The American Songster – there are countless artists who would love to claim this title, but there’s only one who genuinely deserves it: Dom Flemons. Originally from Phoenix and now living in Chicago, Flemons earned his nickname by immortalising 100 years of music history as reflected in American folksongs, like a modern-day Alan Lomax. Unlike the legendary chronicler, however, Flemons not only records this music, but brings it back to life by taking it out of the museum and publishing and performing it. His work has been honoured with a Grammy Award and two Emmy Award nominations. And if you think this is impressive, which of course it is, then brace yourself: Flemons is a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, actor, slam poet, music scholar, historian and record collector. He is known as an expert player of many instruments including the banjo, guitar, harmonica, jug, percussion, quills (the ‘Afro-American panflute’), fife and rhythm bones. He’s also the host of Nashville radio station WSM’s The American Songster Radio Show, and he has a Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Northern Arizona University. We’re very honoured to welcome this highly accomplished performer, musical storyteller and educational entertainer to our very own Noordplein.

Special: In conversation with Dom Flemons on Friday, June 28.

Artist talk: Dom Flemons about his album Black Cowboys

Friday June 28 4:50 PM - 5:50 PM Rotterjam Whiskybase stage

Join The American Songster, Dom Flemons, for a masterclass through his Smithsonian Folkways album Black Cowboys.

As a resolute preservationist, storyteller and instrumentalist, Dom Flemons has long set himself apart by finding under-accessed folk songs and making them live again. He is deeply dedicated to creatively showcasing African American traditional music. Smithsonian Folkways is a nonprofit record label dedicated to supporting cultural diversity and increased understanding among peoples through the documentation, preservation, and dissemination of sound.

‘Black Cowboys’ is the first album of its kind and pays tribute to the music, culture, and the complex history of the golden era of the Wild West and re-analyzes this important part of the American identity. The songs and poems featured on the album take the listener on an illuminating journey from the trails to the rails of the Old West. In this masterclass, Dom will take us on a deep dive into a few of these songs, stories, his research and the current black country phenomenon taking place throughout American pop culture.