Joe was one of the many musicians (Brandi Carlile, Elvis Costello, Rhiannon Giddens, I’m With Her, Delbert
McClinton, Lori McKenna, Maria Muldaur, John Prine, Amanda
Shires and Mavis Staples, along with present-day buzz generators Jade
Bird, Mark Erelli, Ruston Kelly, J.S. Ondara, Our Native Daughters, Erin
Rae, The War and Treaty, Yola...) during this years Americana award show.
He performed, in Duet with Rodney Crowell, 'Girl from the North Country'. At the end of the show he
participated in an 'all-artist' sing-along of 'I'll fly away'
The award show will be broadcasted on November 23rd as an episode of Austin City Limits on PBS.
Did I already post this clip with 2 amazing performances by Rhiannon Giddens ?
It comes from a songwriting workshop she and Joe did together with Dirk Powell at Americanafest 2017.
The clip starts with Joe explaining Rodney Crowell's absence, who was announced to be there also.
Dirk Powell co-produced together with Rhiannon her album 'Freedom Highway'
AmericanaFest2017 is walking its last steps. Joe and Billy Bragg where nominated for the 'duo of the year' award, for their Shine a light project. They didn't go home with the price, but their presence at this years addition will not be forgotten.
Following it all from across the ocean, let me try and give you an idea of Joe's contributions.
The people sing !
It started with an evening called 'The people sing' : An event To bring to life extraordinary history of ordinary people engaged in struggles for freedom and justice. As a first clip for this entry I need to start not with Joe, but by the act who opened this evening : Blind boys of Alabama. They did an amzing rendition of 'Amazing Grace', to the tune 'House of the Rising sun'. A must see !
Joe himself performed a few songs. Together with Billy Bragg he performed Woodie Guthrie's 'Ramblin Round'. and solo, according to nowplayingNashville Joe's powerful take on “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime,” the so-called anthem of the Great Depression. was 1 of the highlights.
I wish I could share it with you, but I haven't come across it yet. But what I can share is another highlight, where Joe is backing up Rhiannon Giddens on guitar for her 'Mal Hombre' with which she slammed the house I guess.
To end the night, all the artists joined in a sing-a-long of Guthrie's 'This land is your land'. Joe had the honor of getting it started.
Award show
Traditionally the award show will be aired as a special Austin City Limits broadcast in a while. I'll keep you posted on that one.
Good to see Hightone Records' Larry Sloven & Bruce Bromberg presented Lifetime Achievement Award for contribution. Joe Henry presented. pic.twitter.com/ekA9dicBKL
The AmericanaFest Calender lists a panel consisting of Rhiannon Giddens, Rodney Crowell and Joe Henry to discuss songwriting together. But following the pictures presented it seems not Rodney Crowell but Dirk Powell joined Joe and Rhiannon for this talk. Embed from Getty Images
Some Quotes by Joe found on Twitter :
- "Being a songwriter is like jumping in an ocean & if you're really good at it sometimes you can swim in it."
- "Any song is equal parts hope and equal parts despair."
and my favorite :
- "Listening is not a passive activity."
Solo Performance :
Joe did a soloshow at the Downtown Presbyterian Church. He was the opening act for Allison Moorer and Shelby Lynne.
There is a wonderful photocollage of that evening made by NEWs in Pics.
Joe dug in his back catalogue as well as presenting new songs from his upcoming Album Thrum. nowplayingnashville writes : Highlights included “Believer,” from his new album “Thrum” due Oct. 27,
and his back catalogue “Our Song,” as he took a turn on the piano.
Also on the setlist was : 'Odetta' 'After the war'
But me personally, I'm already a smiling person seeing Joe together with Allison and JT from Birds of Chicago bringing this version of John Prine's 'Storm Windows'.
If you enjoyed one of these events and like to share your story, or fill in the details missing here feel free to leave a comment, or send me a message.
