WoodyFest, Cincinnati's annual musical tribute to the life of American folk singer Woody Guthrie, blows into town every spring. Long-time Cincinnati folk musicians Jake Speed & the Freddies join forces with Cincinnati's foremost folksters to play two hours of Woody Guthrie tunes while they tell the story of this iconic Dust Bowl balladeer whose songs gave voice to hard-hit, depression-era working folks. The 200-seat, intimate setting of Northside's vaudeville-era Liberty Exhibition Hall echoes with tunes like "So Long, It's Been Good to Know Ya," "This Land is Your Land," and even Bob Dylan's Woody-inspired "Song to Woody." Beer & wine are available at the bar, and light snacks are provided by event sponsor, The Queen City Balladeers. Finally, Downbound Books (an independent bookstore in Northside) will be on-site to sell a collection of books on Woody Guthrie, folk music, labor history, politics, and more.
