Harry Smith's name probably sounds familiar. That's almost inevitable, because this year we're celebrating the 100th birthday of this:
- visual artist
- experimental filmmaker
- musicologist
- graphic designer
- bohemian
- anthropologist and plant collector
All that in one man. With his masterpiece 'Anthology of American Folk Music' (84 songs dating from the years 1927-1932) Harry Smith created the Bible of American folk.
But did you know that:
- At the end of the last century, Harry Smith won a Grammy Award for ‘Best Historical Album’
- Nick Cave borrowed both ‘Stagger Lee’ and ‘Henry Lee’ from ‘The Anthology’
- Beck, Beth Orton, Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, Jack White and Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) are all avid fans
- Between 1971 and 1973, he recorded performances (for a project named 'deonage') in his room in the Chelsea Hotel of, among other things, spontaneously-composed folk and protest songs written and produced by his old friend Allen Ginsberg
- Harry Smith died on 2 November 1991
All the more reason to honour him. AB will soon shine a spotlight on his glorious ‘Anthology of American Folk Music’ over three days.
That’s plenty of reason for an elaborate tribute on the day Harry Smith would have turned 100 years old. AB is inviting some exquisite musical guests such as Meskerem Mees, Mount Eerie, Sam Amidon (w/ special guest Beth Orton), The Golden Glows, Mike Gangloff, Shovel Dance Collective and Venediktos Tempelboom. They will collectively dive deep into ‘The Anthology’ and come back up with some personal covers or adaptations of their favourite songs. And some of them will simply tell their story in the spirit of Smith’s work.
SAT 27 MAY 23 - Shovel dance collective + Mike Gangloff + Venediktos Tempelboom
SUN 28 MAY 23 - Sam Amidon with Special guest Beth Orton + Meskerem Mees
SUN 28 MAY 23 - Talks & screenings w/ Rani Singh + Bret Lunsford + Phil Elverum
MON 29 MAY 23 - Mount Eerie + The Golden Glows
