Basic Folk 46 – Ryan Walsh of Hallelujah The Hills

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photo by Matt Condon

Ryan Walsh of the literary (read: nerd) indie rock band Hallelujah The Hills has new music on the way. The new I’m You LP releases on November 15, 2019. Walsh, originally from Dedham, MA, has always held an interest in history and folk music, particularly when it comes to his hometown. Dedham was the site of where Sacco and Vanzetti were wrongly held for murder and also, subsequently, was named in one of Woody Guthrie’s ballads about the two anarchists. The courthouse where their trial took place happens to be at the end of Walsh’s childhood street and it’s wonderful to hear him speculate as to whether the legendary songwriter stepped foot on the same street he grew up on.

Ryan also is the author of Astral Weeks: A Secret History of 1968, which chronicles Van Morrison’s 9 months spent in Boston, MA right before he recorded and released the masterpiece. Walsh shares insights on writing the book and the subsequent influence on his life. Please enjoy this conversation with one of my favorite humans, Ryan Walsh of Hallelujah The Hills!