Protest poetry and parody songs written by frontline soldiers during WW1
with new melodies and music in order to more readily access the emotional content of the lyrics, and to continue folk music’s long tradition of reshaping songs over time – the same way soldiers reshaped these songs in the trenches.

Listen and purchase here

For his 14th solo effort Beppe Gambetta reveals himself to be not simply a master guitarist but also a songwriter of great feeling and maturity. Singing in three languages (English, Italian, Genovese), Beppe unveils four songs about his family and hometown of Genova, his life on the road, the fathers of the music that inspired him and the love of his life. Theses and some great instrumentals make this Beppe’s best album yet.

Check it out here

I first heard Laura Smith (then known as Susie Smith) in London, Ontario

It was back in the mid-seventies at Smale’s Pace Coffeehouse and Laura was not only singing but waitressing at the club as well. I can’t tell you what she was singing that night, but it was probably something from the traditional repertoire. What I do remember is that she delivered the songs with a ton of conviction. No fooling around, she took hold of the song and delivered it directly to everyone in the audience.

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