Village Lyceum presents John Sheldon July 29 in a performance inspired by Standing Rock

The Village Lyceum presents John Sheldon July 29 - in a performance inspired by Standing Rock –

“The Same Water, Music for a Deep Ecology”

John Sheldon and his famous red electric guitar – the one James Taylor sold him in the 1960s for $100 - return to the Village Lyceum on Saturday, July 29 at 7:00 pm to present “The Same Water, Music for a Deep Ecology.” The program, which will be held in the sanctuary of the First Congregational Parish, Unitarian on the Petersham Town Common, is inspired by Sheldon’s 5-day stay at Standing Rock Indian Reservation during a gathering of native tribes from across the nation to protest a proposed oil pipeline that threatens reservation water and ancient burial grounds.

Now, in his 51st year of writing songs and composing music, the former lead guitarist for Van Morrison and songwriter for James Taylor admits that in the past few years, the way in which he writes music, his music process itself has been changing. Today, his inspiration, his muse comes more directly from nature.

“Water, essential to all of life on earth, is the unifying element. I have put together a cycle of songs and improvisations to celebrate water in all its forms, including rivers, plants, animals, and of course, us,” Sheldon explained.

“A trip to North Dakota to help the effort at Standing Rock has made me realize how others on this planet have been listening to the spirits in nature for a long time. I dedicate this music to all of them, whether they be activists, gardeners, water protectors, or simply people who have at one time simply felt awe and wonder in the presence of the natural world,” he said. 

“Some of the spirits that appear in the music are: the wolf, the bee, the cricket, the redwood, the crust of the earth, and the light from the stars. So, prepare to take a journey through sound into the heart of nature itself,” Sheldon advised.

Sheldon has written hundreds of songs and instrumentals, and released 15 CDs of his own music. In the past few years, he has also been busy in theater, including composing music for and performing in "Milosevic at the Hague", "Ambush on T Street", "What She Knows", "Blind Dreamers”, "Skyscraper" and his own musical monologue, “The Red Guitar," which traces his musical journey and recalls the tumultuous era when it began. Last year, Sheldon performed "The Red Guitar" during a two-week run at the famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland.

Tickets for “The Same Water, Music for a Deep Ecology” are on a sliding scale from $8 to $15, children 10 and under are free of charge. All proceeds for the Village Lyceum are used to maintain the First Congregational Parish Unitarian Petersham Church and the Davis Memorial Center.  For further information, please contact Genevieve at (978) 544-1872.

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John Sheldon will perform “The Same Water, Music for a Deep Ecology” at the Village Lyceum on Saturday, July 29 in the sanctuary at the Unitarian Church in Petersham, starting at 7:00 p.m. The program is inspired by Sheldon’s stay at Standing Rock Indian Reservation during the 2016 protest of a proposed oil pipeline. Ticket prices are on a sliding scale from $8 - $15, children 10 and under are free of charge. Proceeds are used for the parish building and maintenance fund. For further information, contact Genevieve Fraser at (978) 544-1872 or email: FraserGenevieve@gmail.com