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Down in the Mine: American Coal Miners and Their Songs (Community Event)
May 23, 2023 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
FREEIllinois Humanities, Carlinville Winning Communities and Blackburn College Present
Down in the Mine: American Coal Miners and Their Songs
Featuring Bucky Halker
Tuesday, May 23 at 7:00 PM
Blackburn College – Clegg Chapel
Are you interested in Illinois coal mining, Sears Homes and those who sought a livelihood in the Carlinville area? Join a free evening of coal mining songs and history. All are welcome!
Bucky Halker, a Ph.D. in American History, is a songwriter, performer, and historian with 15 albums. He has lectured and published extensively on music in America and has toured Europe regularly since 1990.
Coal miners in Illinois and the rest of the US have a long tradition of writing poetry and music related to their occupation. This program brings that tradition to the forefront. “Down in the Mine” combines music performance (guitar and vocal) and spoken commentary.
The presentation features songs and poems by coal miners, including Illinois miners. The commentary places this important folk tradition in a broader historical context and offers details on coal mining, coal-miner bards and songwriters, early country music, and individual songs.
