Billy Bragg Talks Jail Guitar Doors USA, New Music With Wilco

Following the Strummerville SXSW showcase at Austin, Texas venue Prague Wednesday night, Billy Bragg talked to Spinner about Jail Guitar Doors USA and a new album with Wilco.

Talk about the Jail Guitar Doors USA project and your history with it.

I started the project in England three years ago, getting guitars to people doing rehabilitation work. Wayne Kramer does work in prisons, and he found out what i was doing and I talked to him about it, and we ended up deciding to try and launch it here.

You're still as passionate as ever. How do you keep that fire?

These kind of audiences ... I get a great inspiration from the audience. They fight my cynicism for me. Standing in the dark with these people like yourself, and responding.

I really loved your work with Wilco on the Woody Guthrie material.

Well, there's another 12 tracks that you haven't heard yet. We're trying to get them out for Woody's centenary in 2012.


Ben Beach is a contributor from Seed.com. If you're at SXSW, learn how you can contribute here.