Carl Wirkkala & The Whistle Punks perform at NCC

 

August 5, 2021

The Naselle Community Center officially opened its doors to the public on Saturday, July 24. Carl Wirkkala and his "Whistle Punks" band members played for a very welcoming crowd of listeners. Before the concert began, Travis Boggs, local caterer, and his wife Jennifer Boggs, the Finnish American Folk Festival (FAFF) chairman, served hamburger and hot dog combos.

"The Whistle Punks" band consists of talented musicians from the Vancouver/Portland area. The band members are Carl Wirkkala on lead vocals and guitar, Chad McAllister on electric guitar, Christine McAllister on bass and backup vocals, Jesse Cunningham on pedal steel and Don Lawry on drums. A trio from the band also performed: Carl Wirkkala, Chad and Christine McAllister.

Some of the numbers were written about places where Carl's father grew up. They also played numbers from their new CD: "Hope is on the Rise." "Frankfort" and "Rain on the Southfork" were both songs about the Naselle area.

"Haywire" is a logging blues tune that Carl wrote in 2005 while working in the woods. "Lightning Wheels" was written while Carl was in Nashville. It had been recorded by Nashville artist Danny Griego.

Carl Wirkkala hails from Castle Rock. He has deep family roots in the Pacific Northwest and brings to life tales of ghost towns, trains and lonesome drifters through his music. Carl enjoys writing songs based on the stylings of Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Bob Dylan. Several of his songs detail scenes from the different regions in Southwest Washington. He has been writing and performing for the past 20 years and has eight studio albums with another album on the way.

Carl Wirkkala has been performing regionally for over 15 years. His live-stream shows from his home venue, "The Cedar Tree," have reached fans all over the world.

Carl has been a popular performer at both the Naselle Community Center and the FAFF. He has been very supportive of the local community.

 

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