A performance of poetry, prose and music will mark the release of a special 10th anniversary edition of Vagabond Song: Neo-Haibun from the Peregrine Journals, a memoir of hitchhiking and road trip adventures by Marc Beaudin. The free event, featuring live music by Paul Lee Kupfer, will be held at Livingston’s Elk River Books, 122 S. 2nd St. on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 7 pm.
Originally published in 2015, Vagabond Song blends poetry and prose to recount a nearly two-decade span of Beaudin’s life when much of him time was spent on “free travel,” which he defines as “setting out on the road with no agenda, no plans, no destination and allowing the world to unfold itself as it wills.” Reviews at the time hailed it as “a jazzy, freewheeling, rollicking road trip into the Eternal Now” (Montana Quarterly) and “a book that may change the reader, deepen understanding, remain with one long after reading” (Hollywood Progressive). This new edition has been fully revised and expanded to include two extra chapters as well as eight additional illustrations by Livingston artist Edd Enders.
The book is available for ordering here.
For the book launch, Beaudin has collaborated with Kupfer to create a unique program that blends both of their artforms. A reception and book signing will follow.
Beaudin, a co-owner of Elk River Books, is the author of the poetry collections These Creatures of a Day (a High Plains Book Award finalist) and Life List: Poems (a Montana Book Award Honor Book winner). He has released two albums of spoken word and jazz featuring musicians from the bands Morphine and the Northwoods Improvisers, and his poetry has appeared in Orion, Cutthroat, Deep Wild Journal, Whitefish Review and numerous other publications.
“Beaudin is one of our finest nature poets, and his writing—pure, authentic, and timely—is a call to humanity, a nod to ancestors, and a pure joy to read.” —CMarie Fuhrman, author of Salmon Weather: Writing from the Land of No Return
Kupfer is an Americana, folk and country-blues musician and songwriter who has released two solo albums of original material, Where the Wind Goes and Mind Wanderer, as well as two albums as a member of the renowned band The Bus Driver Tour. He has shared the stage with Taj Mahal, Watchhouse, The Carolina Chocolate Drops and numerous other luminaries of the folk music scene. Originally from the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, Kupfer actively tours the US, while based out of Knoxville, Tennessee and Livingston, Montana.
“Kupfer’s music is rich and timeless and his ability to tell a story with a song is amazing. His songs are well-written, and his words and musical ability kept me captivated throughout his entire set.” —Carolina Music Review
For those who can’t attend in person, the event will live-stream at YouTube.com/ElkRiverBooks.
