NPR FRESH AIR HOSTS 38-MINUTE PERFORMANCE/CHAT WITH AMERICAN SONGSTER DOM FLEMONS AS NEW YORKER ILLUSTRATION RUNS

NEW TOUR DATES ADDED

Terry Gross’s 38-minute in-depth interview with the American Songster Dom Flemons aired last week on NPR’s Fresh Air.

Meanwhile, the New Yorker ran an illustration of Dom Flemons alongside those of Beverly “Guitar” Watkins and Ironing Board Sam, each of whom will perform Sunday at Lincoln Center Out of Doors as part of Americana Fest NYC. See the illustration here.

Gross says, “It is so much fun to hear that and so educational, too.”

Flemons talks about adapting songs from the banjo to the guitar and vice versa, how oldies got him into old time music, the influence of the elder folk and blues artists of Music Maker Relief Foundation, how rhythm and blues and country music and Broadway connect on “Have I Stayed Away Too Long,” the lonesome feeling of being on the road, cutting excess verses from original songs, the largest banjo Terry Gross had ever seen (which Dom nicknamed “Big Head Joe”), how hokum music uses double entendres, playing esoteric instruments like the bass drum, quills, bones and an extra-large banjo, and finding fresh material to interpret from some of his favorite artists.

Dom also impresses with impressions of influences on him, including Paul Simon, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Jim Croce, ‘Freewheelin’-era Bob Dylan, ‘Nashville Skyline’ Dylan, Dave Van Ronk, and Van Morrison.

He also discusses the impact of Pete Seeger, who passed away the night before Flemons started recording the album ‘Prospect Hill,’ saying, “Pete’s been an essential part of my life as a lover of folk music” and talking about his influence as a banjo player.

Dom Flemons Tour Dates

August 8 – Fall River, MA – Narrows Center for the Arts
August 10 – New York, NY – Lincoln Center Out-Of-Doors
August 15 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Caffe Lena
September 10 - Tulsa, OK - Cain’s Ballroom *
September 11 - Kansas City, MO - Knuckleheads Saloon *
September 12 - St Louis, MO - Old Rock House (outside) *
September 13 - Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge *
September 15 - Charleston, IL - Dvorak Concert Hall at Doudna Fine Arts Center *
September 16 - Middletown, OH - Finkelman Auditorium at Miami University *
September 17 – Carbondale, IL – Hangar 9 *
September 18 - Bloomington, IL - The Castle Theatre *
September 19 - Chicago, IL - Old Town School of Folk Music *
September 20 - Stoughton, WI - Stoughton Opera House *
September 21 - Minneapolis, MN - The Cedar Cultural Center *
September 23 - Iowa City, IA - The Englert Theatre *
September 24 - Columbia, MO - The Blue Note *
September 27 – Peninsula, OH – G.A.R. Hall **
September 28 – Pittsburgh, PA – Club Cafe **
September 30 – Lancaster, PA – Tellus 360 **
October 1 – Washington, D.C. – The Hamilton **
October 3 – Arden, DE – Arden Gild Hall **
October 4 – New York, NY – Madison Square Park
October 5 – Providence, RI – Columbus Theatre **
October 7 – Philadelphia, PA – Tin Angel **
October 8 – Hamden, CT – The Outer Space Ballroom **
October 9 – Northampton, MA – Iron Horse **
October 10 – Cambridge, MA – Club Passim **
October 15 – Rocky Mount, VA – Harvester Performance Center **

* Central Time Tour with Pokey LaFarge; Joel Savoy, Jesse Lége & The Cajun Country Revival; The Tillers; and The Loot Rock Gang
** With Grace and Tony