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Many are familiar with Arlo Guthrie — he's a youthful 60-something who's been singing great songs and telling humorous stories for a long time — he played at Woodstock in 1969, and his dad is the legendary folk singer Woody Guthrie.
Fewer, perhaps, know the fabulous Burns Sisters — although some locals may have seen the three sisters, Marie, Jeannie and Annie when they performed at the Moab Folk Festival a couple of years ago.
Based in Ithaca, N.Y., the Burns Sisters sing powerful songs, in what Jeannie referred to as “eclectic folk” — blending “elements of country, blues, rock and some ballads.”
The Burns Sisters will join Guthrie and his band, including son Abe for a concert Tuesday, April 19, at the Avalon Theatre. It's a natural pairing of talent — both Guthrie and the Burns Sisters sing poignant songs about our times.
Jeannie plays guitar, Marie the mandolin, and Annie and the others all sing.
“I love them,” Guthrie said of the sister band whom he got to know in 2005 when they joined him and other artists on the City of New Orleans train concert tour — a fundraiser to benefit New Orleans musicians who lost everything after Hurricane Katrina.
That trip led to the two groups touring together two years ago. Their current “Journey On” tour, began in October and ends in May in New Orleans.
“It's been incredible, very simpatico. We're like family now,” Jeannie said.
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — The Burns Sisters actually met a lot of Guthrie's family at a Woody Guthrie Folk Festival several years ago. Woody Guthrie was a prolific writer who died at 55 from complications of Huntington's Disease.
His daughter, Nora Guthrie, is director of the Woody Guthrie Foundation and Archives. She's been collecting Guthrie's writings and giving them to various musicians to set to music.
One of those songs, “Hills of Ithaca,” was written by Woody Guthrie after he performed in Ithaca with The Weavers in 1947. The lyrics were given to Marie Burns who wrote the music for it. The song is included on the Burns Sisters' next album due to be released in August.
“Arlo often talks about his dad who always had to write,” Jeannie said. “So there's a ton of these thoughts — some of them in lyric form. Those songs are coming to life now.”
The Burns Sisters will open the show at the Avalon, and then remain on stage to sing back-up with Guthrie and his band.
Jeannie said she's learned a lot from Arlo Guthrie, who, like the Burns Sisters, is not afraid to sing songs about social justice.
“He's political in a spiritual kind of way, and funny,” Jeannie said.
That's apparent in the comfortable rapport Guthrie maintains with his audiences time and again.
Guthrie is a natural-born storyteller, as well as an accomplished musician who plays piano, six- and 12-string guitar, harmonica and a dozen other instruments.
“Every show is a little different. This one is no exception,” Guthrie said. “It's a tour of my favorite songs.
“There will be a few new ones, some old ones,” including most likely the Steve Goodman song Guthrie made famous, “City of New Orleans.”
Fewer, perhaps, know the fabulous Burns Sisters — although some locals may have seen the three sisters, Marie, Jeannie and Annie when they performed at the Moab Folk Festival a couple of years ago.
Based in Ithaca, N.Y., the Burns Sisters sing powerful songs, in what Jeannie referred to as “eclectic folk” — blending “elements of country, blues, rock and some ballads.”
The Burns Sisters will join Guthrie and his band, including son Abe for a concert Tuesday, April 19, at the Avalon Theatre. It's a natural pairing of talent — both Guthrie and the Burns Sisters sing poignant songs about our times.
Jeannie plays guitar, Marie the mandolin, and Annie and the others all sing.
“I love them,” Guthrie said of the sister band whom he got to know in 2005 when they joined him and other artists on the City of New Orleans train concert tour — a fundraiser to benefit New Orleans musicians who lost everything after Hurricane Katrina.
That trip led to the two groups touring together two years ago. Their current “Journey On” tour, began in October and ends in May in New Orleans.
“It's been incredible, very simpatico. We're like family now,” Jeannie said.
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — The Burns Sisters actually met a lot of Guthrie's family at a Woody Guthrie Folk Festival several years ago. Woody Guthrie was a prolific writer who died at 55 from complications of Huntington's Disease.
His daughter, Nora Guthrie, is director of the Woody Guthrie Foundation and Archives. She's been collecting Guthrie's writings and giving them to various musicians to set to music.
One of those songs, “Hills of Ithaca,” was written by Woody Guthrie after he performed in Ithaca with The Weavers in 1947. The lyrics were given to Marie Burns who wrote the music for it. The song is included on the Burns Sisters' next album due to be released in August.
“Arlo often talks about his dad who always had to write,” Jeannie said. “So there's a ton of these thoughts — some of them in lyric form. Those songs are coming to life now.”
The Burns Sisters will open the show at the Avalon, and then remain on stage to sing back-up with Guthrie and his band.
Jeannie said she's learned a lot from Arlo Guthrie, who, like the Burns Sisters, is not afraid to sing songs about social justice.
“He's political in a spiritual kind of way, and funny,” Jeannie said.
That's apparent in the comfortable rapport Guthrie maintains with his audiences time and again.
Guthrie is a natural-born storyteller, as well as an accomplished musician who plays piano, six- and 12-string guitar, harmonica and a dozen other instruments.
“Every show is a little different. This one is no exception,” Guthrie said. “It's a tour of my favorite songs.
“There will be a few new ones, some old ones,” including most likely the Steve Goodman song Guthrie made famous, “City of New Orleans.”
GO&DO
What: Arlo Guthrie “Journey On” concert, with special guests Abe Guthrie and The Burns Sisters
When: 7:30 p.m., Tues., April 19 Where: Avalon Theatre, 645 Main St. Cost: $25/$30/$35 Info: 243-TIXS (8497), ticketswest.com; or pick them up at Back Porch Music and City Market stores (except for 1st and Orchard) |
