Willie Watson with Chicago Farmer- 3/4/17- Cedarburg Cultural Center

photo by Will Piper

Fans at the Cedarburg Cultural Center were treated to performances from two top-rate modern folk storytellers on Saturday night, with Chicago Farmer and Willie Watson.

photo by Will Piper

Armed with just a guitar and harmonica, Cody Diekhoff, aka Chicago Farmer performed all original material, drawing from last year's Midwest Side Stories, LP but playing a fair amount of back catalogue tracks as well.  Chicago Farmer's exceptional storytelling engaged his audience from the first verses of "Umbrella," a stellar cut off of Midwest Side Stories.  Chicago Farmer's style of folk is heavily influenced by the protest songs of the early 1960's, and while he certainly has a throw back sound musically, his stories tackle modern issues- both comical and poignant.  "$13 Beers," was a narrative lament about over-priced libations at a big country show in Chicago, whereas "Assembly Line Blues," a track off of his 2006 release, From A Small Town in Illinois told a timeless tale of a working man's struggle.  The highlight of Chicago Farmer's set was "Backseat," a song dedicated to his wife from his 2013 Backenforth, IL record.  There is an earnest sincerity, charm and sweetness to this tune which made me look it up on Spotify immediately when coming home from the show.

photo by Brian Norman

Headlining the evening was Willie Watson, who appeared on stage with an old-timey hat, black suit and an arsenal of two guitars, a series of harmonicas and a banjo.  Watson achieved notoriety as a founding member of Old Crowe Medicine Show, but has carved his own niche as a solo artist since splitting from his former band in 2011.  Watson performs his set in the style of many of the great folk performers before him, opting to play his reinterpretations of older songs, rather than originals. Watson's greatest gift his is soaring voice which breathed new life into tracks like "Mexican Cowboy," a stand-out song off of his 2014 Folk Singer Vol. 1 record.  Music clearly gives Watson great joy, and his infectious smile was evident throughout the evening.  Watson's style of folk is heavily rooted in gospel and early blues music.  "Dry Bones," a song Watson introduced as a "bad ass gospel number" treated the crowd to some stellar banjo work and more spiritual lyrics.  Watson closed his set with a rousing rendition of "Midnight Special," perhaps his most well-known solo track, which had the crowd singing along and on their feet.  For an encore Watson showed off some rootsy blues on slide guitar before sending the crowd home happy with a fast-picking rendition of "John Henry."

It was a pleasure seeing Willie Watson and Chicago Farmer in the friendly confines of the Cedarburg Cultural Center, which served as a perfect venue for a "sit down and soak it in" show like this.  These two could have easily drawn well at a variety of venues downtown, but chose to play to a diverse crowd of music lovers in "Cedar's Burg" instead.