Forbert, Four Years Later

Although Steve Forbert has had a longstanding habit of releasing limited edition in-concert CDs, it had been a while since the songwriter provided his fans with new music. That changed in May with the release of Just Like There’s Nothin’ To It, his first album of new songs since the millennium.

Forbert is about to release a live album called Good Soul Food, recorded this summer at The Ark in Ann Arbor, Mich. He has been printing live albums since 1994, and they’re normally only available at his concerts and at www.steveforbert.com.

The guitarist/songwriter has been making records since he was discovered in the late ‘70s during the New Wave scene in New York City. Like Loudon Wainwright III, John Prine and other songwriters, he initially had to escape the cursed “New Bob Dylan” label, then a well-documented battle with his record company that kept him from recording in the ‘80s.

However, Forbert has been back for a long time now, and the new album has received some triumphant reviews.

Beginning December 3rd in Alexandria, Va., Forbert takes to the road through March 3rd, ending his venture at Bethlehem, Pa.’s Banana Factory. In between are stops in Florida, North Carolina, Texas, and Washington, among other states. At times he shares a co-bill with either Lucy Kaplansky or Tim O’Brien.