[WestMALocals] Peoples Music Network for Songs of Freedom and Struggle

[Nat Fortune]

who might be interested in helping cosponsor and table this event? 
---Nat

mail at natfortune.org

>  The primary responsibility of co-sponsors is to help publicize the 
> weekend and to encourage your members/associates to attend

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT INFO:  Diane Crowe, 413-548-9394, diacrowe at yahoo.com

The Peoples Music Network for Songs of Freedom and Struggle will hold 
its Winter Gathering at Amherst College in Amherst, MA on the weekend 
of January 27-29, 2006.  The theme for the weekend will be “Standing 
Our Ground”.
            The Peoples Music Network (PMN) uses music and culture to 
promote progressive ideas and values.  PMN is a network of musicians, 
performers, song-writers, sound and recording engineers, music lovers, 
record and concert producers, promoters and archivists, whose artistry 
is rooted in political and social activism.  In the words of Paul 
Robeson, “The artist must fight for freedom or slavery.”
             Since 1977, PMN has developed a format that includes a 
Friday night concert, a weekend of workshops, and a round robin. 
Members come from all over the country to share their love of music. 
The gatherings are held in different cities each winter. Summer 
gatherings are at a camp in the Hudson Valley.
            PMN is a place to come to work on issues pertaining to 
cultural survival. It is a welcoming place for new musicians and 
songwriters as well as seasoned veterans.  It is a culturally diverse 
group of people committed to working on issues of oppression, having 
fun in the process
              The winter gathering will present a dynamic group of 
musicians at its Friday night concert on January 27.  The concert will 
be held at Johnson Hall, Amherst College, and begin at 7:00 pm.  The 
evening’s line-up will combine the nueva canción of Puerto Rican 
independentista, Roy Brown, the political poignancy of Emma’s 
Revolution, comprised of Pat Humphries and Sandy Opatow, the civil 
rights themes of Kim & Reggie Harris, the playfulness and wit of Jay 
Mankita, the high-energy musical outrage of RiotFolks Collective’s 
Ethan Miller & Kate Boverman, and the political satire and parody of 
humorist Tom Neilson. All the performers have a strong commitment to 
social, ecological and economic justice.
Weekend workshops focus on topics such as songwriting, the marketing of 
musicians, funny songs, choral and improvisational singing, rounds, 
labor, protest, Celtic and peace songs. Song swaps include 
environmental, gay/lesbian/bisexual and disabilities awareness issues.  
	
On Saturday afternoon, there will be a Children’s Concert at 1:30 pm at 
Johnson Hall.  It will be free and open to the public.  PMN 
songwriters, Sarah Pirtle, Tom Neilson and others will perform.
	 Following the Children’s Concert will be a Plenary, focusing on 
current issues of military recruitment, globalization and money. Jo 
Comerford and Raul Matta of the American Friends Service Committee and 
the WMA Military Recruitment Education Network will talk about current 
local and national efforts to educate communities about the realities 
of military service and its alternatives.  They will explore the ways 
in which community members can be powerful allies in this process.  
Suzie Polucci and Court Dorsey will present their hilarious, but 
profoundly insightful, “Melotrauma”, which will include pieces from 
“Globalize This”, a satire that pits global capital against that other 
superpower, We The People, and from “The Invention of Capital”, a mimed 
passion play with music that chronicles the degeneration of human love 
and natural beauty, and the rise of money.
We invite you to co-sponsor the PMN weekend. The primary responsibility 
of co-sponsors is to help publicize the weekend and to encourage your 
members/associates to attend.
Over 100 PMNers will be coming from out of town and will need lodging 
for the weekend. If you can provide a homestay for the weekend, please 
contact Bob Blue at bobblue at the-spa.com.
For information and a registration form, go the web site:  
www.peoplesmusic.org  or contact  Diane Crowe, at diacrowe at yahoo.com