ABOUT JOHNNY IRION

Johnny Irion is a rocker in and out of time. There’s something kind of timeless in the way he wrings out the sweetest melodies and deeper passions of both ‘60s Californian rock and Guthrie-era folk, and something so timely about the way he does it – there’s a reason Bernie Sanders asked him to sing at a rally in his sometimes-home of Santa Barbara.

Best known for his folk explorations with his wife Sarah Lee Guthrie, including their recent Wassaic Way produced by Jeff Tweedy, and his latest rock venture with US ELEVATOR, which Will Hermes of Rolling Stone Magazine praised for its “songs that are hand crafted as lovingly as the jeans on the back of After the Goldrush,” Irion has earned a reputation as one of the most exciting artists across the folk-rock spectrum, from his uncannily Young-Nilsson-esque voice to his melodic and lyrical mettle.

ABOUT DRIVING FRIEND

Now and then in American culture, the written word fuses the worlds of music and literature. Bob Dylan’s Nobel Prize is only the most obvious example.  An individual singer songwriter can sometimes embody that fusion in his life and work. That’s Johnny Irion, whose family tree includes John Steinbeck and Woody Guthrie, and whose new record Driving Friend was backed by Blackwing, the artisan pencil makers with a diverse musical heritage.

The record, which includes members of Dawes, Wilco and the Mother Hips, ranges across a wide expanse of roots genres, from blues and gospel to folk and country. Everything about it feels authentically crafted, a carving out of raw, lived American experience that goes to the heart of the Blackwing ethos. Whether Irion is singing about Santa Barbara, Pittsfield or the Rapture, his sharp wit, telling description and brief character studies take us to a musical hometown of his own, quite a feat for a rocker whose last record with his band US Elevator was hailed by Rolling Stone as being as “lovingly handcrafted as the jeans on the back of After The Gold Rush.”

Driving Friend

JOHNNY IRION & THE BLACKWING FOUNDATION

Johnny is also an esteemed partner of Blackwing Foundation, connecting the foundation to another remarkable partnership with The Mastheads. The Mastheads, known for their exceptional Fireside poets program, have been conducting poetry lessons for students in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, nurturing their artistic expression and literary skills. Taking this transformative experience to the next level, Johnny Irion steps in to turn their heartfelt poetry into captivating songs.

Johnny’s expertise in songwriting and composition brings a unique dimension to the students’ creative journey. With his guidance, they learn the art of crafting melodies, lyrics, and musical arrangements, transforming their poetry into soulful songs that resonate with their communities .

The culmination of this incredible partnership is a community event where the students proudly perform their songs at a local park. Witnessing the transformation of their words into melodies and sharing their art with the community is a testament to the power of arts education in shaping lives.