On Friday, December 20, Taps at the Guardhouse presents the music of Joe Seamons on guitar and banjo at 6pm as part of the Friday Night Live music series.

Born and raised in Northwestern Oregon, Joe Seamons interprets songs and stories of the sawmills, logging, and fishing ballads which were composed by elder working people and folklorists. Joe included many of these songs on the 2016 album, Timberbound. In the same spirit, Joe directed and served as executive producer for a recent Smithsonian Folkways album entitled, “Roll, Columbia: Woody Guthrie’s 26 Northwest Songs.”

As both musician and educator, Joe has a long and successful track record of helping people connect with their heritage through music and storytelling. With his friend and fellow songster, Ben Hunter, the two founded The Rhapsody Project, which works with youth in Seattle to explore the influence of regional and personal history through the lens of American blues and folk songs.

The multi-instrumental Ben & Joe duo was awarded 1st place in the 2016 International Blues Challenge, and more recently won recognition by the Ethnic Heritage Council for excellence in ethnic performance and significant contributions to the development and presentation of the traditional cultural arts in the Pacific Northwest. Shortly before they last performed at Taps, the duo released a new album with harmonica master Phil Wiggins entitled “Black & Tan Ball.” Ben and Joe have been playing together for almost ten years, the last 7 of which have seen them in Port Townsend at Centrum’s Acoustic Blues Workshop, learning at the feet of the elders while contributing to the community as performers and educators.

Joe Seamons’ website states: “A Pacific Northwest musician and teacher, Joe is on a mission to tell hidden stories and build community through music.” www.joebanjo.net