Folk Singer John McCutcheon Plays the Alden Theatre, 11/6

Acclaimed folk singer, songwriter, historian, musician and storyteller, John McCutcheon, will perform at McLean's Alden Theatre at 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 6. Tickets are $28, $23 for McLean district residents.

McCutcheon has been described as an incarnation of Pete Seeger, MR. Rogers, Will Rogers and Bruce Springsteen. The master of 10 instruments, including the six-string and 12-string guitar, piano, violin and the rare hammer dulcimer, he is an artist who enlightens as well as entertains. This six time Grammy nominee has been cited as "the perfect example of the modern folk musician" by Sing Out! magazine and Johnny Cash himself called McCutcheon "the most impressive instrumentalist I've ever heard."

McCutcheon is a graduate of Saint John's University in Minnesota. While in his 20s, he travelled to Appalachia and learned from some of the legendary greats of traditional folk music, such as Roscoe Holcomb, I.D. Stamper, and Tommy Hunter. His vast repertoire also includes songs from contemporary writers like Si Kahn (e.g. Gone Gonna Rise Again, Rubber Blubber Whale) as well as a large body of his own music.

When McCutcheon became a father in the early 1980s he found most children's music "unmusical and condescending", and sought to change the situation by releasing a children's album, Howjadoo, in 1983. Originally, he had only intended to do one children's record, but the popularity of this first effort led to the production of several additional children's albums.

Much of his work, however, continues to focus on writing politically and socially conscious songs for adult audiences. One of his most successful songs, "Christmas in the Trenches" (from his 1984 album Winter Solstice) tells the story of the Christmas truce of 1914. He also wrote a song entitled Hail to the Chief consisting entirely of malapropisms attributed to George W. Bush.

To purchase tickets, visit the Alden Theatre Box Office or to purchase tickets by telephone or online, contact Ticketmaster at 703-573-SEAT, or www.ticketmaster.com. For more information, call 703-790-0123, or visit: www.aldentheatre.org.

 

 

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