Feature: Woody Guthrie 's blend of folk and protest to benefit homeless charity - Woody Sez for C4WS at St Pancras Old Church
Published: 17 March 2011
by DAN CARRIER
WOODY Guthrie’s potent blend of folk and protest became the soundtrack for the American Depression in the 1930s. He has inspired generations ever since – without Woody, there’d have been no Dylan.
And his protest music has resonance today: in a new show, called Woody Sez, playing at the Arts Cafe, Great Newport Street, Covent Garden, performers use 25 of his tunes to illustrate the modern mess we find ourselves in. On Sunday, at a special performance at St Pancras Old Church, the actors/ musicians are giving up their day off to raise money for Camden homeless charity, C4WS.
The benefit gig came about when Guthrie fan and child psychiatrist Susanne Griffin saw the show. She was so moved by it she contacted them to see if they could do another gig.
“It was such a wonderful show, the way it linked issues from the Thirties with how things are today,” she says. “I just had an idea of asking them to a benefit night and to my delight they said yes.”
The cast have said they will perform the show for free – and St Pancras Old Church is also offering its space for no charge.
• Woody Sez for C4WS takes place at St Pancras Old Church, St Pancras Way, NW1, at 7pm on Sunday