The electric guitar changed music forever in the mid-20th century. This lecture-style class will explore the contributions of musicians with Arkansas roots, like Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Johnny Cash, whose revolutionary electric guitar innovations helped shape the sound of country, blues, and rock and roll. Q&A/discussion to follow. 

BIO:

Matt Powell is a local writer, guitarist, and musician. He has published several articles about music history and appreciation for national publications including Variety, Emmys.com, and No Depression, including a 2018 article in No Depression's print journal exploring the development of the electric guitar. Matt studied songwriting and guitar performance at Berklee College of Music and performs regularly throughout the area. He has taught multiple courses on music and literature for ASUMH’s community education program.  

Music and storytelling are deeply immersed and intertwined in Irish culture. This lecture-style class will seek to inspire by examining these connections, illuminating how music is infused in Irish literature, using Irish poems, prose, and plays as our canvas. No familiarity with the subject is necessary, all will benefit. Q&A/discussion to follow.

BIO: Matt Powell is a local writer and musician. His work has been featured in several publications, including Variety, Angels Flight-literary west, and No Depression, including two articles about the history of Irish music. His Belfast-born grandmother inspired his lifelong love for and interest in Irish arts and culture. Matt has taught multiple courses on music and literature for ASUMH’s community education program. He performs music regularly throughout the area, and you can sometimes catch him at an open mic reading from a classic book.