How To Make a Folk Song

Political candidates could take a lesson or two about what makes America great from Woody Guthrie. His music and writings are distilled beautifully in a touring tribute show that came to New York's Knitting Factory Monday titled "Ribbon of Highway Endless Skyway." And there's more to come: two New York artists are recording material from the Woody Guthrie Foundation and Archives. If the 2008 elections lead us to a hopeful state of mind, perhaps we'll be ready to celebrate Woody's centennial in 2012. The shot above is from the final number in the show, "This Land is Your Land," and features performers Joel Raphael, Johnny Irion, Sarah Lee Guthrie, Olivia Irion, Jimmy LaFave, and Marie, Annie & Jeannie Burns. And there's more on this event in the Wednesday, January 15 Out & About column.