American Troubadour
What kind of music does Mike Agranoff play? Oh, everything. He likes to call himself a ?singer-songfinder.? Expect to be amazed, to laugh, to be touched, to sing along and generally be entertained. From traditional ballads and dance tunes to recitations, to Tin Pan Alley and more recent songs to folk favorites and parodies, Mike has an immense repertoire. His latest CD (Straight Lines) includes songs about trains, Stephen Foster, pot, comic books and cereal; composers include Gus Kahn, Joni Mitchell, J.S. Bach, Steve Goodman, Michael Smith, Jean Ritchie, the Berrymans, Stan Rogers, and, oh yeah, Mike Agranoff.
Tall, thin and bearded, Mike is known at venues and festivals mostly in the eastern US, with an occasional foray into the Midwest and the UK. He has also attended the FSGW Getaway a time or three. Wherever he goes, he keeps an ear out for new material ? or better, for old material. Known for fine fingerstyle guitar picking, he usually includes some concertina, and has been known to play Joplin on the piano, should one be available.
Not only a performer, Mike is involved in presenting folk music as well, being one of the prime movers of The Folk Project, New Jersey?s oldest and strongest folk music organization. For more than two decades he has been chairman of that organization?s Minstrel Coffeehouse, one of the longest-lived and most respected folk venues in the country.
So with all the festivals he?s worked and performers he?s presented, and songs he?s learned, adapted and sung, we thought we?d do a little interview during the concert, probably after the intermission. And since Mary Cliff isn?t working that Saturday night, she?s agreed to ask the questions.
Join us at Glen Echo Town Hall, 6106 Harvard Ave., Glen Echo MD.
General admission is $15; free to members of FSGW, and free to residents of the Town of Glen Echo. For a preview, see Mike?s website, http://mikeagranoff.com/videos.php.
Please do not park on Harvard Avenue in the Town Hall block, out of consideration for the Town Hall?s neighbors. Please park down on University Avenue, or on the other side of MacArthur Blvd, being careful not to block driveways.
Following the intermission, there will be a very brief meeting of FSGW members for the purpose of accepting nominations for candidates for the 2015-2016 FSGW Board of Directors.
