Dom Flemons – SPACE, Evanston, July 13, 2025

Review & Photos: Jim Summaria

Dom Flemons at SPACE in Evanston, IL,

July 13, 2025

Review & Photos: By Jim Summaria

Dom Flemons bills himself as "The American Songster" which is the perfect title for this GRAMMY winning artist. The music he performs covers the history of American root music including blues, bluegrass, folk and country. He's a talented multi-instrumentalist, singer, poet and music historian who tells factual stories in a warm and entertaining manner.

He was raised in Arizona but now calls Chicago home. He received an honorary doctorate from Northern Arizona University. He is a member of the old-time string band the Carolina Chocolate Drops. 

Dr. Flemons was first influenced by the music that his parents played at home: Chuck Berry, the Beatles and Bob Dylan. Dylan peaked his interest which led him to discover the folk music of Woody Guthrie, Ramblin' Jack Elliott and Tom Paxton. He sharpened his performance skills by busking on the streets in towns around Arizona. During this time, he met Sule Greg Wilson who mentored Flemons by teaching him playing techniques and the history of American music.

He's released several solo albums along with recordings he made with the Carolina Chocolate Drops. The GRAMMY winning artist has performed at Carnegie Hall and the Grand Ole Opry. And on July 13, he stopped by SPACE in Evanston and put on a unique show that both entertained and enlightened. 

Flemons took to a very dark stage with a "The Bronze Buckaroo" movie poster projected onto a background screen. After welcoming attendees, he provided a back story to the music suite he was about to play. Flemons had written a musical score based on a 1939 movie about a Black cowboy (starring singer Herb Jefferies) who saved the day.

For the nine-song soundtrack, Flemons played several instruments for over 30 minutes, all while keeping pace with the re-edited movie playing up on the screen.

As the film began, Flemons blew into an instrument once played by slaves called the quills – a set of hollowed out tubes with different widths and lengths that create a flute-like sound. Throughout the course of the movie he sang, played banjo, acoustic guitar, harmonica and rhythm bones which created a clacking sound -- a very impressive and entertaining feat. I, for one, got caught up in the movie story with Flemons’ music generating the drama.

After a quick break, Flemons re-appeared for the second part of the show. On stage were two banjos, two acoustic guitars and a harmonica. Flemons would play all during the set. Each song he played had a back story told in a Mark Twain like way.

He explained that "Cannonball Blues" was first recorded by the Carter Family in 1929 and released in 1932. According to Flemons, Leslie Riddle taught the Carters how to play the guitar picking part. He then proceeded to deliver his own authentic take of “Cannonball Blues.”

In 2023, the multi-talented artist released the album Traveling Wildfire. The opening cut on the album is the waltz-like "Slow Dance With You." While playing acoustic guitar, he sang a beautiful heartfelt love song that is well suited for a wedding dance.

He picked up the pace with the rockabilly number "Hot Chicken." The song reminded me of a young Black Elvis Presley auditioning for Sam Philips in those early Sun Studio days. On this night, SPACE fans were Flemons' audience and they tapped their feet to the song’s beat. The song appeared on his 2020 album Prospect Hill: The American Songster Omnibus.

Back in 2016, Flemons teamed up with British folk singer Martin Simpson and recorded the album Ever Popular Favorites. From that album, the roots music practitioner chose to play the song "Pay Day" which he proudly delivered on his red Rosetta model guitar. This special edition guitar was made just for him with his name inlayed across the neck. He delivered a beautiful rendition dedicated to Mississippi John Hurt, the song’s originator.

Staying with his sweet Rosetta, Flemons proceeded with "Bye, Bye Baby Blues" and a nod to Little Hat Jones. Flemons mentioned that this was a song he often busked on the street in his early days.

He gently placed his Rosetta in its holder and picked up his Jamaican Tackhead Model banjo for his rendition of "Lost River Blues." He first told a humorous story about white-water rafting with world renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma. For the song, Flemons used a strumming technique that he picked up from banjo player Uncle Homer Walker.

"You're Baby Ain't Sweet Like Mine" was an upbeat fun-filled rendition Flemons played on an old fashioned banjo. The crowd had a good time with this Papa Charlie Jackson classic.

In 2012, the Carolina Chocolate Drops released their final album Leaving Eden. The bluegrass song "Po' Black Sheep" was written by Nathan Frazier and Frank Patterson but the band had their own take on it and so did the version that Flemons played tonight. His banjo playing was as fast and furious as the words. He tossed in a few bars of Steven Foster's "Oh, Susanna" for fun.

The traditional spiritual folk song "We're Almost Down to the Shore" was first recorded by Jimmie Strothers in 1936. Flemons recorded it on his Traveling Wildfire album. While performing the song, he beckoned the audience to participate by humming in spots where he sang lyrics about perseverance. It was a heartfelt moment.

He closed out his set with "Fox Chase," an instrumental piece that he played superbly on harmonica. First he talked about DeFord Bailey, an African American harmonica player who was a star performer at the Grand Ole' Opry. He waved to the crowd and thanked them as he walked off. But with everyone in attendance standing and shouting he returned for one more song.

Coming back to the stage with a huge smile, he sincerely thanked everyone. His final number of the night was an old blues tune by Tampa Red called "My Baby Said Yes." People remained standing for the song and for his exit. They had just witnessed an American treasure and left a lot smarter about American roots music than when they arrived.

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 Jim Summaria began professionally photographing rock concerts in 1973 at the age of 19 when he became the staff photographer for the Chicago rock concert promoter Flip Side Productions. Jim's photos have been published in numerous books, magazines and CDs. His rock ‘n’ roll photos have been viewed at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum and Hall of Fame on Rt.66 and the Grammy Awards. Jim and writer Mark Plotnick co-authored the books Classic Rock: Photographs From Yesterday & Today and the October 2024 release ‘70s Chicagoland Rock Concerts.  Jim and Mark also co-host the radio podcast That Rock Show on the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum platform.

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