Press Kit

Spencer Bohren: Performer

Spencer Bohren’s music resonates with the ambience of the rivers, roads, and bayous of the American South. He has a marvelous gift for sharing his great love for America’s wealth of traditional folk, blues, gospel, and country music with audiences of all ages. His ability to animate the musicians and singers from the past with both respectful readings of their music and spellbinding stories is legendary. Spencer’s laid-back stage presence and comfortable delivery make each concert feel like a pleasant visit with an old friend.

But that’s not all…

Woven through the fabric of a Spencer Bohren performance are his stunning original pieces, teeming with echoes of the traditional music he loves, yet written from a modern viewpoint. From gently opinionated topical songs to energetic highway tunes to disarmingly beautiful ballads, Spencer presents a wide range of music, punctuated by superlative guitar playing and using an ever-changing assortment of vintage guitars, lapsteels and banjos. The atmosphere of his New Orleans home subtly informs each performance. What’s more, the stories that preface the songs are often as well received as the songs themselves. From festival stages in America to concert halls all over Europe, listeners continue to be charmed by the openness and honesty of Spencer’s music and his gracious personality. In a world filled with synthesized pop music, Spencer Bohren defines artistic integrity.

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Spencer Bohren: Educator

Spencer Bohren’s documentary concert, Down the Dirt Road Blues, follows the journey of a single song as it travels through America’s history and culture. From its pre-slavery African beginning, the song slowly transforms into Mississippi blues, Memphis dance music, a banjo tune from Appalachia, Hank Williams’ early country music, Muddy Waters’ electric Chicago blues, and finally into folk music and rock ‘n’ roll, with Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones. Spencer’s concurrent narrative gives students a historical context for the changes that drive the music forward.

Performed on appropriate vintage instruments, Spencer’s captivating story carries listeners of all ages along with him on this amazing musical journey and leaves every listener with an appreciation for America’s unique treasure of traditional music.

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Spencer Bohren: Artist

Spencer Bohren’s three-dimensional shadowbox assemblages have been called atmospheric, ceremonial, mysterious, spiritual, and magical. In fact, they are all of these things. Utilizing common objects encountered while traveling the globe as a musician, Spencer constructs mystical miniature worlds contained in small boxes that appear to be relics from some ancient or medieval culture. They are precisely made, and their collaged surfaces create layers of meaning that suggest our unsuspected proximity to the metaphysical world.

In conjunction with his musically oriented residencies, Spencer offers workshops detailing the philosophy and technique he implements in his artwork. The workshops can be tailored to any group or class, from art students or education majors to younger children or the general public. The materials needed are minimal, inexpensive, and easily available. The results are always satisfying to the participants.

An exhibition of Spencer’s shadowboxes can be arranged to run concurrently with his residency visit to further inspire and instruct students and enthusiasts.

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Spencer Bohren: Guitar Workshop

Spencer presents an introduction to America’s treasure trove of blues, country, folk, and gospel music, using simple methods and tricks designed to get maximum music from your guitar with minimal effort and technique. Geared toward vocal accompaniment, this workshop also includes casual anecdotes, historical footnotes, and musical philosophy, plus instruction and songs in all the relevant keys. From impressive finger picking to musical history, Spencer’s workshop has it all.

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Spencer Bohren: Residency

Spencer Bohren is uniquely qualified for residencies in universities, communities, and schools. From discussions of American roots music and its social connections, to art workshops and tackling the music business on your own terms, Spencer adapts his presentations to the audience, connecting directly with all age groups. Residencies are available from two days to one week and can include both music and art. Call Spencer to discuss community possibilities.

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