Michael Guthrie
Seattle, Washington, United States
Music
Press
April 22, 2005 by Jessica Davis The series will take place in History House's covered outdoor Sculpture Garden On Sunday afternoons from 2 to 4 p.m. (no concert is scheduled for July 3.) Musicians will perform an eclectic repertoire of genres ranging from original to traditional folk to new age to maritime chantey's to Celtic and Irish to Blues. Many of the musicians are scheduled to play at this year's Folklife Festival at the Seattle Center, "This is a terrific group of musicians who have donated their time and talents to help build this program into what we hope will be an annual event," said event organizer John Nordstrand. Nordstrand and musician Michael Guthrie will take turns emceeing the event. Guthrie booked the musicians for the series, and he also will perform in a few concerts. On Saturday, May 1, and June 18, Guthrie will perform some folk music, jazz and blues with Christie Aitken, who writes her own songs, sings and plays acoustic guitar and ukulele. "We do a variety of stuff," Guthrie said, adding that Aitken will sing an old Irish folk tune called "Wild Mountain Time." He also will perform a solo concert on Sept 25, showcasing a variety of instruments, including acoustic guitar, lap-steel, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, button accordion and electric bass. "I think if it's a cool opportunity," said acoustic guitarist Deb Seymour, who will sing and play some of her own folk tunes on July 10. The songs range from "beer hating, tango-dancing Martians to having your heart broken in a tropical windstorm," she explained. Local Guitarist, Ron Dalton, also will perform some of his own tunes on May 22 and Sept 18. "They're story songs influenced by jazz, rock and folk," he said. Dalton will perform the title song of his recent debut album, "Half," about splitting up. He noted that the inspiration for his songs comes from people he meets and talks to, as well as his own experiences. Dalton also plans to perform ÒOutside,Ó a song about a little girlÕs view inside an orphanage, and ÒEmpathy Walks,Ó about the plight of refugees around the world. Other scheduled musicians include PK Dwyer; Mary Grider; Maride Widmann; Blue-ize; Linda Khandro; Stanislove; Wes Weddell; Teeth, Hair and Eyeballs; Bob Antone; Jim Nason; Jerry Middaugh; John Weiss; Dan Roberts; Reggie Miles; Morgan and Graves and Pat Gill. ÒI think it serves a really good purpose to help further the art of music.Ó Guthrie said ÒI think itÕs a high level quality of musicians.Ó Surrounding the stage for the music series is the Sculpture GardenÕs unique collection of miscellaneous items, including a 6 by 12 piece of the Berlin wall, a fire truck, destined to Georgia in the former satellite state of the Soviet Union, the safe discovered beneath the Dubliner Tavern and a 15 food model of an Orca whale. ÒI thought this would be a great place, especially in the spring and summer, for music performances,Ó Nordstrand said. The Music in the Sculpture Garden music series is sponsored in part by the Fremont Chamber of Commerce. - Harold-Outlook
April 26, 2006 By Marlaina Blanche The Langham is very excited about having Michael Guthrie perform April 29 at 7:30 pm. Many of you know him as the guy who, in 1974, had the crazy idea of turning a derelict building slated for demolition into a community cultural centre. The fact that the Langham Cultural Centre remains as a very important and vibrant part of KasloÕs arts community 32 years later is testament to MichaelÕs foresight and motivational skills. Some of you will also remember him as the guy who, with his wife Dare, ran a funky little restaurant in the 70Õs called the Village Green, where people gathered for great food, friends and music. ÒWe hosted a coffee house venue with live music, poetry and belly dancing, which brought a lot of talented song writers to our doorÉ the highlight being when Bruce Cockburn stopped by one day and played for his lunch, then he are Dare played some tunes for a few lucky customers. The Village Green CafŽÕ was a source of much inspiration for me to begin writing my own songs,Ó says Guthrie. Since leaving Kaslo in 1981 he has continued to play, record and perform his own music, which might be described as influenced by bluegrass, blues, folk and rock. You may have enjoyed his music at the Jazz Etc., Festival, at the LanghamsÕs 30th anniversary celebration, in Vimy Park, or at the Langham Theatre a couple of years ago. Now, he has very generously offered to do a benefit concert for the Langham, the proceeds of which will go toward the purchase of much needed new sound equipment for the theatre. Tickets are $10 and are available at Sunnyside Naturals and Portobella Interiors, or call 353-2122 for reservations. - The Valley Voice
Oct 26 Ð Nov 1, 2006 Seattle musician Michael Guthrie performs live on Troll Radio Revue Saturday, Oct 28. Guthrie is the producer of ÒMusic in the Sculpure Garden,Ó a free community concert series at History House in SeattleÕs Fremont Neighborhood. In addition to playing fundraisers such as the River theaterÕs 2005 Highwater Festival of Fools, Guthrie is a life-time Victory Music member and volunteers to write a monthly column for the Victory Review called ÒThe RamblinÕ Mike.Ó Troll Radio Revue is broadcast monthly on KMUN Community Radio from the River Theater, 230 W. Marine Drive. Everyone is welcome to join the live audience from 11 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct 28. Cost is $2 for adults and free for children. - Coast Weekend - Stepping Out
Discography
Michael Guthrie "Conscious Collective"
Michael Guthrie "On The River"
Photos
Bio
Michael Guthrie has recently opened, April 2010, for Laurence Juber (lead guitar player for "Wings" Paul McCartney's group) at the Barn in Everett, WA... in 2009 for Claudia Schmidt at the Portland Folk Music Society...and in March 2010 for Dick Weissman (original member of the Journeyman with John Phillips and Scott MacKenzie) at the Haller Lake "Arts Alive" concert series, Seattle, WA. He recently played for the Three Rivers Folklife Society coffee house series in Richland, WA.
