This past weekend was the Blackhawk Folk Festival. This years headliner was Michael Smith, who I have written about before. He is without a doubt one of the finest singer/songwriters of the past half century. His most widely known (and covered) song is "The Dutchman" made famous in my world by Steve Goodman.
I really wanted to see him again as it has been a couple/three years since he played in the area. We got there about thirty minutes prior to his set and I cracked a beer and decided to hit the outhouse before the show. As I'm walking through the crowd Dave Green calls out my name and I walk over to his picnic table and there sits Michael Smith! I get introduced properly and sit down for a spirited discussion of the "state of the genre".
Michael is scary-smart, with a edgy sharpness that borders on sarcasm. I'm guessing that's where his incredible lyrics bubble up from. Anyway it was a great conversation. He excused himself and proceeded to the stage to do his performance. Michael opened with "There's A Panther In Michigan". What a song that really features his off-the-neck guitar work. The Dutchman was next, and I settled into the rhythm of the set. Because of the setting and audience he didn't do some of his intimate material like "I Brought My Father With Me". But he did a killer job on "Birds" (we become birds when we die). SHHH! Knock me over with a feather.
We bought the relatively new live CD "Such Things Are Finely Done". Ann had Michael autograph it. As he left the festival grounds I grabbed my camera a caught an image of him from behind striding towards the gate, guitar case in hand. I will have to post it here, there is something unique about it's quality.
Damn, this has been a good summer for folk music!
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