UPDATE – This show has been rescheduled for Sunday 1st November. Click here for more details.
Following on from his celebrated shows, Woody Guthrie: Hard Times and Hard Travelin’ and Woody Guthrie: The Long Road to Peekskill Will Kaufman brings his new living documentary Woody Guthrie and ‘Old Man Trump’ to the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall Music Room on Sunday 22nd March 2020.
In December 1950, Woody Guthrie moved his family into a new apartment in Brooklyn’s Beach Haven. His new landlord, it turned out, was none other than Fred Trump, father of the current president of the United States. Over 60 years later, Donald Trump would proclaim on his campaign trail: ‘my legacy is my father’s legacy’ – it was, among other things, a legacy of corruption and race-hatred.
In 2014, Will Kaufman discovered, buried in the archives, Guthrie’s previously unpublished song lyrics and other writings condemning Fred Trump’s racism. He has now turned these discoveries into a new music and spoken-word presentation, Woody Guthrie and ‘Old Man Trump’
This show brings to life all the anger and contempt that Guthrie felt for those in power who will deny justice to their fellow human beings on account of the colour of their skin. Against the backdrop of Guthrie’s racial awakening and emergent activism, Will introduces previously unheard songs such as ‘Trump Made a Tramp Out of Me’ and ‘Beach Haven Ain’t My Home’, along with a host of other Guthrie songs about racial injustice and struggle.
Will Kaufman – singer, multi-instrumentalist, and Professor of American Studies – is recognised as the world’s leading authority on Woody Guthrie. He is the author of Woody Guthrie, American Radical (2011), Woody Guthrie’s Modern World Blues (2017), and Mapping Woody Guthrie (2019).
Will’s previous two shows at the Music Room have been sold out, so be quick if you don’t want to miss out!
Tickets are £12 (£15 Premium) available from the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.
- in person: at the Hope Street box office
- by phone: 0151 709 3789
- online: liverpoolphil.com
