There are many folk singer-songwriters out there, but not all concern themselves with folklore. Dom Flemons does. A modern-day troubadour, Flemons breathes new life into old-time music, often accompanying himself with a banjo or guitar. Listening to him perform feels like an auditory journey back in time, and if that illusion wasn’t already cemented, it certainly will be when his upcoming record, Making American Music: The Smithsonian Sessions, releases in January 2027.

The inception of the project dates back to 2018, when Flemons became the first Artist in Residence at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Being around countless legendary instruments, including the 140-year-old Emory guitar that once belonged to Mississippi John Hurt, Flemons felt deeply inspired to revive history through music. Fortunately, he was invited to record with some of those precious instruments that are ordinarily safely guarded at the museum’s vault.

The sessions resulted in Flemons’ third studio album on Smithsonian Folkways, which is the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution. And though there’s only one single available so far, Flemons performs a few of his unreleased songs from the album to give a taste of what’s coming for the listeners of Soundcheck. - Sırma Munyar

Setlist: 1.Lost River Blues 2.Night And Day 3.Take Me Back to Bronzeville

(Dom Flemons photographed by Emily Cummings)

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