Interview: Folk Rocker John Craigie asks fans to help the homeless on his #KeepItWarm2018 Tour

(Note: This interview was originally published on November 28, 2018, on Northwest Music Scene‘s website. NWMS has gone dormant, so I’m adding it to my own website).

Portland-based singer-songwriter John Craigie carries an old soul in his young body. Listen to his album Scarecrow, and you’re transported back to the folk-rock scene in the ’60s and ’70s. His sound is clean – guitar and vocals reminiscent of a young Bob Dylan with a heaping helping of John Prine thrown in for good measure, along with a few timely harmonica licks. He credits the town of Santa Cruz for introducing him to Americana, following a childhood spent listening to his sister’s favorite 80’s music, bands like The Cure, Depeche Mode, and Oingo Boingo.

“I was in a smaller town with one radio station and they turned me on to artists like Greg Brown, Todd Snyder, Arlo Guthrie, and John Prine. The sound was a little more stripped down – a guy with a guitar, a girl with a guitar.”

Craigie spent most of 2017 on the road with Jack Johnson, honing his live skills and learning at the feet of a master singer-songwriter and touring veteran. Along the way, Craigie was inspired by another one of Johnson’s well-documented traits – his philanthropy.

“After seeing how Jack can utilize his massive fan base (through his Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation and the Kokua Hawaii Foundation) in order to focus on something he has a passion for, I and my manager started to discuss what we can do to help others.”

John didn’t have to look far to find a cause to support. He found it right in the middle of the city he calls home.

“Here in Portland, we have a big problem with homelessness. Recently I was driving and seeing the tents that had tears in them, people who didn’t have the best gear, so this is where we can help a little.”

John launched his #KeepItWarm2108 tour on November 7th in Ferndale, California. In addition to donating a portion of ticket sales to local organizations that support homeless men, women, and children, he’s been asking fans to bring donations of winter clothing, sleeping bags, and other items. And fans have been coming through, sending volunteers away with armloads of much-needed items bring a little warmth during the winter months.

“I’ve been on the road for so long, and in the early days, I had many situations where I didn’t have places to stay. I never had to suffer like (the homeless do), but I do know the pressure of not knowing where you’re going to sleep. I tend to see that a lot as I travel throughout the country. I know it’s very complicated and there’s no right answer to it, but there’s something that a lot of us have – jackets and things that we’re not using.  I think it’s a good move to share that.”

The second leg of Craigie’s #KeepItWarm2018 tour kicks off at The Triple Door in Seattle this Thursday and Friday, and again, fans are encouraged to bring donations of coats, gloves, scarves, sleeping bags, and other items to the shows. Volunteers will collect those donations and distribute them at homeless encampments around the greater Seattle area. In addition, $1 from each ticket sold will be donated to the ROOTS Young Adult Shelter in Seattle.

Show info:

Thursday, November 29 & Friday, November 30

The Triple Door, 216 Union St., Seattle 98101

Friday’s show is SOLD OUT, but here’s the link to tickets for Thursday’s show: https://bit.ly/2px85zp

There’s also another show up north in Bellingham on December 1 at 7:00 p.m. at The Firefly Lounge. (1015 N. State St)

Connect with John Craigie:

Website: JohnCraigieMusic.com

Facebook: John Craigie

Instagram: @JohnCraigie

Twitter: @JohnCraigie