This exceptional masterclass has been organized by the University of Groningen (American Studies) and the TakeRoot festival. You will receive fascinating insights into the history and development of New Orleans, as well as the impact of Hurricane Katrina twenty years ago. It explores how a city’s resilience and culture, despite great personal suffering, can continue to inspire musicians, writers, and residents. The masterclass also explores the connections between New Orleans music and the spirit of the TakeRoot festival in Groningen.

The program is an interesting addition for seasoned TakeRoot visitors, but also provides valuable material for students studying the history and music of the North American continent.

The two main components include a lecture by a university professor and a moderated discussion with three expert guests. A musical interlude bridges the gap between the two sessions.

The participants in the various sections are:

MARK L. THOMPSON
Mark Thompson will give the lecture on the history of New Orleans and is a university lecturer at the Faculty of Arts, Department of American Studies, University of Groningen. His research and teaching focuses primarily on Colonial America, the early American republic, the American South, and the early modern Atlantic world. Thompson was also a long-time resident of New Orleans.

GILL LANDRY
Gill Landry will perform during the musical interlude, and then join the expert panel. With his soulful voice and compelling stories, Landry is a true master storyteller. He made a splash with Old Crow Medicine Show and subsequently built an impressive solo career, with albums full of dark romanticism and poetic Americana. On his latest album, Cinnamon Canyon Blues, he reveals a raw and personal side—music for seekers, dreamers, and lost souls. Landry was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, the same state as New Orleans, in the Deep South of the U.S. After the 2016 edition, Landry will be appearing at the TakeRoot festival for the second time this year.

LAILA FRANK
The expert panel will be moderated by Laila Frank, a Dutch journalist and America expert. She worked for 14 years as a campaign specialist and political advisor and creates social stories about America on her website, Being Frank. Laila Frank writes for De Groene Amsterdammer and Vrij Nederland, and has presented the radio program Bureau Buitenland since 2024. Her own stories focus primarily on “change,” how social and democratic shifts arise, the forces behind them, and the role ordinary people play in them.

KRISTIN A. McGEE
Kristin McGee, assistant professor at the University of Groningen, specializes in Popular Music and Jazz Studies at the Faculty of Arts. She established this program within the Arts, Culture and Media program. McGee is also active as a musician (saxophone) and has played in various groups in Chicago and Groningen. She also does editorial work for magazines such as Jazz Perspectives. Kristin McGee is also a member of the expert panel.

JAN DONKERS
In the late 1960s, Jan “Gonzo” Donkers was one of the pioneers of Dutch pop journalism, writing for music magazines Hitweek, de Volkskrant, NRC Handelsblad, and HP/De Tijd, among others. He worked for a long time at the VPRO, producing music programs such as the Joe Blow Show, The Wilde Wereld, and Sunday Morning Coming Down. His international reporting took him all over the world, but his work on America has always been a source of interest. He was involved with the TakeRoot festival as a presenter for exactly 20 years and was given the title “Voice of Americana” upon his departure. Incidentally, Donkers continues to serve as an ambassador for TakeRoot whenever possible. In his book “Forty Tracks,” he reminisces about “tracks” that were decisive in his life. The story about Allen Toussaint, originally from New Orleans, is controversial because it also relates to Katrina.

The masterclass “American Studies presents TakeRoot Talks” is made possible by:

• The American Studies program at the University of Groningen.
• The TakeRoot festival.
• SPOT/De Oosterpoort Music Center.
• The “Music Matters, Performing Music Through Culture” series within the Musicology program at the University of Groningen.
• The Netherlands American Studies Association (NASA), a network of scholars, researchers, and students interested in the history, culture, and politics of the United States.