John McCutcheon has been described as the “rustic renaissance man of American folk music,” a moniker flawed only by its understatement. He is master of a dozen different traditional instruments, most notably the rare and beautiful hammer dulcimer. A songwriter whose work has been covered around the world. A storyteller “with the depth of fine literature.” Washington Post An author of award-winning children’s books. A recording artist with 6 Grammy nominations under his belt. A teacher, poet and political activist. The question is not how he does so much but how he does it all so well.

John McCutcheon was born in Wisconsin, the eldest of nine children. After a stint in the seminary and an even shorter stint in university he literally “headed for the hills” as a young man to study at the knees of many of the storied legends of Appalachian music. In the churches, union halls and community centers of his adopted mountain home he learned the ins-and-outs of traditional music, an ear for a good story and