McCutcheon, a master of over a dozen instruments, including the hammered dulcimer, banjo, fiddle, guitar, and piano, will perform both traditional and original music. A prolific composer, storyteller and activist, McCutcheon writes about life - from a child's haircut to freedom, from baseball to human dignity. He writes songs about our nation's heritage and heroes both known and unknown. His lyrics may be inspired by the latest news story or the words of great writers like Barbara Kingsolver, Wendell Barry and Pablo Neruda.
With over 30 albums to his credit, he has been nominated for seven Grammy awards and has won Parents' Choice awards for his children's music. McCutcheon's latest release, a double CD set of songs and storytelling titled "Untold" and "Unsung," features a duet with, Aledo native, Suzy Bogguss called "Old People in Love" and another new song, "Streets of Sarajevo," with accompaniment by Vedran Smailovic, the "Cellist of Sarajevo". For more information see www.folkmusic.com.
Even before graduating summa cum laude from Minnesota's St. John's University, this Wisconsin native literally "headed for the hills" forgoing a college lecture hall for the classroom of the eastern Kentucky coal camps, union halls, country churches and square dance halls. In the past few years, he has headlined over a dozen different festivals in North America including the National Storytelling Festival, toured Australia and Chile, appeared in a Woody Guthrie tribute concert in New York City and gave a featured concert at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.
This is McCutcheon's first concert in the Quad-City area. Adults and children of all ages are invited to attend: "Giving children the opportunity to see McCutcheon is akin to bringing them to a Pete Seeger or Peter, Paul, and Mary concert," says Julie Ross, coordinator for the concert.