Hickory Ridge hosts singer

Canton Daily Ledger
May 17, 2013

LEWISTOWN - Nationally known actor, singer and guitarist Chuck Mitchell will perform at the Hickory Ridge Concert Series Saturday, May 18, at 7:30 p.m. at the Dickson Mounds Museum in Lewistown.

Mitchell grew up in farm country north of Detroit and started singing in Detroit folk clubs and saloons in 1964. In Toronto, on his first out of town gig, he met Canadian songwriter Joni Anderson. They married, and as a duo Chuck and Joni Mitchell played the coffeehouse circuit and gin rummy until they divorced in 1968.

Mitchell moved on to college and arts council residencies, appearances on A Prairie Home Companion, two albums and two singles and repertory theatre in the U.S. and the U.K.

In his one-man show, Mitchell sings contemporary songs by Guy Clark, Fred Eaglesmith, Billy Joe Shaver, Michael Peter Smith, Cheryl Wheeler and Chuck Mitchell. He also sings cabaret songs by Brecht and Weil such as "Mack the Knife" and "The Bilbao Song" and whimsical songs by Flanders and Swann, such as "The Gnu" and "The Hippopotamus Song."

The Hickory Ridge Concert Series is hosted by singer-songwriter Chris Vallillo. Concerts are held the third Saturday of every month at Dickson Mounds Museum and begin at 7:30 p.m. with the museum lobby opening at 6:30 p.m. Coffee, drinks and a variety of desserts are available during intermission. There is an admission charge of $5 per adult and $3 for children under 12. Seating is limited to the first 150 people.

The Dickson Mounds Branch of the Illinois State Museum is located between Lewistown and Havana off routes 78 and 97. The museum is open free to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. Tours and special programs are available for groups with reservations. For more information call 309/547-3721 or TDD 217/782-9175 or visit the museum's web site at http://www.experienceemiquon.com