Charlie Maguire April 26th!
Charlie Maguire to play Nisswa
7:30 April 26th!
Born and raised on a 500-acre dairy farm in western New York, Charile Maguire has for five decades excavated unsung stories of ordinary people
doing extraordinary things. Charlie has written songs ranging from immigrant labor to the alienation of old age in his life-long work with elders.
He has donned the uniform of the U.S. National Park Service ranger as the first and only “Singing Ranger” in the history of the service, training in the Grand Canyon and subsequently writing 24 award-winning songs about the Mississippi River.
His work with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources as “Centennial Troubadour” raised awareness of women in conservation as far
back as 1903. That research and writing led, in part, to the construction of the Mary Gibbs Headwaters Visitor Center at Itasca State Park, honoring Gibbs as the first woman park manager in the history of the United States.
As an artist-in-residence at the Minnesota Veterans Home, Charlie used music and photography to forge answers to social problems, leading to an award-winning suicide prevention program for veterans.
Staged more times than any other musical at St. Paul’s History Theatre, “Orphan Train” features songs and lyrics by Charlie Maguire and a book by Patty Lynch. More than 100,000 orphaned children were shipped by rail from New York slums to farm families in the Midwest between 1858 and 1929.
Songs from “Orphan Train” bring to life the struggles and joys of the children who landed here: a brother and sister who were separated, a tough boy and a spirited girl whose courage soars in the face of adversity, and an African-American girl who finds love in the home of a Buffalo Soldier’s family. Songs will tug at your heartstrings and bring hope to audiences of all ages.
GRASSROOTS CONCERTS are held at the LIVE WELL NIGHTCLUB AND COFFEE BAR at the Journey Church, 5459 Lakers Lane, Nisswa, MN.
Admission is $15 at the door for adults and $5 for children under 12 with listening attention, when accompanied by an a adult. At all shows, seating is first-come, first-served. Show-time is 7:30 PM (doors open at 6:30), and you are encouraged to come early to claim your choice of seats.
At each concert, decidedly the best family entertainment in the Brainerd Lakes area, GRASSROOTS welcomes your nonperishable food (or cash) donation to a local food shelf.
"Grassroots Concerts are the nonprofit cultural offerings of a small, happy society of largely omnivorous but gentle folk dedicated to the preservation of live entertainment in vicarious times."
For updates and videos of previous artists visit Grassroots' Facebook page.
ANNIE HUMPHREY--Friday, March 8, 2024 http://www.anniehumphreymusic.com/
Leech Lake Anishinaabe singer-songwriter Annie Humphrey will share new music from her recent release The Light In My Bones. Her songs inspire, and emphasize the power individuals have over their own destiny. Annie worked with producer Jeremy Ylvisaker on the project, and he will join her on the Grassroots stage. “An ancient way for the healing, a woman sings.”—John Trudell
JOHN GORKA--Friday, March 22, 2024 https://www.johngorka.com/
Since his 1987 Red House release introduced John Gorka to the public, the wit and honesty of this renowned Minnesota-via-New Jersey guitarist and songwriter have made him one of the most beloved artists currently carrying on the folk tradition. Gorka is the “preeminent male singer-songwriter of what has been dubbed the New Folk Movement.”—Rolling Stone
ERIC PELTONIEMII & DEAN MAGRAW--Friday, April 12, 2024 https://www.redhouserecords.com/artists/eric-peltoniemi
Eric Peltoniemi is excited to team with his friend and renowned guitarist, Dean Magraw, bringing a fresh batch of new songs and early songs reimagined to the Grassroots stage. For several decades the Minnesota native has covered the musical waterfront: touring artist, singer/songwriter, lyricist/composer for music theater, record producer and record label executive at acclaimed Red House Records.
Dean Magraw is a consummate guitarist, playing with wit and soulful abandon. A performer like no other, he is part comedian, part philosopher and all around music genius. Transcending genre, Dean has performed with a cornucopia of artists, from jazz organist Jack McDuff to folk icon Greg Brown, Irish supergroup Altan, and classical violinist Nigel Kennedy.
CHARLIE MAGUIRE--Friday, April 26, 2024 https://www.charliemaguire.com/
Charlie Maguire is a folksinger in the tradition of Woody Guthrie, and has been writing and performing songs for 50 years. He was mentored by Peter Seeger, Lee Hayes (If I had a Hammer), and Marjorie Guthrie, Woody’s wife. Charlie has unearthed tales about ordinary working people for his own curiosity, and also for the National Park Service, MN State Parks, and the Smithsonian. “Your songs are damn good, and so are you.”—Pete Seeger
Thank you for helping to continue quality concerts in the Lakes Area! We need volunteers to carry on this series. Please consider becoming a volunteer.
COVID SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR CONCERTS: Masks are recommended, but not required; N-95 masks will be available for those who would like one. Please check back for updates. Dawn Stattine, Artistic Director
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