2020
Written by: Eliza Gilkyson
Released on April 10, 2020, 2020 is a blend of new and old, reflecting the protests and activism that have defined her generation, including her interpretation of some folk favorites by Bob Dylan, “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall,”and Pete Seeger’s “Where Have All the Flowers Gone.” Eliza also adapted a new song, “Beach Haven,” from a letter written by Woody Guthrie in 1952 to Fred Trump, who at the time was his landlord, regarding his segregationist renter policies. Ever the optimist, Woody pleaded to Trump to “open your doors” and “rip out the strangling red tape” that kept the apartment from embracing all races.
Produced by Eliza’s son Cisco Ryder Gilliland, the recording features Mike Hardwick (Jon Dee Graham, Jerry Jeff Walker, Charlie Sexton) on pedal steel, slide and various guitars, Chris Maresh (Eric Johnson) on bass, Bukka Allen (Alejandro Escovedo, Joe Ely, Terry Allen) on piano and keyboards, Warren Hood on fiddle, mandolinist Kym Warner (Green Cards) and producer Cisco Ryder Gilliland on drums, with cameo appearances by Jaimee Harris, folksinger BettySoo and the WEWIM choir of Austin, a group co-founded by Eliza and singer Charlie Faye that supports up-and-coming female musicians in the community.
Buy it at Eliza’s store here: Shopify