Many will remember Tim Holt as the editor of The Suttertown News, Sacramento's alternative newspaper long before the News & Review opened up shop. Living in Dunsmuir now, Tim returns for an evening celebrating Woodie Guthrie and the American folksong. His talk and performance will be followed by a folk jam. Folk musicians from beginners to pros are invited to bring their acoustic instruments and join in. It all takes place at 2pm at The McClatchy Library, 2112 22nd Street, Sacramento. It's free, folks."The history of the American folksong is a people's history of thiscountry," Holt says.
From the ramblin' songs of Woody Guthrie ("from Oklahoma to CaliforniaI've been stranded and disbanded, busted and disgusted") to the old-time religious songs of a much earlier era, Tim Holt will explore thehistory of the American folksong--its origins in the British Isles andWest Africa, and the social context from which it arose.Along the way he'll sing songs that represent various facets of theAmerican folksong, including the preoccupation with sinfulness and thesinner ("Hard Ain't It Hard"), the old-time gospel ("LonesomeValley"), Guthrie's Depression-era songs ("Ramblin' 'Round"), songs ofthe westward migration ("Cumberland Gap" and "Sweet Betsy From Pike"), and the contributions of Charles Neblett, a courageous champion ofcivil rights in the 1960s ("If You Miss Me On The Back Of The Bus").
Tim Holt is a frequent contributor to the Sunday San Francisco Chronicle and the author of several books, including On Higher Ground and Songs Of The Simple Life (both available at The Book Collector).
