Thursday, June 27th, 2pm – Combining rare audio, archival film, captivating stories, songs, and guided music-making, master percussionist, author, educator, and radio host Craig Harris will be leading a multimedia, participatory, and fun-filled 50th anniversary celebration of the culturally groundbreaking Woodstock Music and Art Festival.
About Craig Harris: Master percussionist, educator, author, photographer, and the host of a Friday night show on WAMU/NPR’s Bluegrass Country Radio, Craig Harris’ latest book, Bluegrass, Newgrass, Old-time and Americana Music, published in 2018. He previously authored The Band: Pioneers of Americana Music (2014) and Heartbeat, Warble and the Electric Powwow: American Indian Music (2016), along with countless reviews and articles for newspapers, magazines and websites. Harris passion for music, though, goes beyond the printed word. A skilled percussionist/drummer, he’s accompanied Woodstock veterans Melanie and Rick Danko (The Band), among many others. He continues to play with an Americana group (Two Days Jeans) and a world-groove trio (the Gaea Star Band), with whom he’s co-hosted the syndicated Gaea Crystal Radio Hour since 2014. After teaching music for more than a quarter of a century, Harris launched his Drum Away the Blues program in 2009. He’s also presented multimedia and participatory programs, Heartbeat: A Native American Musical Experience and Unraveling America’s Musical Roots, in MA, CT, RI, NH, NY, NJ, PA, and FL.