TheBurg

44 | theburgnews.com | 07.18 S hane Speal was rushing to fix a broken string on his cigar box guitar in between sets at a recent concert when I sat down with him to get the lowdown on the upcoming Susquehanna Folk Festival. "I can't believe we're going to be part of that fest," said the York-based blues singer. " e more I look at the lineup, the more I wish I could clone myself so I can attend every show and workshop." He laughed at the thought as he wound a guitar string around an instrument cobbled from a cigar box and broomstick. Speal is known as the "King of the Cigar Box Guitar" and fronts the jug band, Shane Speal & the Snakes. He has also become the unofficial spokesman for the Susquehanna Folk Fest, a two-day event in late July at Roundtop Mountain Resort, featuring dozens of musical acts and workshops. Q: You've played a lot of festivals around here. What's so different about the Susquehanna Folk Fest? sPeAL: I've never seen one with so much diversity. I'll be honest, when I think of folk music, my mind goes to Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie—you know, somebody strumming a guitar and singing revolution. However, these organizers, the Susquehanna Folk Music Society people, are hardcore fans of all kinds of folk music. ey've booked blues icons, Celtic legends, African dancers and everything in between. Q: Which blues icons? sPeAL: David Bromberg and Rory Block will be there. I've done shows with Rory before, and she's the real deal. She learned to play slide guitar at the feet of Son House, the guy who taught Robert Johnson how to play. And Bromberg is a fingerpicking monster who learned from Rev. Gary Davis. Q: Bromberg also had some hits in the '70s. sPeAL: Yeah, and played with everyone from George Harrison, Bob Dylan to a host of others. He's an absolute legend. ere's going to be a Q&A workshop with him before his Sunday evening set that I'll be attending. Tuning up for the Susquehanna Folk Festival. bY Jess hAYden Photographs top to bottom: Rory Block, Shane Speal cuLture

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