The Observer., January 22, 2020, Page 2, Image 2

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Wednesday, January 22, 2020
GO! magazine — A&E in Northeast Oregon
FROM THE COVER
Montana artist John Lowell
touring new album
an inside look at northeast oregon’s
arts and entertainment scene
■ Songs are ‘steeped in tradition of storytelling’
By Lisa Britton
EO Media Group
BAKER CITY — John Lowell
traces his love of music back to
childhood when he received a
trumpet as a gift.
“But I never liked it,” he said.
Fortunately, he didn’t give up —
and discovered the guitar at age 12
thanks to his sister.
“I started sneaking into her room
when she wasn’t around and plink-
ing on it,” he said. “I haven’t put it
down since.”
Lowell lives in Montana but this
month will arrive in Baker City
to play at Churchill Dancehall on
Jan. 28.
Doors open at 6 p.m. Tuesday
and the show starts at 6:30 p.m.
Churchill is located at 3451 Broad-
way St. (entrance is through the
parking lot off 16th Street).
Tickets are $8 in advance at
Sweet Wife Baking, MC Taco Bus,
and www.churchillbaker.com/
events. Admission at the door is
$10.
During the concert, food will be
available for purchase from MC
Taco Bus, and beverages will be
served by Copper Belt Winery and
Barley Brown’s.
Lowell and his wife, Joanne, live
in Livingston, Montana, where
they run a music production com-
pany.
Once a year they organize a free
concert called the Livingston Hoot.
“One year we had Vince Gill,” he
said. “It’s become the defi ning event
of the town.”
In his musical life, Lowell is
touring his new album titled “This
Long Stretch of Gravel.” He said it
features a mix of genres, including
a style he discovered in high school.
“In high school I met a banjo
player and got hooked on blue-
grass,” he said.
Lowell said he’s mostly self-
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taught.
“Just playing with people,” he
said of learning music. “This kind
of music is so social.”
As for a mentor, Lowell men-
tions Peter McLaughlin of Tucson,
Arizona.
“I’d stop him in the middle of the
tune and say, ‘That was cool, show
me that,’” he said.
Lowell mainly plays guitar.
When he wants to play bluegrass,
he gathers a variety of musicians.
“Just one person can’t play blue-
grass,” he said. “You have to have a
band.”
His new record features 18 guest
artists.
“It got a little out of control,”
Lowell said with a laugh. “I got to
thinking a saxophone would sound
great, maybe a piano.… I’m really
pleased with how it turned out.”
All tracks are at least duets, with
Missy Raines featured on every
song. There are two bluegrass
songs, plus swing and ballads.
This will be his fi rst time playing
in Baker City. His solo concert will
feature mostly original songs.
Lowell started writing songs about
30 years ago.
“It’s poetry — but you have to come
up with a melody. And subject mat-
ter,” he said.
His style is described like this: “The
musical terrain he occupies, whether
his songs or others, is steeped in the
tradition of storytelling.”
He tours in the U.S., and over-
seas on occasion. He’s going to Ger-
many this year, and in 2021 will be
a guest teacher at the Sore Fingers
music school in England.
To learn more about the artist,
visit www.johnlowell.com.
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John Lowell, who is touring his new album, “This Long Stretch of
Gravel,” will play Tuesday at Churchill Dancehall in Baker City.
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