Guthrie will be performing for the Langham Cultural Society's 35th year Anniversary on May 1st 2010 in Kaslo, BC (Guthrie started this society in 1974). Also coming up: Yakima Folk Festival, Juan De Fuca Festival, Crossroads Market and Cascade Coffee House.
"A world class performer." Peter Jordan, North Coast Folk Festival.
"Michael Guthrie is a wonderful blend of folksinger, storyteller, singer-songwriter, and he also sings songs by the many friends he has made in years of performing." Dick Weismann, Portland Folk Music Society.
June 2007 Guthrie was featured on; Tom Mays' nationally syndicated radio show "River City Folk" which recently aired again on XM Satellite Radio channel 15 The Village Oct. 2008. This show also airs on 180 FM stations around N. America.
Other live radio shows include:
KBCS 91.4 FM "Lunch With Folks",
KMUN 91.9 FM "Troll Radio Review" 2004,06 broadcast live from the River Theatre Astoria, OR,
"The Raggle Taggle Gypsy" KPSU AM, Portland, OR
CD REVIEWS :
"Michael Guthries' CD Conscious Collective is a stellar collection of real musicianship. He delves into blues, folk and rock and makes the listener think. This is what creative music is all about."
Joe Kelley, WVOF 88.5 FM (an NPR affiliate) The Upper Room with Joe Kelley
"On Conscious Collective, Seattles Michael Guthrie provides us with more than just an eclectic mix of folk, blues and jazz. Whether commenting on US foreign policy, as in Military Coup, or talking about relationships as in Love Me Like a Friend, Guthries' passion for his fellow man shines through. His guitar playing is superb throughout. He can switch from one guitar style to another with little effort. Check out the jazzy stylings of Bloomin' and the steel sounds on Lookin' at the World. Michael Guthrie has produced a CD that is both entertaining and thought provoking. I'm glad somebody is still doing that."
Jim Dupuis Jazz with Jim-CFBX 92. 5 fm theX Kamloops , BC
" In 1964 I learned my first song on guitar from a friend at a summer camp. He played in a trio called the "Pill Palace Porch Pickers". I soon became obsessed with learning more and more. I joined the folk club at my high school and I started taking Flamenco lessons from the Spanish teacher there when I was in 12th grade. I don't play Flamenco anymore but my music is influenced by it. My roots in music are folk/blues/country/jazz and most of all, my mother who always sang around the house and had the loudest voice at church where I used to sing hymns with her. I still play songs I learned from her like; Shortinin' 'Bread, Red River Valley and Rovin' Gambler.
Aside from playing old folk/blues music, I write songs too. My approach to writing is from personal experience and my observation of cultural affairs. Although I start out from a personal point of view, I try to arrive at a more universal point of view so that the listener might find someway to relate to what I am writing about. I don't believe in rhyming dictionaries or pop formulas and I rarely enter songwriting contests. I understand the importance of following all the songwriting rules if you want to "make it" to the pop charts, but I feel the need to be true to my art in music. I have played folk and blues music for over 45 years now, and I have a love for this music and have learned most of those songs I play from other musicians, in the traditional folk process. When I play festivals and other gigs, I incorporate all these styles into a dynamic mix using different instruments, which creates a program of variety and multiple textures.
"In 1974 I spearheaded the Langham Cultural Society in Kaslo, BC which still operates today and has an 80 seat perfroming arts theatre which I have performed at a couple times in the past few years. I also owned and operated, with my wife Darelyn Guthrie, The Village Green Cafe' in Kaslo, BC from '73-'79. We had live music there and hosted many fine Canadian performers including; Kenn Hamm and Bruce Cockburn, both Juno Award winners.
For 4 years I co-produced "Music in the Sculpture Garden" at History House in Seattle, WA. This is a free to the community Sunday afternoon family oriented concert which also supports artist development in the greater Seattle Area. I also volunteer for Victory Music, and for 5 years I wrote a monthly column "The Ramblin' Mike" for the Victory Review Magazine.
At age 61 I currently play as a part time professional, 2 or
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