Woody Guthrie 50th Anniversary Shows

Article Contributed by Penney and Logan | Published on Tuesday, August 29, 2017

To coincide with the 50th Anniversary of the death of legendary folk singer Woody Guthrie, two concerts dedicated to celebrating his life and work will be held in early October.

Woody Guthrie: Songs of Freedom, will be performed at the Caravan Music Club on Sunday 1 October, the Spotted Mallard on Friday 6 October and the Newport Bowl Club on Saturday 2 December, all spearheaded by Strange Tenants frontman Bruce Hearn.

In 1968, Bruce's parents took him to the National Theatre in St Kilda to see American folk legend Pete Seeger perform a tribute to Woody Guthrie, only months after Woody’s death. This concert changed the course of Bruce’s life, as he decided there and then to combine music and social activism.

For these shows, Hearn has assembled some of Melbourne's finest folk & roots musicians to form his Woody worthy band, The Machinists. The performers are Kavisha Mazella (guitar/mandolin), Chris Pascoe (accordion), Peter Beulke (double bass), and special guests Mick Thomas and Kerri Simpson. Reflecting Bruce’s lifetime commitment to working class culture, the shows will also feature the 20-piece Victorian Trade Union Choir.

WOODY GUTHRIE: SONGS OF FREEDOM
PERFORMED BY BRUCE HEARN & THE MACHINISTS LIVE AT:
Sun 1 Oct - The Caravan Music Club, Melbourne VIC | Tickets
Fri 6 Oct - The Spotted Mallard, Melbourne VIC | Tickets
Saturday 2 Dec - Newport Bowls Club Melbourne VIC | Tickets

Woody Guthrie: Songs of Freedom will be a unique opportunity to celebrate the music and politics of the struggle for a better world free from war, racism and inequality.

Given the state of the world right now, there's never been a better time to re-discover and celebrate the power, humanity and social justice messages of the late, great prolific poet, Woody Guthrie.

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