Root Cellar Sound Presents 2nd Free Community Concert in Guilford: Ryan Lee Crosby & Flume + A Blues Workshop

On Sunday, October 26 at 6pm at the Broad Brook Community Center at 3940 Guilford Center Rd in Guilford, VT, local record label Root Cellar Sound is presenting the second concert in its free community concert series in collaboration with the community center. Delta-blues guitarist Ryan Lee Crosby will be performing acoustic Betonia blues, accompanied on percussion and will be supported with an opening set by local folk rockers Flume. The concert is free and open to all ages. There will be a workshop hosted by Crosby 'Introduction to Mississippi Blues Guitar' held at the center at 3pm, for which a suggested donation of $20 goes to the artist, registration at RootCellarSound.com.

Ryan Lee Crosby is currently based in Rhode Island, but his musical heart is in Mississippi. He has released numerous albums, toured internationally and is a leading practitioner of the Bentonia School of rural Delta blues. Smithsonian Magazine praised his ability to "bring influences from Africa and India to the Bentonia sound.” Under the tutelage of the last of the Bentonia, MS bluesmen, 77-year-old Jimmy “Duck” Holmes, Crosby studies the Bentonia style. The Bentonia blues, which Holmes learned from the form’s originator Henry Stuckey as well as Jack Owens, depends upon a minor key open guitar tuning called crossnote and is often accompanied by falsetto singing. Its most famous exponent, Skip James, had stopped Crosby in his tracks when Ryan first heard the sound. Crosby develops the style in his own way, using a 12-string electric guitar. “Playing with Jimmy and learning from him,” Crosby says, “it’s the joy, it’s the process, it’s the connection and transcendence and what feels to me like a fulfillment of life’s purpose.”

Opening up the concert, Guilford-based folk rock duo Flume features Pete Ginter on guitar and vocals and Gray Zabriskie on percussion, harmonica and vocals. The word is Latin for 'to flow', which is the state that they enter while performing original takes on B sides and obscure tunes that have influenced that. Both musicians have performed in numerous groups in the area, including with NL Dennis & the Thunderballs, Riley Lucifer and the Spirit Collective.

Prior to the concert, at 3pm, Broad Brook Community Center will be hosting Ryan Lee Crosby's workshop: "Intro to Mississippi Blues and Slide Guitar: Classics and Deep Cuts" - exploring the sound of Mississippi and the roots of American music with a selection of classic riffs and deep cuts from songs by Howlin' Wolf, Robert Wilkins, Jessie Mae Hemphill and Skip James. Participants will examine signature melodies from each artist across multiple tunings. Open to all levels of playing ability. Tablature included for practice and the workshop will last 90-120 minutes. Registration for the workshop is required in advance and can be done through RootCellarSound.com, a $20 suggested donation is requested to support the artist.

"The concert is a great technology of human connection," says Root Cellar Sound founded Joel 'Veena' Eisenkramer, "as we enjoy music together so we strengthen our community for the world we wish to live in." Join Ryan Lee Crosby and Flume for a special free community concert Sunday October 26 at 6pm. Light refreshments will be provided, community members are encouraged to bring something to contribute to the gathering if they feel so moved (food, beverage, decoration, etc.).