In 2017, Danny Wilson and creative partner Tracy Schlapp had a simple idea: play Johnny Cash’s At Folsom Prison album start to finish in Oregon Prisons, so they assembled the band Luther’s Boots for the Folsom50 project to play shows first at Columbia River Correctional Institution in Portland and then, at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville. Two concerts quickly multiplied to tally thirteen Oregon prison performances. Different “Boots” joined the band to travel to the state’s eastern-most and southern borders. Led by the duo, the Folsom50 project quickly evolved to deliver art and music programming to prisoners statewide and the band moved from Cash covers to playing Wilson’s original music. The resulting work received a Regional Arts & Culture Council project grant to record the album Darkened Road Ahead.
The experience of being welcomed by incarcerated folks continues to drive the band. They have travel back to prison to meet people where they are in their struggle, in their hopes, and future plans. It is a privileged position to be able to visit this world. Wilson says this experience has changed his life, it has certainly changed his music making. Covid has made it impossible for Luther’s Boots to play inside, so they have instead sent in DVD recordings of performances. Wilson and Schlapp continue the work through their nonprofit organization Bridgeworks Oregon.
The current line up Luther’s Boots is comprised of Danny Wilson (guitar/keys/vocals), Wyatt Unger (bass), Jared Bozza (drums), and Zach Holden (guitar). Holden and Unger are versatile musicians who are recent graduates of Portland State University’s jazz program. Bozza and Wilson both studied music at Lewis & Clark College—though they graduated many years apart.
Learn more about Danny Wilson and Luther’s Boots by visiting their website!
Enjoy a hot, home-style dinner before the big show! With all-day breakfast, mountain-sized nachos, and mouth-watering burgers, The Cascade Grill has something for everyone to enjoy before the big show!
We encourage all our concert attendees to order off the full menu at the Cascade Grill before entering for the show!
Why worry about how you’re getting home when you can stay at our on-site hotel? The Portlander Inn welcomes you to Portland with the cozy feel of a true Northwest lodge. All 100 guest rooms offer refrigerators, microwave ovens, coffee pots, free wireless internet, direct-dial phones with voicemail and televisions with complimentary HBO and Showtime premium channels. Learn more and book your room here.
Event Policies:
All tickets are nonrefundable and nontransferable with the exception of event cancellation. Support acts are subject to change.
No re-entry permitted.
21+ event.
Questions? Check out the FAQs on the Ponderosa website for answers to the most common questions.