**Take advantage of advance ticket prices, as they go up the day of the show!** ADV: $15/$12 MEM; D/S: $18/$15 MEM
Spencer Bohren picked up his first guitar in 1964 and began a life in the early 70s as the quintessential traveling musician, eventually landing in Denver where he frequented the Denver Folklore Center and began a lifelong friendship with folk icon Harry Tuft. Through his travels, he accumulated a number of projects, but eventually entered a year sabbatical due to his disillusionment of the commercial side of the music business. During this time, he rediscovered the freedom as a solo artist as well as a love for the Big Easy when he and his wife landed in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. They built a permanent home together there in 1975 and began a family as well as a new career out of the burgeoning music scene.
Like so many others, Spencer and his family have struggled with the events of Hurricane Katrina and its effect on the Crescent City. Even today, almost 16 months after Katrina hit New Orleans, the recovery process is long and slow. Spencer says that even today, "you can drive for hours and hours and never see a person in a house, (with) 60% of the city still unoccupied." The heartbreak the Bohrens have over the Katrina tragedy is apparent, yet they maintain an optimism and positive attitude about the rebuilding process. "New Orleans needs us," Spencer says. "She's inspired us and we're part of a team."
His CD, The Long Black Line, includes a track by the same name that has become the post-apocalyptic ballad of the disaster. The line referenced is a daily reality by all New Orleanians—like a ring around a tub, it marks the waters of the floods that enveloped the city, and is ever-present, sometimes going up as far as Spencer's shoulders.
Spencer’s shows are always educationally enlightening as well as musically entertaining, making for a delightful evening for everyone in attendance. Peppered with anecdotes and humor, he is a long-standing favorite performer at Swallow Hill.
At this performance, Spencer will perform two sets: the first will center on his celebrated blues/gospel roots music, and the second will be a new addition to his repertoire: Songs of Protest. From Woody Guthrie to Bob Dylan, Malvina Reynolds to Merle Haggard, on up to his own opinionated originals, Spencer presents one of the seminal roots of folk music, the protest song. Come reminisce with Spencer as he takes the audience through social and political changes that were spurred on by song. Maybe you’ll even be inspired yourself to add your voice to the cause!
