On Thursday, December 10 at 7 p.m. CST, the Arhoolie Foundation, with the support of Smithsonian Folkways, will present a free virtual concert via YouTube celebrating the legacy of Arhoolie Records and the 25th anniversary of the Arhoolie Foundation.

The event will be hosted by Nick Spitzer of public radio’s American Routes, and will feature exclusive intimate performances from Taj Mahal, Billy Gibbons, Ry Cooder, Charlie Musselwhite, Del McCoury, Bonnie Raitt, Los Texmaniacs, Savoy Family Band, La Marisoul, Cedric Watson, The Campbell Brothers, and more.

The live stream link and more info is available here: http://arhoolie.org/anniversary/

The 3rd Annual Arhoolie Awards, honoring musicians, organizations, and individuals who carry on and uplift roots and regional musical styles, will be presented to Sugar Pie DeSanto, Courtney Granger, and The Roots of Music, with the legendary Flaco Jiménez receiving the Chris Strachwitz Legacy Award. The musicians will be performing songs from throughout the Arhoolie catalog and speaking about the label’s impact on their music. Donations will be accepted and will benefit the Arhoolie Foundation’s ongoing work.

Founded in 1960 by Chris Strachwitz, and acquired by Smithsonian Folkways in 2016, Arhoolie has become synonymous with 20th Century blues, zydeco, Tejano, and many other popular folk styles, influencing multiple generations of musicians across numerous genres. The label released historic albums by Big Mama Thornton, Clifton Chenier, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Mance Lipscomb, and Mississippi Fred McDowell, among countless other revered singers and musicians. Arhoolie is based in El Cerrito, CA.