Andy Irvine: Me, Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan

Andy Irvine, the distinguished Irish folk musician and founding member of Planxty, has released Devoted, an album that revisits the songs of American folk legend Woody Guthrie. With this project, Irvine offers a distinctly Irish interpretation of Guthrie’s enduring protest anthems, reaffirming their persistent resonance in the current political climate.

Irvine’s connection to Guthrie traces back to the 1960s when he was a teenager in London. During that period, while Bob Dylan was making visits to Guthrie in a hospital in New Jersey, Irvine began a correspondence with the ailing Guthrie, who was then battling Huntington’s disease. Despite the geographical distance and Guthrie’s declining health, Irvine sought to engage with the folk activist who had become a pivotal voice for social justice through his music.

The early attempts to reach Guthrie were fraught with challenges, as Irvine initially sent letters addressed simply to "Woody Guthrie, USA," reflecting the limitations of communication at the time. Eventually, through connections with folk musicians like Pete Seeger and Rambling Jack Elliott, Irvine found out how to contact Guthrie’s caretakers, who responded on his behalf. This exchange fostered a unique, long-distance friendship that left a lasting impact on Irvine’s artistic and political outlook.

Woody Guthrie’s work, characterized by its stark depictions of economic hardship, mass migration, and political corruption during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression eras, continues to inspire contemporary musicians. Artists such as Bruce Springsteen and Billy Bragg have cited Guthrie’s influence, and Irish bands like Fontaines D.C. also reference his iconic anti-fascist slogan.

Devoted features collaborations with longtime friends and musicians including Dónal Lunny, Bruce Molsky, Mike McGoldrick, and Rens van der Zalm. The album reimagines Guthrie’s songs with rich Irish folk instrumentation, weaving traditional Celtic melodies with Guthrie’s American roots. This fusion underscores the shared cultural threads between Appalachian music and Irish folk traditions.

Irvine, now in his eighties but still actively performing and recording, emphasizes that while the album was not conceived as a direct response to contemporary political upheavals, the themes Guthrie addressed remain strikingly pertinent. He points to the resurgence of far-right ideologies as a reminder that Guthrie’s messages about inequality and resistance have never truly lost their urgency.

The production of Devoted was notably helmed by Mark Ellis, known professionally as Flood, a respected English producer with a background working with major artists. Ellis is also Irvine’s son-in-law, which added a personal dimension to the collaboration. Though initially adapting to each other’s creative styles took time, their partnership resulted in a nuanced album that balances simplicity with musical complexity.

Reflecting on his own youthful admiration for Guthrie, Irvine recounts moments where he emulated the Oklahoma troubadour’s persona, even adopting his accent in playful encounters. These anecdotes reveal the depth of Irvine’s early identification with Guthrie’s spirit and the formative role the American singer played in shaping his approach to music and activism.

Despite losing the original letters and tapes exchanged with Guthrie decades ago, Irvine’s dedication to preserving and celebrating Guthrie’s legacy remains undiminished. He sees Devoted as a final, heartfelt letter to his old friend and a testament to the timeless power of Guthrie’s songs.

Looking beyond his tribute, Irvine acknowledges the vibrant landscape of contemporary Irish folk and roots music, expressing particular admiration for emerging acts like Ye Vagabonds. His ongoing engagement with new generations signals a commitment to the evolution and continuity of folk traditions.

Although Irvine missed seeing Bob Dylan’s legendary 1966 Dublin performance, stories of Dylan’s queries about him circulate, underscoring Irvine’s understated influence within folk circles. As Devoted hits the shelves, it stands as both a homage and a bridge connecting past and present folk narratives, rooted in shared struggles and the enduring call for social justice.