WILLIAMSBURG— John McCutcheon will play a free concert as part of the Williamsburg Presbyterian Church’s Open Door Concert Series on April 26.
According to the Williamsburg Presbyterian Church, McCutcheon is one of America’s greatest folk musicians and storytellers, singer-songwriters, and is a master of a dozen traditional instruments, most notably the hammered dulcimer. His musical roots run deep, having travelled across Appalachia in his youth. He has been at the forefront of folk music since the 1970s, crisscrossing the globe with a career that is constantly evolving to tell the American story.
Over the course of his career, McCutcheon has released more than 40 albums and earned multiple Grammy nominations, establishing himself as both a performer and a cultural preservationist. His music frequently reflects themes of social justice, history, and everyday life, drawing inspiration from real people and events.
“I’ve always had an ear for a story. When you do a concert, you are in a room with hundreds of strangers to you. You have this one opportunity for yourself to make this kind of a special thing for that audience. I’m hoping that when I share stories of how I grew up and how I learned to play gives some context to the afternoon and helps move as a thread through the entire event,” McCutcheon explained.
One of the more distinctive things about John McCutcheon is how directly he connects his music to real people and current events. Many of his songs are inspired by conversations he has with everyday individuals—factory workers, teachers, activists—and he often writes pieces in response to social and political moments.
One of his favorite things to do is pick up a local newspaper when he arrives in a new place.
“I’m always conscious of where I am. The people who come to this concert are not going to just hear a show that I usually present. It’s not canned or the same show I did the night before. I’m really aware of where I’m playing and I like doing research on the issues that are relevant to that community,” McCutcheon said.
Those who attend his concert will hear various songs that he has recorded over the years, including new tracks from his 2026 album, Together Again.
Something he also added was the idea that each song can create a different picture in each audience members mind.
“As a songwriter, one of the things I am always telling my students is that you don’t have to paint the entire picture. The listener is going to fill in the blanks based on their own life. It forces the listener to become engaged because it’s ideally a conversation that you are creating,” McCutcheon explained.
This performance is McCutcheon’s second appearance in Williamsburg after he opened the first in-person concert after the pandemic for the Open Door Concert Series.
McCutcheon’s concert will conclude the WPC 2026 Open Door Concert Series. Tickets are not required and the doors will open at 3:30 p.m.
To learn more about McCutcheon, visit folkmusic.com.