Tribute to Woody Guthrie at Old Manse Sunday

Songwriter and political activist Woody Guthrie will be honored Sunday at the Old Manse as 22 members of the Folk Song Society of Greater Boston gather to perform Guthrie's songs and ballads, while also reading narratives from his autobiography, "Bound for Glory." 

Ellen Schmidt, member of the band Two for The Show and a participant in the program, Bound for Glory, since the 70s', said this event not only gives people a chance to revisit Guthrie's work, but also to participate by singing along to many of his songs, including "This Land is Your Land."

"The audience will be given chorus sheets and will be able to sing along," Schmidt said.

Schmidt added that Guthrie was "an American treasure."

"I think that if you are interested in folk music, Woody Guthrie has some of the best songs written," Schmidt said. The event will give audiences the opportunity to "learn more about him and the words he wrote."

On the Old Manse Facebook site, Guthrie's music is described as reflecting "the earlier progressive spirit of the Transcendentalists who helped to reform American society during the 19th century."

The show, described as an informal gathering to honor Guthrie, begins at 2 p.m. Sunday and is free.

This is the second time Bound for Glory will be performed in Concord. A performance was held last year. Shows, such as the one on Sunday in honor of Guthrie, are held across the country, according to Schmidt and all proceeds go to the Huntington's Disease Society of America as Guthrie died from the genetic disease.