunes some time in fall 2019. Their formula has always been a split of originals and covers, usually a nod to one of their musical heroes.

Not this time.

“I love three-part harmony singing, and there’s so much of that on this collection of songs,” James says. “I’m not shy at all about including three-part chorus in the songs I’m writing for the new record – I don’t think there’s any band that sounds like we do.”

Likewise, there was nothing out there that sounded like Music From Big Pink and The Bandwhen they were first released.

ACROSS THE GREAT DIVIDE: A CELEBRATION OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BAND 7pm Sunday, March 31. Sunset Center, San Carlos between Eighth and Ninth, Carmel. $39-59. 620-2048, sunsetcenter.org.