Bob Webb - Sea Shanties, Cape Horn

May 2012

Woody's a Hundred!

This year of 2012 marks the centennial of Woodrow Wilson -- Woody -- Guthrie's birthday. Come join Dave Peloquin and me in a celebration of the life and songs of the famous "Dustbowl Balladeer," who wrote the songbook for the "common man" during the 1930s and '40s.

Everyone knows a Woody song, if only "This Land is Your Land," which has been proposed as a replacement for The National Anthem. In our new program, "Woody's A' Hundred," Dave and I will tell some things you might not know about Woody's intent in writing that now-famous composition. Along the way, we'll sing other great songs by Woody, like "Pastures of Plenty," "Do-Re-Mi," and "So Long, It's Been Good to Know Yuh." And we'll sing few rare ones, too. Plus -- we'll feature some songs by others that describe his life and times, particularly the years when the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl combined to drive many Americans from their homes. You will be surprised to find out how much the 1930s sound like the 2010s! We can guarantee that Woody's songs still have hard-hitting relevance to us today.

We're booking right now. And we are going to be singing Woody's songs right here:

Friday, July 13 at 7:30 p.m., "Woody's a'Hundred" at Johnson Hall, 280 Water Street, Gardiner, Maine. FMI 207-582-7144.

Saturday, July 14 (Woody’s actual birthday!) at 7:30 p.m., "Woody’s Special Birthday Bash" for the Linden Tree Coffee House concert series, Wakefield, Massachusetts. Refreshments will be offered. Tickets $15; advance reservations are a must. Reservations, location and FMI please call Liz, 781-246-2836.

WHERE ELSE TO FIND ME

Confirmed programs for Spring and Summer 2012:

Saturday, April 21: Farmers' Market, Bath Congregational Church, 9 -11:30 a.m.: old-time songs & tunes with Helen Richmond Webb

Saturday, May 19: Open House, The Long Branch School & General Store, evening: old-time songs & tunes with Helen Richmond Webb. info@longbranchschool.com

Saturday, June 9 at 10:15 a.m.. Mystic Seaport Sea Music Symposium, Mystic, Connecticut. I will present a paper ogram, mid-morning, entitled "All for Fertilizer & Fireworks: Mineral and Musical Notes from the South American Nitrate & Guano Trades."

Saturday, June 9 & Sunday June 10. Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival, Mystic, Connecticut. I will be singing in various workshops on the museum grounds both days; and invite you specially for my mini-concert with Helen Richmond Webb at the Seamen's Chapel (on the museum grounds) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, June 9. FMI http://www.mysticseaport.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewPage&page_id=F9B52A41-1E4F-379B-60A67B44BC2AFA73

Saturday, July 14: Woody's Special Birthday Bash, with Dave Peloquin; Wakefield, Massachusetts (see above)

Sunday, July 15: "Ring the Banjar! The Banjo in American Life," afternoon: musical-lecture program, Bullard Memorial Farm, Holliston, Massachusetts. (solo) http://bullardmemorialfarm.org/

Sunday, September 9: Freeport Historical Society, afternoon: a concert of historical naval and merchant-ship songs with Dave Peloquin. FMI 207-865-3170.

Others to be announced soon!

RED-DEVIL SPEEDWAY

Thanks to all who have purchased and enjoyed my newest CD, Red-Devil Speedway. It's a album of some of the great traditional American folk songs and banjo tunes, played on guitars and banjos, and all great fun. It's been called an "informal second volume" of my banjo CD, Full Circle: The Solo Banjo Sessions. But there's a lot more on it, including old-time and bluesy guitar picking, and vocals. You can purchase this album from cdBaby and Elderly Instruments, as well as directly from this website. Log onto http://cdbaby.com/cd/bobwebb or http://elderly.com/recordings/items/RWA-CD11707.htm. You can find my other CDs by entering "Bob Webb" in the sites' general search box.

SOUNDS LIKE OLD TIMES

Dave Peloquin and I hope to acquaint you with our CD, Sounds Like Old Times. We took a look back at the old-time, "hillbilly," mountain, country music that influenced all the major performers of the 1930s through early 1950s, and released some of our favorites. There are banjo and guitar pieces, with some mandolin for good measure, and harmony singing. We have included songs both famous and less well-known by the likes of Woody Guthrie, Alton and Rabon Delmore (the Delmore Brothers), the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers. To their greatest hits, we’ve added some traditional tunes on banjo and guitars, and a more recent composition (about coal mining) by Billy Edd Wheeler. Fifteen tunes in all.

We do keep a mailing list. If you want to receive our occasional e-mailings about upcoming concerts and new album releases, please click on our "Contact Bob" tab, and send an e-mail with the simple words: "Mailing List." We’ll keep you informed!