Spook Handy

2026
“250 Years of American Folk Music”

Spook Handy’s latest music program is an essential piece of America’s Semiquincentennial Celebration. The concert focuses mostly on American folk songs from Woody Guthrie, through Pete Seeger, to Peter Paul & Mary, John Denver, and others, and includes plenty of 21^st century compositions by Spook himself.

THE OLD & THE NEW

Did you know that “Yankee Doodle” was originally a derogatory term used by British soldiers to denigrate American colonists? The Patriots flipped the script and made it the anthem of the American Revolution. Did you know that an 1806 military church song called “Brothers Are You with Me?” evolved into two 1860’s tunes – “John Brown’s Body,” and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” In 1905, it evolved further into the union song “Solidarity Forever.” Did you know Spook’s original songs have charted as high as No. 2 on the International Folk Radio Charts?

SPOOK & PETE SEEGER

Spook Handy learned much of what he knows about American folk music and American history performing alongside Pete Seeger more than fifty times from 2003 to 2014, and Pete covered some of Spook’s songs. Spook also played with Peter Yarrow of Peter Paul & Mary several times, and shared the stage at Lincoln Center in Manhattan with Peter, Judy Collins, Tom Chapin, and David Amram at the memorial concert for Pete Seeger in 2014.

“BEST FOLK ARTIST”

Spook was named “Best Folk Artists” several times throughout his long career by many publications, including the East Coast Rocker. His songs have been used in film and theater. He is the author of the Substack series “Looking For America,” and has written a 45- minute two-man play called “Always Have a Song to Sing,” which also celebrates 250 years of American folk music.

LIMITED AVAILABILITY

Spook is currently writing his first book and his Substack series and is scheduled to record a new album this summer. So, while his schedule is flexible, it is limited. So, reach out to Spook right away if you are interested in booking his concert or play.

Spook’s email is spook@spookhandy.com. Please put “250 Years” in the subject heading
Phone: 732-413-1340. Feel free to call or text. If you leave a message, please use the term “250 Years.”

And feel free to spread the word to other venues via email, social media, list-serve, or – uh!! – a good old-fashioned phone call.

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UNBRIDLED OPTIMISM

America is struggling to find Hope and reasons for Optimism in a time when we seems to have misplaced our moral bearings. But if Spook learned only one thing from working with Pete Seeger, it is to hold steady as a reporter of good news.

Here’s the Good News: We still have the tools we need to reshape our world and set it back on course toward sanity. Performing alongside Pete, Spook learned full-well that we STILL have a Hammer, we STILL have a Bell, and, dab nabbit, we STILL have a Song to Sing! The moral compass is STILL in our midst. And with your help, we are going to shine a little bit more light on it.

Carrying Folk Music Forward: Spook’s concerts are both nostalgic and on the cutting edge of American folk music. He weaves songs from folk music greats with his own songs and stories that come from his 20 years of touring America and Canada. Together, they form a cohesive, healing, heartfelt, spirit-lifting message about the world we live in today. You will laugh and cry and leave Spook’s concert with your spirits uplifted.

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In the Wake of the Pandemic, music venues are struggling to stay open. But Spook has been fortunate to find a variety of other venues: He’s been invited to give concerts in classical music recital series; “Keynote Concerts” at educational facilities and conventions; Libraries, Community Centers, JCCs (with his Tecun Alum concert), House Concerts, and other venues.

Spook is the author of “Looking For America” – a weekly Substack series of Tales from the Road, Times with Pete Seeger, song lyrics, stories behind the songs, and other surprising and crazy stuff.

Petie: 1982 – 2000

Spook Also Offers:

Lessons and Workshops – one-on-one, or for groups at festivals, conferences, and in classrooms; Topics include – Guitar, Songwriting, Performance, and “From the Campfire to the Concert Hall.”

In-Class Lectures at colleges and universities

Best Folk Artist

Download Songs Own A CD