Wakefest 2009

With just four albums over thirteen years, it may seem premature to call her a musical icon. Yet Gillian Welch has cut wide and deep into the fabric of contemporary American music with melodies and lyrics that are both original and hauntingly familiar. Welch somehow seems to be at once forward moving and backward gazing. John Henry and Janis Joplin dancing on the Titanic while Norman Blake gives them the full Taro-patch treatment. Anything seems possible in these songs. So on Sunday at Wakefest, step into the chapel of this year’s musical muse as local musicians and guests from away rip pages from the Welch hymn book and pass ‘em around. Of course, any hommage to Gillian necessarily implies a massive tip of the hat to her lyrical partner and string bender, Mr. David Rawlings.

August 30th 5pm at Kaffe 1870. Check out the schedule.