Parallel Paths; Carl Sandburg/Chris Vallillo-Lisle Library Presentation

In a program created for the 2012 Carl Sandburg Days Festival, award winning folksinger and songwriter Chris Vallillo will present his new one-man show Parallel Paths at the Lisle Public Library this Sunday, May the 12th at 2:00 PM.  The highly acclaimed new show combines Sandburg's poetry with Vallillo’s original songs and instrumentals.  Much as Sandburg himself, Vallillo spent several years collecting and documenting the music of rural Illinois, which in turn, influenced his own work.

Vallillo's writing has long been compared to that of Sandburg.  He has been described as "Illinois’ pre-eminent prairie-poet singer-songwriter" and is well known for incorporating original and traditional material to make the people and places of "unmetropolitan" America come to life.  “For years people have been telling me my work reminded them of Sandburg’s poetry.” Vallillo said.  “Carl Sandburg Days seemed like a perfect place to put the two together to celebrate Sandburg and the legacy he inspired.  When I began to explore the possibilities, I was struck by just how powerful the combination was.”

A singer-songwriter and multi instrumentalist with an affinity for American roots music, Vallillo is a skilled six-string and bottleneck slide guitarist who incorporates original and traditional material to form a musical portrait of the Midwestern way of life.  Perhaps the archaeology degree Vallillo earned at Beloit College helped him see the important little details of life which imbue his songs with a sense of history.   Along with his own compositions, Vallillo will perform several traditional songs Sandburg himself collected and later published in his highly regarded masterpiece “The American Songbag”.

The show is free to the public.  Lisle Public Library is located at 777 Front Street in Lisle, IL.  Call 630-971-1675 for additional details.  www.lislelibrary.org

Visit Chris Vallillo on the web at www.ginridge.com.