One of folk music’s most iconic interpreters, the man who captivated a generation with his extended improvised performance of “Freedom” to open the Woodstock Music Festival in 1969, has passed away at the age of 72. Richie Havens died of … Continue reading →
Morning Sun by Edward Hopper (1952) When I meet new people, it’s just a matter of time–sometimes more, sometimes less–before I mention this murder ballad hobby of mine. I recently started a new job. (You may have inferred as much from … Continue reading →
Moments after New Zealand’s parliament announced the passing of legislation legalizing gay marriage, the gallery erupted into a hauntingly beautiful rendition of a traditional love song, “Pokarekare Ana,” in it’s indigenous Maori language. This was met with resounding applause by … Continue reading →
A gravestone from the Battlefield of Culloden It is easy to write about violence, the causes of it, the effects of it, in the abstract. Glib, throwaway statements are profoundly easy to produce. My aim in writing this second part … Continue reading →
As we move toward the hectic summer festival season, there a quite few notable events taking place. Sing Out! provides an international listing of folk music festivals and camps, which can be found at https://www.singout.org/fests.html. But here’s a sampling of … Continue reading →
Icon of Canadian music, country singer Rita MacNeil has passed away after complications stemming from surgery. Known for her powerful songwriting and unique back story, Rita has been referred to by some as “Canada’s First Lady of Song.” Born with … Continue reading →
The Battle of Culloden 1746. In our ongoing quest to explore the subject of death, dying and murder we at Murder Ballad Monday continue to stretch the concept of a Murder Ballad. This week’s song is no exception to this … Continue reading →
This coming weekend there are a few festivals scattered about the United States, and if you’re nearby you might want stop in check out some great music. Sing Out! provides an international listing of folk music festivals and camps, which … Continue reading →
Les Blank, a film maker known for his ability to capture American musical traditions in his independent films, has passed away Sunday at age 77. A “film-maker’s film maker,” Les Blank’s talents are often overlooked by the mainstream film culture, … Continue reading →
This is Chapter 3 of Stagolee: A Digital Compendium. See also Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 4, and Chapter 5 Caveat – While I will make every reasonable effort to maintain propriety and decorum in writing this post, the language and … Continue reading →
