If it has been a while since heard anything edgy and refreshing than Graham Roth is the answer to your musical prayers! Jason Grubb, Head of Circulation and Reference at White Mountain Library invites the public to “chill” with Graham on Thursday, July 22nd at White Mountain at 7:00. Graham Roth, Green River resident and guitarist, will play “covers” of some familiar musicians including Crosby, Stills and Nash, Neil Young, the Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan and Bob Marley along with some of his own tunes.

Roth plans to give an intro to most songs to tell a bit about the song and maybe what inspired it. He says he’ll play what feels good and what goes with the tone in the room. He likes to have his music heard and have the “organic quality be clear and recognizable.” He hopes listeners can take what they need from the music.

Julie Farr, Head Librarian at White Mountain Library says she has enjoyed hearing Roth perform. She notes that he sings Bob Dylan’s song, “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” better than Dylan. Roth has performed at the Poetry Slams and Poetry Jams the past couple of years and at the Book and Bean in Green River. A fan of Bob Marley, Roth also adapts some of his favorites into a reggae style with accents on the off- beat including Enya’s “Only Time”.

Roth started playing guitar when he was 13 years old teaching himself and taking lessons from Tom Fersak who taught him blues chords. He started writing his own songs with lyrics at about 18 while playing in bands in high school and at the University of Wyoming. He wants the performance to be personal to everyone and likes to interact with the audience. Roth says he writes a lot of music and does not get discouraged from writers block. He feels that something good always comes out of the times when it is hard to write. One of his favorite songs called ‘I and I’ was very hard to write but now he really enjoys playing the song. He says it was worth the struggle.

Roth notes that at times he writes according to his emotions and the angry songs quickly fade away but the joyful songs tend to stick. He really loves to play guitar and usually “chills” on the couch but is also happy to play for crowds, friends, neighbors and passersby, somewhat of a modern day bard. Graham’s muses are his own mind, long walks, trees, meditation, emotions and happy memories. He hopes his music will be inspirational to his listeners and is excited to perform on the 22nd in front of a “traditional” audience.