American Roots

(Photo of Boo Hanks from Music Maker Relief Foundation)

A Virginia musician played a festival in New York City on Sunday, along with punk godmother Patti Smith, jazz hero Charlie Haden and folk giant Pete Seeger. His name is James Arthur "Boo" Hanks, an acoustic blues guitarist from Virgilina. Hanks has released an album through the North Carolina-based Music Maker Relief Foundation, a group that helps aging, poor musicians make money for necessities like housing and health care.
Boo played Sunday as part of the Roots of American Music Festival, an outdoor event connected with Lincoln Center. New York Times reporter Nate Chinen included him in his review of the 25th annual event. His story, headlined, "From Back-Porch Ease to A Taste of the Wild," includes these words:
"The music ranged from unfiltered to polished. Boo Hanks fell somewhere in between: playing and singing in the Piedmont style, he brought a back-porch ease to 'Trouble in Mind,' dropping the occasional beat or bar."
If you like Piedmont blues, go here to download three free tracks by Boo Hanks.
Here's the full lineup from Sunday's featival:
Alabama Slim, Adolphus Bell, Dr. G. B. Burt, Capt. Luke, Boo Hanks, Macavine Hayes and Big Ron Hunter, the Knitters: John Doe, Exene Cervenka, Dave Alvin, DJ Bonebrake, Jonny Ray Bartel, Haden Family Singers Labor of Love featuring Charlie Haden, Ruth Cameron, Petra, Tanya, Rachel and Josh Haden, with Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Bryan Sutton, Dan Tyminski, and special guests Patti Smith and her band.