Celebrate the holidays with the Family Folk Machine at the Englert’s annual Festival of Carols, hosted on Tuesday, December 8th at 6:30 p.m. Read more

“The Traveling Kind” on November 15th at the Senior Center and November 22nd at the Old Capitol building in the Senate chamber!

One of the purposes of our intergenerational, non-auditioned choir is to explore American culture and history through song, and this fall we will reflect on the joys of rambling around and the importance placed on transportation in American life.

Our set list this time around:

Erie Canal

City of New Orleans

Urge for Going

I Am a Wanderer

Dixie

Skunk

Airplane

Wait for the Wagon

–Intermission–

Long Time Traveler

Wabash Cannonball

Hobo’s Lullaby

Hard Travelin’

Ramblin’ Boy

500 Miles

Rock Island

The Traveling Kind

 

by Aprille Clark and Miles Crall

“The Wabash Cannonball,” originally published in 1882, is the oldest song in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. Read more

by Ed Flaherty

“Ridin’ on the City of New Orleans, Illinois Central,  Monday mornin’ rail… Good Mornin’ America How Are Ya?” Written by Steve Goodman (rip), famously performed by Arlo Guthrie, now to be wonderfully performed by the FAMILY FOLK MACHINE on Nov 15th and 22nd!

by Tammy Coverdale-Bauer

This song was written by Goebel Reeves and performed by many artists including Woody Guthrie, Arlo Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Emmylou Harris, and The Kingston Trio. What’s interesting to me is that its music is nearly identical to popular Civil War Era composer George F. Root’s song, “Just Before The Battle, Mother” and is reminiscent of the Carter Family song, “Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes.”

Another version of the song was recorded by Sharon, Lois, and Bram in 1979, which appeared in their Elephant Show in 1985.

This isn’t just an American song either, Hobo’s Lullaby has been translated and sung in French by Graeme Allwright. Here’s a link to the French version: https://youtu.be/22u3k4RPtuw
And here’s an Arlo Guthrie version with some great images to go with this heartfelt song:

by Aprille Clarke and Tobin Crall

“The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” was written by Robbie Robertson of The Band and later covered by Joan Baez. Read more

Here’s the latest good press about the Family Folk Machine from the Cedar Rapids Gazette! Read more

It’s time to get together for some community singing!

Join us this Saturday from 3:00 to 4:30 for our monthly all-request sing-along. Bring instruments, friends, neighbors, and children. We’ll have Rise Up Singing books, and Uptown Bill’s will provide the cozy atmosphere. Read more

Join us September 26, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m., for our video-release party! We’ll premiere the video at the Senior Center and then parade down to Chauncey Swan Park for refreshments, games, and singing.

It’s time to get together for some community singing!

Join us this Saturday from 3:00 to 4:30 for our monthly all-request sing-along. Bring instruments, friends, neighbors, and children. We’ll have Rise Up Singing books, and Uptown Bill’s will provide the cozy atmosphere. Read more