After a hiatus of almost four months, the Border Concert series resumed Friday, March 24 when troubadour Bill Schustik appeared on stage at Backus Auditorium in International Falls.
Schustik combined his rich baritone voice with a variety of folk instruments–including the guitar, banjo, dulcimer, and harmonica–to serve up a rich helping of traditional American folk music.
Along with well-known tunes such as “Shenandoah,” “The Battle of New Orleans,” and “The Old Chisholm Trail,” Schustik performed lesser-known music spanning more than two centuries of American history.
The audience soon discovered Schustik is not just a folk singer–he is a story-teller par excellence. All of his music in Friday’s concert was interwoven around yarns, legends, and history, and he demonstrated the rare ability to hold his audience spellbound.
Whether spinning tales about pirates, recounting Atlantic whaling legends, or telling poignant accounts of the boys who fought in the Civil War, Schustik brought his music to life–and almost magically transported his audience to another time and space.
Schustik’s relaxed stage presence, coupled with a self-deprecating humour, made for a great evening. Learning history has never been this much fun!
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
