THE BACK STORY:

April 2 & 3, 2005

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In late 2002 America's folk legends -- The Kingston Trio, The Brothers Four, and Glenn Yarbrough and the Folk Revival -- joined forces to create a PBS special, An American Songbook: This Land Is Your Land.  Hollywood released The Mighty Wind soon after -- a hilarious story of The Folksmen (in whom you might recognize The Kingston Trio) as they lead the folk revival.  The artists loved performing together and decided to combine forces to bring This Land Is Your Land to a select group of cities. 

This is your chance to participate in the Folk Revival -- to visit or revisit America's greatest time of commitment, of social conscience, and of community action for change.  Join in community for a one-of-a-kind concert. 

About The Artists

These pioneers of the musical movement, which came to be known as the “folk revival,” are among the few from those times still performing today, and they remain best known and most popular because of their acoustic musical presentation and trademark rich blend of harmonies.  As Bob Shane of the Kingston Trio put it, “There is a tremendous demand for our type of acoustic music, and not just from those who remember us.  All people want is for us to sing a song, tell a story, and make it good.”  These groups have been doing just that for more than forty years. 

Along the way, audiences will be treated to such hits as The Kingston Trio's "Charlie on the MTA," “Greenfields,” “If I Had A Hammer,” “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?,” “There’s A Meetin’ Here Tonight,” “Tom Dooley,” ‘Try To Remember,” “Greenback Dollar,” and much more.  And, of course, the evening wouldn’t be complete without the rousing closing number, “This Land Is Your Land!”  But, who knows? The encore, “A Mighty Wind”? Could be!

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The PBS Special and A Mighty Wind 

The “folk boom” groups have retained their solid core of devoted “boomer” fans for more than forty years.  Now, thanks in part to a hugely successful PBS special and an art-imitates-life Hollywood film, A Mighty Wind, the folk groups of the Sixties are enjoying a renewed popularity and have gained a younger audience. 

In late 2002, PBS stations nationwide began broadcasting what would become one of its highest rated music specials – American Soundtrack: This Land Is Your Land - a tribute to the American folk scene of the early Sixties.  The outstanding special was hosted by the Smothers Brothers and Judy Collins, and featured timeless favorites like "Where Have all the Flowers Gone?" by The Kingston Trio.  It highlighted performances by the legendary folk artists of the era including The Limelighters, The Brothers Four, Glenn Yarborough, Roger McGuinn, and many others.

In May 2003, Hollywood released a new film, A Mighty Wind, which followed a faux '60s folkies group named, The Folksmen  (channeling the wildly popular Kingston Trio), reuniting for a show. The movie made more than $20 million, and its original songs have actually sold well as a soundtrack. 

Through sight and sound, Glenn Yarbrough takes the audience on a memorable musical journey through the evolution of modern American folk music:  from its roots in bluegrass, to San Francisco coffee houses, to clubs in Greenwich Village.  Using only acoustic string instruments (guitars, banjos, upright bass and mandolin), and singing simple yet memorable melodies, popular music is once again revolutionized, and America is reawakened to it’s own rich folk music heritage. 

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