CONCERT: John McCutcheon returns to Modesto Jan. 24, releases new book

John McCutcheon returns to Modesto Jan. 24, releases new book

Folk musician John McCutcheon returns for his 6th annual benefit concert for the Modesto Peace Life Center on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 at 7 p.m. at the Modesto Church of the Brethren. John is a five-time Grammy award nominated folk singer and a committed peace activist. His singing, masterful playing of many instruments and storytelling have left local audiences feeling inspired and connected to the larger peace community.

This autumn also brings the long-awaited release of the children's-picture-book version of John's Christmas in the Trenches. With grand oil painting by award-winning illustrator Henri Sorensen, this powerful book includes a CD of John reading the book, singing the song and singing "Silent Night" in both English and German. Christmas in the Trenches has been called the greatest anti-war song ever written.

Here are some thoughts from John’s last newsletter:

“The border wall along the Texas/New Mexico/Arizona line will be a challenge to complete. Where will they hire the cheap labor needed to build it?”

“The all-volunteer army is stretched, reservists and National Guard units are performing extended tours of duty and the President has said he’ll “leave it to his successor” to decide what to do with Iraq. Over two more years of the same? Some Decider. Exactly one member of Congress had a child in the active duty military when the vote was taken back in 2003 to authorize the war in Iraq. It’s exactly this kind of disconnect from the realities of the war that stifles decisive action. What is clear is that increasingly the poor are fighting the rich man’s war.”

“I’ll be in your neighborhood soon. ‘Til then, keep in touch, do good work and eat enough homegrown tomatoes that you’ll remember them all winter long.”

Concert tickets are $17 in advance, $20 at the door and $5 for young people 17 years old and younger. Tickets are available at the Modesto Church of the Brethren, 2301 Woodland Ave., Modesto, 523-1438, or at Anderson Custom Framing and Gallery, 1323 J St., Modesto, 579-9913.

John McCutcheon’s web site: http://www.folkmusic.com