Leo Kottke
March 4, 8pm
presented by ACG
Acoustic guitarist Leo Kottke was born in Athens, Georgia, but left town after a year and a half. Raised in 12 different states, he absorbed a variety of musical influences as a child, flirting with both violin and trombone, before abandoning Stravinsky for the guitar at age 11.
Alternative Concert Group marks 40th anniversary with Leo Kottke, Sarah Lee Guthrie show American Finger-style guitar legend Leo Kottke and singer/songwriter Sarah Lee Guthrie. Kottke has been working steadily since his 1968 release “Twelve String Blues,” and was subsequently signed to John Fahey’s record label, releasing his now-classic “6- and 12- String Guitar” album, more commonly known as “the Armadillo record.” Whether an opening act (Van Morrison), a co-headliner (Leon Redbone) or, as he is on this tour, a headliner, Kottke’s guitar virtuosity and between-song storytelling have enchanted audiences around the world. Musical collaborators include Phish bassist Mike Gordon and Prince producer (and longtime friend) David Z. Kottke has been twice-nominated for Grammy awards and received a doctorate in music performance by the Peck School of Music at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Guthrie, the third generation of a legendary musical family, may have gotten her start as a teen in the early 1990s, singing Pete Seeger’s “Sailin’ Down My Golden River” on stages in New York (Carnegie Hall) and Vienna, VA (Wolf Trap), but her first solo show outside of her home state of Massachusetts was at Milwaukee’s Shank Hall in 2000. Since then, she and her husband, musician Johnny Irion, have worked both on individual projects and written and recorded together. She is the recipient of a Golden Medallion from the Parents Choice Foundation for her album “Go Waggaloo,” a family album of original songs (a few with lyrics from her grandfather, Woody).
Presented by Alternative Concert Group, whose first show 40 years ago at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Union Ballroom was in March of 1983.
Premium reserved seats $56 (includes $4 fee) and all other seats $45 (includes $3 fee).
Official Artist Website