Noah Johnson Daily Press Folk singer and songwriter Ben Traverse visited the Escanaba Library on Wednesday aspart of its Summer Reading Program, "Color our World." He provided a show full of fun folk music titled Old Songs for Young People: Folk Songs for Kids.

ESCANABA – The Escanaba City Council Chambers were full of music on Wednesday.

The Escanaba Library, as a part of its Summer Reading Program, “Color our World”, hosted folk singer and songwriter Ben Traverse of Grand Rapids for Old Songs for Young People: Folk Songs for Kids.

Traverse is touring different libraries across the Upper Peninsula, set up by the Superiorland Library Cooperative.

On Wednesday, Traverse spent time in Escanaba, sharing history, fun, and songs.

Traverse shared he got into folk music in high school during a music camp put on by Earthwork Music Collective in conjunction with an after-school program called Seeds.

“It was celebrating this guy named Alan Lomax who came to Michigan in 1938 collecting a bunch of traditional songs and folk music from working class folks all over the state,” Traverse said.

In camp, Traverse learned about folk and traditional music and how it’s considered a cultural artifact, and now shares that history with others through his music.

Traverse said folk music is an inclusive genre, as it is any music that originates from a group of working-class people.

“I would argue that hip-hop is folk music and I would argue that punk is folk music, and like it’s a lot more about where you’re coming from than what it sounds like,” he explained.

Guests, young and old, were treated to a variety of songs by Traverse featuring his acoustic guitar and a five-string banjo.

“I hope they enjoy the music, you know, that’s always first and foremost. But I also hope that they can experience some connections into their own life,” Traverse said

“Hopefully they can make some connections with some other areas in their life and kind of see how expansive this music is, how it’s just like this thing that spreads over such a huge geographic area and has been for so many years and decades and generations.”

To learn more about Traverse and his music, visit bentraversemusic.com.