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Chuck Brodsky coming next to the Listening Room

Chuck Brodsky will perform at 4 p.m. Sunday, June 10, at the Music Listening Room.

By , Published: June 7, 2012

The Music Listening Room at the Guitar Academy of Western North Carolina welcomes Chuck Brodsky to the stage at 4 p.m. Sunday, June 10. There will be an artist meet and greet after the concert. Tickets are $15 in advance or $18 at the door. Tickets may be purchased on the Guitar Academy website at www.wncguitaracademy.com/listening-rm.

Chuck Brodsky coming next to the Listening RoomThis down to earth musical storyteller, with his dry, barb-witted social commentary combined with a deep underlying compassion, knows that the best stories are the little things in the lives of everyday people trying to muddle through with some grace. His great gift as a writer is to infuse these stories with humanity and humor, making them resonate profoundly with his listeners. His spoken introductions to his songs can be as spellbinding as his colorful lyrics, which he brings to life with a well-travelled voice and a delivery that's natural and conversational. His groove-oriented strumming and fingerpicking draw on influences from the mountains of Western North Carolina where he now lives, and from lots of different good old traditional folk stuff of all kinds.

Brodsky's songwriting pokes fun at political corruption, road rage, mischief he made as a kid, even dumping garbage in the river; he sings about unsung heroes and forgotten but incredible people...odd characters from the game of baseball, migrant fruit pickers, the Goat Man, a clown, or "Radio," a developmentally disabled man and the love showered on him for 40 years at a high school in South Carolina (this song was used in the 2003 movie "Radio").

His songs have been recorded by Kathy Mattea, David Wilcox, Sara Hickman, Chuck Pyle, and many others. His tune "Blow 'em Away" was selected by Christine Lavin for Shanachie's 1996 "Laugh Tracks" album. He's appeared on nationally syndicated radio programs "Mountain Stage," "Acoustic Cafe," and "River City Folk," and has performed three concerts of his celebrated baseball story songs at the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

He has toured extensively throughout the US, Canada, and abroad for more than 18 years and has appeared in concert with artists including Arlo Guthrie, Janis Ian, Pete Seeger, Tim O'Brien, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, John Hartford, Greg Brown, Gillian Welch, Dick Gaughan, Tom Paxton, Ferron, Richie Havens, Patty Larkin, Steve Forbert, The Kingston Trio, and Christine Lavin.

The Guitar Academy of Western North Carolina is at 235 Duncan Hill Road (between Lowe's and Egolf Motors in the Duncan Hill Commerce Center) in Hendersonville.