Tom Irwin will perform in the Coffeyville area the week of Jan. 30. The public is invited to his 10:30 a.m. performance on Jan. 31 at the Spencer/Rounds Theatre on the main campus of CCC.
A sixth generation central Illinois resident, Tom Irwin relates the experiences of rural Midwestern life through original songs, folk music and stories. In the program “From Words to Songs: Turning an 1893 Illinois Farmboy’s Diary to Music,” Irwin talks about the process of creating songs from selected diary entries of Harry Glen Ludlam. Ludlam was a 16-year-old boy who lived on a family farm near Springfield, Illinois in the 1890s.
During the program, Irwin explains the reasoning behind the creative process, relates historic events from the era, then performs songs based on the journal writings. Entries in the diary cover Harry’s work on the farm, visits from Gypsies, walks in the woods, a trip to the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, barn dances, a death in the family, leaving home and spiritual awakenings.
Irwin found the diary on his family farm, tucked away in a pie-tin cupboard for over a century. He then studied the journal as a historic document during graduate work at the University of Illinois-Springfield.
Professionally, Irwin performs around 200 dates a year at various venues in diverse areas. He has opened for Willie Nelson and Family at the Illinois State Fair, plays regularly with a Celtic-Fusion group at The Emerald Underground, plays a nationally recognized Elvis Tribute show called Elvis Himselvis and performs with an electric rock band known as the Raouligans. Now in his fourth decade of live performance, Irwin brings a standard of excellence to each show, blending thoughtful music with a seasoned presentation to deliver a respectful and entertaining show.
Irwin’s tour in Montgomery County will start on Monday, January 30th at the Coffeyville Meal Site, Sycamore Landing and Windsor Place Assisted Living before arriving at the Spencer/Rounds Theatre on the CCC Campus at 10:20 a.m. on Tuesday, January 31st. Irwin will continue his tour of Coffeyville with Windsor Place, Windsor Place SCU and the Medicalodge of Coffeyville on Tuesday. Wednesday he will entertain residents at Asbury Village and Manor House followed by the students at Caney Valley High School on Thursday and the Caney Nursing Home and Guest Home Estates in Caney on Friday.
The public is invited to the 10:20 a.m. Tuesday Humanities performances at CCC. The performances are free and held in the Spencer/Rounds Theatre. For more information call 620-251-7700, ext.2145 or 2038.