Arlo

The Guthrie Center in MA, in the Old Trinity Church is the site of the 1965 Thanksgiving events that inspired the song and film, Alice's Restaurant made popular by folksinger Arlo Guthrie.

We discovered the center a few years back when we were up in the Berkshires and it has become one of our favorite places to go. The former church sanctuary is now a stage that comes alive when Arlo and family perform. And there is so much reverence, peace, and just an uplifting feeling in that church that I feel spiritually renewed after a concert.

Arlo says that the energy stays in the walls for all to feel when they enter and I believe that.

I have to say that I knew of the song and the movie, but that was where my knowledge and interest stopped until we started to visit the Guthrie Center and attend all the benefit concerts there. First of all, Arlo is quite a story teller and comic, and one hell of a musician. The venue is small and intimate, not a bad seat in the house.

His son Gabe, daughter Sarah, son-in-law Johnny Irions, and 4 year old grand-daughter, Olivia played with him this past Sunday night. They hang out with all of the audience members and are just real live down to earth folk.

They are the royal family of folk music headed up by Arlo's deceased dad, the Rock and Roll music Hall of Famer, Woody Guthrie. Woody died of Huntington's Disease mid to late 60's. The Guthrie Center is devoted to raising funds for many agencies that care for people with Huntington's Disease.

Our concert nights at the Guthrie Center are like going into another world... a comfortable, safe and joyous place, where we can lift our voices together.

Just like a church is supposed to be....

Photos by Bill.