Rocket Shop 10/9/2013: Rik Palieri; Kevin Sheltra of 409 Records

Photos by Lily Chau.

Rik Palieri stopped by Rocket Shop Wednesday evening to talk about his recently completed tour project which produced the album, ‘Almanac Trail’. Rik, along with musical partner, George Mann, dug into the Woody Guthrie Archives to then tour for five weeks across the country, walking the same footsteps that The Almanac Singers (Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Lee Hays, and Mill Hampbell) did in the 1940s as young men. Rik, the self-proclaimed ‘folkie’ with denim jacket and western hat accessorized with silver conchos, radiated the confidence and passion of the romance of the road.

Rik, originally from New Jersey, currently resides in Hinesburg. He has been a musician all his life, playing banjo and singing, but is an author as well. From an early age, he discovered his love for folk music and as a teenager, had the opportunity to become the mentee of Pete Seeger after playing with him during one of his concerts. In his 20s, Rik came up with the idea for this project of recreating the Almanac Singers tour as a tribute to them, but even with an enthusiastic blessing from Pete himself, Rik did not have the kind of contacts needed to tour the trail until now.

The album ‘The Almanac Trail’ was recorded in Electric Wilderness Studios in New York with Rick and George covering the music and Pete Seeger telling stories of the 1940s union tour through actual 1940s microphones. Rik’s hope is to bring the story and music of The Almanac Singers to a new generation.

‘Almanac Trail’ will have an official CD release Friday, October 11 at Radio Bean, at 10PM. His album can also be purchased at CDbaby.com. www.almanactrail.com