Audiences have applauded a local musician’s music from England to New England, from the Netherlands to New Mexico. But folk/roots singer Tim Grimm remains partial to listeners in his native Columbus.
The Ogilville farmer still sees it as important that he till the rich soil of devotion in his backyard. Therein lies one reason he and wife Jan Lucas will headline an intimate, coffeehouse-style performance, called the Book Cellar Concert, at 8 p.m. Saturday in the 75-seat basement of Viewpoint Books at Sixth and Washington streets downtown.
Besides, Grimm has organized the local Americana Music Series here for years, featuring especially literate singer-songwriters happy to share in a 150-seat venue.
“When it all comes down to it,” Grimm said, “I still love the smaller shows. Money certainly is not always the object of things. It’s often about making something that can reach out and touch other people.”
Grimm and his wife, along with opening folk duo Ordinary Elephant, might be able to literally do that this weekend. And that’s hardly unusual in the folk house-concert format that has become fairly common.
But the pair also knows how to emotionally move people, too, on everything from beloved Hoosier history (“First People” about native tribes is a fine example) to searing social and political commentary (“Gonna Be Great,” a post-election lament and the No. 1 song on folk radio nationally for 2017).
On the commentary, well, he sometimes notes that some concertgoers will fold their arms in defiance rather than clap their hands in affirmation. He’s OK with that.
He’s also wise and careful. Those who know his repertoire will remember his fiery tirade tune “Woody’s Landlord,” the most-played folk radio song nationally in 2016. That song will kept be off the local set list, for lyrical reasons that anyone with a Google search engine can determine.
“I don’t pull any punches,” Grimm said. “But I certainly don’t play that song everywhere. I am sensitive to my audience.”
Ideally, he hopes more people will give the Americana/folk/roots genre a sincere hearing at this event “and make a discovery,” as he put it. He frequently has acknowledged that Europeans still give generous time and attention to folk artists while such performers in America find themselves on the musical fringe. Not that he ever really bemoans such.
Instead, Grimm’s focus remains center stage on a passionate message about lessons and legacies.
“I’m still feeling strong,” he said, “and pretty driven to perform these songs that I believe in.”
Especially right in his own backyard.
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Who: Ogilville folk singers Tim Grimm and wife Jan Lucas will headline, performing a mix of older material and some tunes from their latest family band disc, “A Stranger in This Time.” Crystal and Pete Damore of Ordinary Elephant, the International Folk Music Awards 2017 Artist of the Year, will open.
When: 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Basement of Viewpoint Books, Sixth and Washington streets in downtown Columbus.
Tickets: $15 in advance at Viewpoint or $20 at the door.
Information: timgrimm.com
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