Join us on Thursday, July 21, 2022, at 2:00 pm with Bucky Halker playing Down in the Mine: American Coal Miners and Their Songs, 1890-1960. Coal miners in Illinois and the rest of the US have a long tradition of writing poetry and music related to their occupation and this program brings that tradition to the   forefront. Down in the Mine combines music performance (guitar and vocal) and   commentary. The presentation features songs by coal miners, including Illinois miners. The commentary places this important folk tradition in historical context and offers   details on coal mining, mining accidents, labor struggles, coal-miner bards and    songwriters, early country music, and individual songs This program will run 60-70 minutes and allows for questions and answers as well.

Bucky Halker — a songwriter, performer, and historian with 15 albums to his credit, including Anywhere But Utah: Songs of Joe Hill (2015), a musical tribute to martyred labor songwriter Joe Hill (1879-1915), and The Ghost of Woody Guthrie (2012), an original music tribute to the legendary folksinger.

This event is free and open to the public. You may also join us via Facebook Live through the Herrin City Library Facebook Page on the day of the event: https://www.facebook.com/herrincitylibrary.

The event is funded by the Illinois Humanities Road Scholars: https://www.ilhumanities.org/bucky-halker/.