Rob Lutes: The Stories Behind the Songs II

Arbor Gallery is pleased to present the songs and storytelling series The Stories Behind the Songs II with Rob Lutes. The first edition of this acclaimed series of concert-workshops delving into the fascinating history of American and Canadian popular music was much enjoyed by attendees last year. This year, Rob returns with a follow-up that will take the audience further through music history all the way to the Rock and Roll era and the 1970s singer-songwriter movement. This series brings listeners deeper into music of the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, with new “old” songs and stories from eras already covered. 

Consisting of six sessions, this year’s program will begin with a revisiting of the early days of American music, featuring additional songs from this earliest era along with highlights from major movements in popular music including folk, spiritual and patriotic music of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, and the flowering of genres like blues, ragtime, jazz and Tin Pan Alley. The sessions will conclude with doo-wop and other Rock and Roll precursors, Motown and the singer-songwriters of the 1960s and 1970s. 

Interpreting the songs with guitar or banjo and voice, Rob’s approach is conversational and highly engaging, with participants encouraged to share memories and knowledge – and sing along! 

Session 1 – Back to the Roots: 18th and 19th century redux; A second look at memorable songs from early American music 

Session 2 – Late 19th and Early 20th Century: Revisiting songs from the birth of the American popular music industry 

Session 3 – Blues, Jazz and Country: More from the three “mega-genres” and precursors of Rock and Roll

Session 4 – Rock and Roll 

Session 5 – Singer-Songwriters of the 1960s and 1970s

Session 6 – Canadian Songs 

Series cost: $40 for all 6 sessions, or $10 per session.

To register for this series, contact [email protected]

This series is made possible thanks to the generous support of Reg and Rosemary Harden, Louise Sproule Realtor Remax Delta Realty and the Township of Champlain.

About Rob Lutes

A masterful fingerstyle guitarist with an unmistakable, soulful voice, Rob Lutes has steadily built a collection of moving, melodic songs that inhabit the intersection of blues, folk and Americana. His eighth album, Come Around, was released in April 2021 and garnered four 2022 Canadian Folk Music Award nominations – winning the award for Contemporary Singer of the Year. For more information, visit www.roblutes.com

Photo credit: James St Laurent

“A gem. Among the best in a crowded roots field.” Toronto Star

‟Lutes is a fine roots/blues writer, one of those gems you find by chance as you’re going through a town and he’s going through a town and you just want a beer and he gives you the show of the year.” Bob Mersereau, CBC.ca