October 13—Pat Wicktor and Bob Beach-7 PM -Old State House, Dover, DE.
Brooklyn-based slide guitar master Pat Wictor will join Bob for this show. Pat first burst on the folk and acoustic scene as an innovative slide guitarist known for fresh and memorable interpretations of traditional and contemporary songs. Since then, he has made his mark as a singer-songwriter penning lean and poetic songs that honor and extend rural blues and gospel traditions. Pat took a convoluted path to folk music, winding his way through rock, heavy metal, jazz, and free improvisation. He started with guitar, shifted to bass, moved to saxophone, and then quit music entirely before returning to guitar, and teaching himself lap slide guitar. He organized and ran a songwriters circle in New York City for 13 years, mentoring and influencing dozens of songwriters. An adept improviser and accompanist, he is sought after as a collaborator, sideman, and session musician, with over 60 recording credits to date. His style has also been classified as Americana, with Dirty Linen stating that the clear quality of his voice makes for an “interesting juxtaposition” alongside his musicianship.
Bob Beach plays harmonica with calm fierceness. A mouth-harp maestro who swaggers into a solo like The Marlboro Man, then quietly leaves the set while the crowd wonders what just happened and how such a tiny instrument could possibly sound like that. Bob has been a working professional musician for more than 40 years bringing harmonica, flute, and vocals to a broad scope of genres. He has recorded or performed with acts such as Ollabelle, Langhorne Slim, The Avett Brothers, Pat Wictor and others.
The Old State House concert series is presented by Delaware Friends of Folk. These events are supported by a grant from the Kent County Fund for the Arts, an organization that aims to enhance the quality of life, educate, and broaden perspectives by supporting the arts and arts organizations in Kent County. Support is also provided by the First State Heritage Park, a partnership of State and City agencies under the leadership of Delaware State Parks and the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs. Delaware Friends of Folk are partially supported by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on www.DelawareScene.com.