Fri 4/1 @ 8PM
Singer/guitarist and folklorist Andy Cohen grew up in the ’60s, a time when various American folkways were starting to be uncovered and to attract attention from the young middle-class boys who fueled a renewed interest in folk, blues, bluegrass, gospel and old-time music. Inspired at age 16 by the Rev. Gary Davis, Cohen, like many of his young white peers, looked to black bluesman like Lead Belly, Big Bill Broonzy, Skip James and Blind Lemon Jefferson for his musical fuel, developing his own take on acoustic country blues.
Originally from Boston, spending some time in Kent where he got his masters degree, and now based in Memphis, Cohen continues to tour extensively with his repertoire of old blues tunes and engaging stories, accompanied by his fingerstyle guitar-picking and his dolceola, an obscure instrument that’s basically a zither with a keyboard.
When he performs at Peninsula’s G.A.R. Hall as part of its Voices in the Valley series, Cleveland’s jack DiAlessandro will be his special guest. Doors open at 7:30pm; Admission is $10.
peninsulahistory.org/voices-in-the-valley/