A Night of American Roots

Terms like Americana and Roots Music are two of the most used terms to describe Seattle’s most notable and celebrated new bands of the last few years.   On Saturday night here at the Columbia City Theater we will showcase three artists who will show that some of the best music being performed today are by artists who fully embrace what used to be in America. And with that, three artists will be gracing our stage that will be showing those many new artists throwing terms saved for Old Time music like “Americana” and “Roots Music” how its done.

In a recent conversation with local musician Phil O’Sullivan, Phil described seeing Baby Gramps perform as being taken to school. If seeing Baby Gramps perform seemed like school, than Saturday’s  show while will feature Baby Gramps, Frank Fairfield, and “Blind Boy” Paxton, will seem more like a master class.

Baby Gramps is an amazing amalgamation of everything that anybody’s ever heard including Mississippi John Hurt, Uncle Dave Macon, Charlie Patton, Blind Blake, Captain Beefheart, the Tuvan Throat Singers and Popeye. Baby Gramps has created a highly developed and completely original musical concoction that is easily the most intriguing synthesis to come out of the roots revival of the late 20th Century

Frank Fairfield, an exceptional banjo picker, fiddle player, and song smith, is a complete throwback to dust bowl era America. From his fiddle that he bows on his forearm to the very suit he wears, Frank Fairfield is an absolute delight for the music lover looking for an opportunity to travel back in time.  Below is a video Frank did with KEXP DJ Greg Vandy on a recent trip to Seattle.

Blind Boy Paxton is a blues pianist, guitarist, and banjo player who is from the Watts neighborhood in Los Angeles. Barely 21, “Blind Boy” Paxton is a music prodigy whose ability to sing a song and tell a good story belies his age.  You can hear a wonderful interview with “Blind Boy” here on the great Down Home Radio Show.

The show this Saturday at 9pm is $13 and shouldn’t be missed.  You can get your tickets in advance here on Brown Paper Tickets