The mystery of Michael Hurley. A survivor of the Greenwich Village folk scene who’s ploughed his own unique furrow of pastoral, homespun folk-country blues, long before he was heralded by the freak-folk scene who made an industry of it. Hurley’s albums feel home brew, recycled from whatever may be lying around: a bit of twine, a second-hand joke, a rusted nail, a Scottish border ballad— the results are unique, gentle, and spooky. Songs about pool halls, wild geese, werewolves.
A troubadour who still tours backroad bars and small folk festivals. He paints and draws. Write to him and he’ll mail you a live cassette. Hurley is an American original. The old weird America cuts across with Fugs Beat culture. Later, he was heralded by many of the alt folk/ Americana scene and this song, ‘Oh My Stars,’ comes from this period of rejuvenation, specifically from 2002s ‘SweetKorn’. Performed with the folk duo My Bubba at Pickathon on the Pendarvis Farm in 2016.
The passing of Michael Hurley who died on April 1st aged 83 closes the chapter on a remarkable musician. AUK wrote of him a while back that he “ploughed his own unique furrow of pastoral, homespun folk-country blues, long before he was heralded by the freak-folk scene who made an…
It's been a while since Michael Hurley, occasionally known as Snock, has come to the UK and with him now in his 77th year, news of this tour was somewhat unexpected. Mind you it was only last year when he toured Australia for the first time so it's perhaps somewhat…
Michael Hurley is one of those rare artists who merit the term unique. Now in his 80s (and still performing and recording) Hurley is a living reminder of what Greil Marcus called "the old weird Americana", a hotchpotch of folk, blues and country music blended from songs and tunes inherited…
A writer with a love of all things country, folk, jazz and blues.
By night I'm a poet with two published poetry books from Palewell Press, latest available now, "Afternoon Music."
www.tomharding.net
the great micheal hurley
Doc Snock! A perennial favorite around here.