A rejuvenated Steven Tyler took center stage Thursday night at the Melrose Ballroom in Long Island City, Queens, draped in his signature hippie-pirate couture, reports RollingStone.com.

The intimate set that followed showcased the direction of the Aerosmith frontman's forthcoming solo country album as part of the Country Music Association Songwriters Series and Public Television program Front and Center.

Surrounding Tyler was his gypsy-tribe backing band, Loving Mary. Singer-guitarist Suzie McNeil was the Joe Perry of the evening. She played everything from acoustic guitar, harmonica, maracas and piano to the cowbell (on "Walk This Way," naturally).

On the other side of the semicircle, Aerosmith collaborator Marti Frederiksen played acoustic and steel guitar. He reminisced with Tyler about their first interaction working on "Something's Gotta Give" in the late Nineties ("That's a real ass-kicker," said Tyler) and co-writing Number One hit "Jaded."

Check out the setlist below, and read more at RollingStone.com.

Setlist:

"Sweet Emotion"
"Pink"
"What It Takes"
"If Love Is Your Name"
"Livin' On The Edge"
"Janie's Got A Gun"
"Jaded"
"Cryin'"
"More Than Words" (Extreme cover)
"Walk This Way"
"Home Tonight" (intro)
"Dream On"
"Mercedes Benz" (Janis Joplin cover)
"Piece Of My Heart" (Janis Joplin cover)

Tyler tells ABC News Radio that he's hoping to release his first solo album by "February or so" of 2016, and is planning to support it with a tour before heading out on an Aerosmith trek later in the year. As for just how "country" the material on the upcoming album will be, Tyler explains that the project is still taking shape, so he isn't quite sure.

"I don't even know who I'm producing it with," he reports. "It's gonna be what it is. There's a couple of songs I've written and they're like rock, and I said, 'Oh, geez.' And I'm not gonna put a banjo on it just to make it country… I don't know what it's gonna be, but my heart leans [towards] the country feeling and the vibe."

Tyler tells ABC Radio that he hopes his album will inspire some rock fans to pay more attention to country.

"I think country music is the new rock 'n' roll," he maintains. "I mean, you can listen to the lyrics, you can really get into it, just as you could get into “Stairway To Heaven”.”  He adds, "Country's not just about porches, dogs and kicking my boots up. It's a whole lot more, but it's about being real. You know, the world's gone so far away from that. I hope it comes back."

Read more at ABC News Radio.

Tyler will be performing with country band Loving Mary this month at the inaugural Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival in Tennessee. The two-day festival will be held September 26th - 27th on a horse farm in Franklin. Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, Wilco, Weezer and The Decemberists will also be featured.

The festival will likely be the first time fans can hear more music from Tyler's upcoming solo record with the Big Machine Label Group. He released a first single, "Love Is Your Name”, which hit #19 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart. Aerosmith wrapped up their Blue Army Tour this month.

The festival was created by Better Than Ezra's Kevin Griffin. It encompasses a mix of roots, indie rock, jazz and country artists who will be performing acoustically and in special collaborations. More info here.

Steven Tyler is set to appear in an upcoming episode of ABC’s hit television show, Nashville, reports WKRN-TV Nashville.

Neither ABC or the show has provided any details on Tyler’s upcoming appearance. Nashville returns to ABC for its fourth season on September 23rd.

Tyler posted the photo below, with the caption “Hayden and I getting a little “Crazy on set at Nashville. You won’t want to miss this!”

Steven Tyler and Joe Walsh will perform at a Washington, D.C. rally this fall to draw attention to the dangers of drugs and alcohol, reports RollingStone.com.

The free event – dubbed Unite To Face Addiction, which the non-profit organization Facing Addiction put together – will take place on the National Mall on October 4th. The Aerosmith singer will perform with Nashville country-rockers Loving Mary, and the event will also feature performances by Sheryl Crow, Jason Isbell, the Fray and Goo Goo Dolls frontman John Rzeznik.

Read more at RollingStone.com.