Musicians play along for ‘Wild’ read

Brad Keeler and Linda Parman are providing musical accompaniment to “The Call of the Wild,” this month’s Big Read selection at the Spokane County Library District.

“It’s a fun challenge,” said Keeler of creating “Sourdough Songs,” a program that gives a little cultural context to Jack London’s story set in the Yukon during the 1890s gold rush.

Keeler said he’d read “The Call of the Wild” twice before, and re-read it while working on the program.

“It was really enjoyable to read again,” he said. “The book really gives you a good insight into how remote and how primitive a site these people were going into.”

Keeler and Parman will perform ballads, a march and 1890s “pop songs,” like “Daisy Bell,” otherwise known as “Bicycle Built for Two.” They’ll also recite poetry and talk about their vintage instruments.

The Big Read is a community literary program created by the National Endowment for the Arts.

“Music adds an emotional connection to the era,” said Jane Baker, communications and development officer for the county library district. “It brings a feeling and experience that helps to create the atmosphere and setting of the book.”

Kimberly Lusk

What: “Sourdough Songs” with Brad Keeler and Linda Parman

This week: 2 p.m. Saturday at Otis Orchards Library, 22324 E. Wellesley Ave.; 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Cheney Library, 610 First St.; 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave.

More performances: Visit www.scld.org/bigread2015/ for a list of other “Sourdough Songs” performances as well as other Big Read activities throughout the month.