Homer Alaska - Arts

Cross The Runaways with The Sex Pistols, throw in a little Johnny Cash and add a touch of attitude from Lisbeth Salander — the heroine of Stieg Larsson's "Girl With the Dragon Tattoo." If that sounds like a demented Pandora Web radio mash-up, well, join the hundreds of critics trying to describe Baskery, a Swedish rockabilly-punk-bluegrass-whatever band playing in Homer Friday night.

With their ripped jeans, wild hair and common last names, you might think, OK, Scandinavian Ramones — except as is obvious from the dimples on their chins, these are actual sisters, not faux brothers like Joey, Marky et al. Their acoustic instruments — guitar, harmonica and six-string banjo — evokes Grand Ole Opry.

"Baskery defies categories. It's Swedish, but it's Americana," said Asia Freeman, the Bunnell Street Arts Center executive director. "I love the spirit of global, sentimental, rural wildness they embody."

Singing in English, the Stockholm sisters describe their music as high voltage, killbilly, banjopunk and blues-grass. They started as the Slaptones, with their father on drums, and eventually became the all-woman group Baskery in 2006. In 2008 they released their first album, "Fall Among Thieves." Since then they've toured in Ireland, Scotland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, France, Canada and the United States. In Alaska, Baskery also performs on Saturday at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Whether playing at festivals or intimate pubs, Baskery's performances have been praised for their high energy.

"Absurdly wonderful — Stockholm sisters turn Americana on its head!" said Mojo Magazine.

"A mix of hard edged country and rockabilly, Baskery really does rock! They returned to Glasgow conquering heroes," said the Glasgow, Scotland, Herald.

"Flaxen haired trio's frenzied banjo punk drew as much excitement as the bigger acts, leaving audiences clamoring for more," said the British Colombia Roots and Blues Review.

Baskery's concert is one of two events this year raising funds for Bunnell's Artist in Schools program. Jocelyn Shiro-Westphal's Jazzline dance series also raises money for Artists in Schools as well as offering dance performance opportunities for young artists.

"It's such a double whammy as a gift from Jocelyn," Freeman said. "It's such a visionary thing for Jocelyn to do."

Under a major grant from the Alaska State Council on the Arts and the Rasmuson Foundation, Bunnell's Artist in Schools — now in its 11th year — connects local artists with Kenai Peninsula schools. The Homer Foundation's Ashley J. Logan Fund also provided a grant to expand Artist in Schools to new venues such as Ninilchik, Cooper Landing, Seldovia and Nanwalek.

Schools and artists can work with the ASCA program at the state level, but Bunnell's Artist in the Schools program simplifies — and economizes — the process.

"The program is growing," Freeman said. "There's a realization that by working through a single entity, schools can save time and money."

Schools pay about half the fee for an artist, with Bunnell paying the rest, including expenses like materials and travel. Recent residencies included musician Eddie Wood at Paul Banks Elementary School, jewelry artist Art Koeninger at Voznesenka School and ceramics artist Annette Bellamy at Fireweed Academy.

Baskery's performance fits in well with the tone of Artist in the Schools, Freeman said: high energy and appealing to youth.

"I hope it's a great inspiration to Homer's very talented youth, and all the creativity and individuality possible through dedication to the arts," she said.

Bunnell would like to add to its Artist in the School roster, Freeman said. For more information, including a roster of artists and past programs, visit www.bunnellstreetgallery.org.

Michael Armstrong can be reached at michael.armstrong@homernews.com.