BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- OK, so he comes from North Carolina with a banjo on his knee.

But that sentence, old-timey and quaint, cannot come close to describing the versatile, independent musician named Scott Avett.

He's a founding member of the Avett Brothers, creating more than a dozen albums with his younger sibling, Seth, and some of their talented friends. He's a singer, writer, instrumentalist, visual artist and producer.

The Avetts, natives of Concord, N.C., have won Americana Music Association awards with their group, earned spots on Billboard charts, placed music on at least one TV series and developed an adoring fan base.

They've played at Bonnaroo and other major festivals, appeared on high-profile talk shows and teamed with Bob Dylan (and Mumford & Sons) on the 2011 Grammy Awards.

But Scott Avett, 34, seems just as pleased to talk about his backyard chicken coop during a recent phone interview. Building that structure is one of his current projects — Avett has many homely tasks on his to-do list — and he says it’s just another example of the band’s can-do spirit.

"Visual arts, songwriting, it’s all just making things," Avett says.

DETAILS

Who:

The Avett Brothers.

When:

8 p.m. April 1.

Where:

, 2710 Jack Warner Parkway, Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Tickets:

$37.85 through Ticketmaster, sold out.

With:

.

The Avett Brothers will make music tonight at the opening concert of the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater. Although Avett laughingly declined to speculate on the set list, it's likely that a few freshly minted songs will be on the band's agenda.

The Avetts have been in the studio this year, working with producer Rick Rubin on a follow-up to 2009’s "I And Love and You." Here’s what Avett had to say about the project, and a few other topics of interest:

Q: This will be your second record with Rick Rubin. He's legendary for having a Zen-like presence in the studio. What made you want to work with him again?

A: In the past, we never really considered anyone producing our own records. There were only a handful of people we would have considered. He's become a great friend. His priorities and his ideals couldn't be more aligned with ours. We speak each other's language.

Q: Does it matter where you record your music — a house in Malibu, a home studio, an old building you might like from your past?

A: No, it's really about the people. It could be the back of the bus. It's like eating out in the most expensive restaurant, or going to McDonald's with the right company. If the people are right, you have the best experience. We've always grown up in a way where you interact with people and become part of a team. In that way, connections continue to be made, friendship grows and your love for each other grows.

Q: What can you tell us about the new record and its development?

A: We've been working hard in the studio, going back and forth with our schedules. We'll do that throughout the summer. We've recorded somewhere between 20 and 30 songs. I don't know how many will end up on the album. We have a lot of material and a lot of direction on the record, theme-wise. Sometimes it's heart-wrenching to let songs go, but you have to do that.

Q: What about the instruments and arrangements? Are you experimenting with anything different, or will listeners instantly recognize Avett Brothers sound?

A: Well, the song dictates what instruments we need, not a label, a forecast or a trend. We need to be aware of what we've done, and make sure we're not retreading the same path. A lot of it has to do with shedding your vision of yourself, and allowing the song to be what it needs to be. ... I could say, "Let me put a tuba on that, and we'll get a huge bottom end." Or "Let's use a couple of sticks on a trash can." Sometimes, parts are stumbled upon or done without effort, and that can be the best thing.

Q: Do you think of yourself as primarily a banjo player? You guys tend to trade off instruments, and fans have seen you play piano, guitar and drums.

A: Banjo is just an instrument I picked up. I consider myself a writer and recording artist, first and foremost.

Q: You've toured with acts such as Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer and Widespread Panic. Did you learn anything from those experiences that you'll apply to your own career?

A: Absolutely; it's all a learning experience. We watch the productions in these types of shows, that are really massive. We take things from these operations — or we see what not to take from them — to make the next decision the best we can. We think about how to grow. There's not really an option to stop; you have to grow. We get a glimpse of how things can grow, and how things can get away from you.

Q: We've seen original artworks from you, and from Seth, on the album packages. Does painting or sketching give you a different satisfaction? Is it all just part of the creative process?

A: For us, it all boils down to an old American tradition and a folk tradition: self-reliability. We grew up in a household where you didn't hire somebody to do something you can do yourself. Self-reliability is the reason we take on anything. I think we make things. Songs are one thing. We make songs and prints and chicken houses and gardens. I think of myself as just an architect or a creator.