As aptly put by Sydney of Oysterville: If you can’t quite wrap your head around the meaning of “swamp opera” and you are not sure how to pronounce Skamokawa, you don’t want to miss this performance.
The Skamokawa Swamp Opera is a folk band made up of Wahkiakum County musicians founded in 2013. They will perform on March 10 at 3 p.m. at Clatskanie’s Birkenfeld Theatre located at 75 S. Nehalem in Clatskanie.
They are known for their vocal harmonies and varied instrumentation featuring guitar, banjo, cello, mandolin, mandocello, harmonica, and percussion. For this upcoming program they will be focusing on songs by and about the people of the lower Columbia River, including original songs as well as creative arrangements of songs by other local artists such as Mary Garvey, Brian Mathusek and Kerrie McNally.
Andrew Emlen makes music as a composer, singer, and player of many, many instruments – cello, mandocello, banjo, guitar and sometimes a Jews Harp in F#.
Andrew has a way of gathering other like-minded (serious, zany, talented, learned) musicians together and making music of an infinite variety. His cohorts in the Swamp Opera are Kyleen Austin (guitarist, composer, and the opera connection), Erik Friend (multitalented percussionist, tenor, mandolin player), and Wren Hendricks (guitar player, and singer).
Clatskanie Arts Commission Secretary and Treasurer Elsa Wooley said the show is an opportunity to support a group that’s roots are near to the community.
“It is always part of the Clatskanie Arts Commission’s mission to promote local area performers,” Wooley said. “We are so pleased to host such a great group as the Skamokawa Swamp Opera and to hear original music about our beautiful Lower Columbia Region.”
A fabulous show you won’t want to miss!
Tickets: Adults $20; Seniors (60+) and Students $18; Children $15.
Tickets are available online at clatskaniearts.org or at the door the day of the concert.
