The Story Singer
folk songwriter, author brings his stories to the Heyde Center
If you love music and are one of those folks who enjoys the stories behind the songs, learning about what drives an artist to write a song, or what motivates a musician, the Heyde Center in Chippewa Falls has an event for you. In conjunction with the Chippewa Valley Book Festival, the Center will be hosting Stories and Songs from “Revival: A Folk Music Novel,” an afternoon with renowned folk singer and writer, Scott Alarik.
Musicians or aspiring musicians can gain insight from Alarik’s experience and the artistic (and simply human) tensions.
Alarik is from Minneapolis, where he started his musical career after graduating from high school in 1969. He released three albums in the 70s and has two albums currently available on CD, which can be purchased through his website. He also was a regular performer on the Prairie Home Companion, a popular live radio variety show out of Saint Paul, MN. Garrison Keillor once said of him, “I’ve rarely seen an audience in such a good mood as when he’s just been there.” Alarik’s career took him all the way to Boston, where he would eventually begin writing for the Boston Globe (which he did for over 20 years), covering the Boston folk music scene. In 2003, he published his first book, Deep Community: Adventures in the Modern Folk Underground.
His most recent book, and subject of this event at the Heyde Center, is entitled Revival: A Folk Music Novel. This work has been honored with the Benjamin Franklin Silver Award for Popular Fiction by the Independent Book Publishers Association and has received acclaim from many, including literary critics and folk musicians. Performing Songwriter Magazine had the following to say about Revival: “[It’s] a wonderful window into the world of folk music, the dreams of an artist, and a reminder that what we want and what we need are rarely the same thing. A beautiful novel.”
During his afternoon at the Heyde Center, Alarik will be sharing stories from his book and performing songs as well. The event will also include a time in which he will share coffee and conversation with those in attendance. “Stories and Songs” promises to be a great opportunity for music lovers to gain insight into how artists tick and the makings of a song. Musicians or aspiring musicians can also gain insight from Alarik’s experience and the artistic (and simply human) tensions described in Revival.
For information about Scott Alarik, please visit ScottAlarik.com.
Stories & Song from “Revival: A Folk Music Novel” • Oct. 21, 4-6pm • Heyde Center for the Arts, 3 S. High St, Chippewa Falls • $10 adults, $9 seniors, $5 youth • 726-9000 • cvca@cvca.net
