BRATTLEBORO — The New York Times calls quintessential 1960s folk music icon Arlo Guthrie “a superb folk singer” and “a polished raconteur.”
Anyone who has ever attended one of Guthrie's concerts can testify to the latter, when he interrupts a song to riff on whatever happens to come to mind. His digressions are ironic and funny, even goofy, but they always carry his trademark passion: to illuminate the pressing issues that face our world.
Kingdom County Productions and Marlboro College present an exclusive Vermont concert by legendary folksinger Arlo Guthrie on Friday, Nov. 8, at 7:30 p.m. at The Latchis Theatre.
Guthrie will perform with a band that includes his son, Abe, and the program will include songs celebrating the 100th anniversary of Arlo's father, Woody Guthrie - America's Dust Bowl troubadour, who inspired Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Pete Seeger, Johnny Cash, and many others.
Arlo was born with a guitar in one hand and a harmonica in the other. He grew up surrounded by musicians - luminaries such as Pete Seeger, Ronnie Gilbert, Fred Hellerman and Lee Hays (The Weavers), Leadbelly, Cisco Houston, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Sonny Terry, and Brownie McGhee - all of whom influenced his musical career.
Guthrie gave his first public performance in 1961 at age 13 and quickly became involved in the music that was shaping the world - among peers Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Jim Croce, and Phil Ochs.
He grooved with beat poets Allen Ginsburg and Lord Buckley, and picked with players Bill Monroe and Doc Watson. He learned something from everyone, and developed his own style, becoming a distinctive, expressive voice in a crowded community of singer-songwriters and social commentators.
Arlo's career exploded in 1967 with the release of “Alice's Restaurant,” whose title song, premiered at the Newport Folk Festival, helped foster the '60s generation's commitment to activism. He went on to star in the 1969 Hollywood film version of “Alice's Restaurant,” directed by Arthur Penn.
With songs such as “Alice's Restaurant” too long for radio airplay, and “Coming into Los Angeles” banned from many radio stations (but a favorite at Woodstock), Arlo recorded the definitive rendition of Steve Goodman's “City of New Orleans.”
Over the past four decades, Guthrie has toured throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia, winning a huge following.
In addition to his accomplishments as a musician - playing the piano, six- and 12-string guitar, harmonica, and a dozen other instruments - Guthrie is a gifted storyteller whose tales and hilarious anecdotes pop up throughout his performances.