Walking Woody's road to Sisters

Granddaughter of perhaps the most important American folk music artist of the last century, Woody Guthrie, and daughter of Woody's son Arlo Guthrie, Sarah Lee Guthrie finds herself following a familiar road, but also creating a style all her own.

Her road led her last weekend to the Sisters Folk Festival, where she performed with the Walking Woody's Road tribute, and also with husband and partner Johnny Irion.

"Mostly my songwriting influence comes from people I admire, like my husband," said Guthrie. "He was already an incredible songwriter when I met him and I fell in love with his songwriting and at the same time fell in love with singing with him in harmony. Now Woody, that is something that just comes natural that's inside of me and sometimes it comes out, but it's not something I do consciously."

Sarah Lee made her singing debut at the age of 2, when she appeared on Arlo's 1981 album "Power of Love." She was also involved in theater and dance as a child. Although she grew up in a celebrated musical family, it wasn't until after high school that Guthrie discovered her love for making music, finding herself working as her father's road manager on the 1997 Further Festival tour.

"That was kind of my college, from 18 to 22," Guthrie said. "I learned a lot from Arlo; I watched his every move in performance when he's on stage. I learned a lot about performing from dad. But I always wrote poems, so it wasn't that far off for me to turn that into songs. My dad was absolutely thrilled of course, and would teach me stuff. That was a really cool way to get to know my dad, because I'd never known him in that way."

After meeting in Los Angeles in 1999 through mutual friend Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes, Guthrie and Irion began playing together in 2000. Their music is a combination of Irion's rock and blues influences, balanced by Guthrie's folk and country influences. Irion himself comes from a family of artists. His uncle is the author Thomas Steinbeck, his grand-uncle the author John Steinbeck.

The duo released their first studio album, "Exploration," in 2005. In 2009 they released "Folksong," and most recently "Bright Examples," in 2011.

At this year's Sisters Folk Festival, Guthrie and Irion also performed with Walking Woody's Road, which celebrates the life and career of the legendary singer/songwriter in the year that would have been his 100th birthday. Created by Jimmy LaFave, the show pays tribute to Guthrie through narration and song. Also appearing in the tribute were Eliza Gilkyson and Slaid Cleaves.

"We performed this up at Timberline Lodge before coming here Tuesday; what another incredible scene," Guthrie said. "I'm so glad we were able to come here. I love this little town. The show was amazing, the energy, it's up to the audience to lift us up, and they did. To be here and do the show was really incredible."

Currently, Guthrie and Irion are in the studio finishing up their forthcoming album. A collection of original songs, the album will see the couple continuing to grow as singers and songwriters. The album is slated for release in 2013.