Tuesday, February 26, 2008

creating a legacy: lisa null, silver spring folk artist (updated)

WHAT'S UP THE PIKE: The Awesome Room comedy show returns to McGinty's Thursday night; El Pollo Rico burns down.



Swept up by the folk revival of the 1950's and 60's, singer Lisa Null made a career for herself performing music from her roots and our country's heritage. Throughout the 1970's and 80's, Null explored the vast reaches of North American folk music, collecting songs and presenting them to a small but dedicated community of enthusiasts. Twenty years ago, she gave up full-time performing and settled in East Silver Spring shortly after. This Thursday, Lisa Null returns to the stage for her first a cappella, full-evening concert, sponsored by the Folklore Society of Greater Washington.

Last night, I sat down with Lisa Null (an occasional contributor to Just Up The Pike) in her living room to find out more about her life and Thursday's concert. Over the next several days, we'll learn about her career and the daily adventure that is living in Silver Spring. Today, Null gives us a taste of the songsshe'll be performing later this week in this video, also embedded above.

Take a look at the rest of our series:

from ballads to cowboy songs: How do you form a set list for your first real show in twenty years? Lisa Null takes us through her varied repertoire, which includes everything from 50's pop to centuries-old "murder ballads."

slumming and story songs: We take a look at Lisa's lengthy career, which took her from the bars of New York to running a record label and appearing on A Prairie Home Companion.

the "folk ghetto" of silver spring: In our fourth and final installment, Lisa talks about living in East Silver Spring, where you can go around the world without leaving your block.

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