Folkus Project concert: emma’s revolution
Blurb: Beautiful harmonies and engaging, intelligent lyrics; music with the strength of its convictions
Where: May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society
3800 East Genesee St, Syracuse, N.Y.
(just inside the Syracuse city limits from Dewitt)
When: Friday, Feb. 5, at 8 p.m.
Admission: $15
Artists’ Web site: emmasrevolution.com
Artists’ MySpace site: myspace.com/emmasrevolutionfans
Calendar entry: will be performing as part of the Folkus Project concert series at May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Church, 3800 East Genesee Street, Syracuse, N.Y., on February 5, 2010, at 8:00 p.m. Doors open at 7:30 and refreshments will be available. Admission is $15. For reservations, email [email protected] or call (315) 440-7444.
About: emma’s revolution
Taking their name and inspiration from the boldness and fiery passion of Emma Goldman, emma’s revolution is the duo of activist musicians, Pat Humphries & Sandy Opatow, who write songs that become traditions. They have staked their claim as inheritors of Goldman’s personal and political legacy, captured in her famous attribution, “If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of your revolution.” But the Goldman reference is more than a catchy moniker. They write powerful, passionate songs about the lives of real people, focusing their political passions to testify for love, peace, equality, and justice.
“The epitome of great contemporary political music.” — Sing Out!
Much like Goldman herself, Emma’s revolutionaries are committed to a radical new social order, to freedom, to self-expression, and to the power of every individual to enact critical change. A motivating force in intimate concerts and mass demonstrations, their music is infused with inspiration from the legacy of music for social change. It is infectiously energizing, imbued with warmth, hope and humor and the power to turn tears into laughter, cynicism into action.
“These songs you’ll find yourself singing for the rest of your life.” — Pete Seeger
emma’s revolution has brought their uprising of truth, hope and a dash of healthy irreverence to concerts and peace, justice, labor, environmental, LGBTQ and women’s rights events across the U.S. and abroad. Their song, “If I Give Your Name” won Grand Prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and their music has been featured on NPR’s “All Things Considered” and Pacifica’s “Democracy Now!” “Peace, Salaam, Shalom” is sung around the world and has been called the “anthem of the anti-war movement. “Keep On Moving Forward” was sung to open the fourth United Nations World Conference on Women in Beijing.
“‘If I Give Your Name’ is the best song, ever written, anywhere.” — Phyllis Barney, North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance
The Folkus Project
TFP is a nonprofit organization that fosters and promotes traditional, contemporary, and multicultural folk music in Syracuse and Central New York. Approximately 30 shows are presented each year between Labor Day and Memorial Day. In addition, occasional workshops on songwriting, singing, and instrumental technique are sponsored in coordination with concert appearances. To learn more about Folkus and the upcoming concerts, visit their webpage at www.folkus.org. Click on Join Folkus Fans to sign up to receive brief e-mails during the Folkus season (fall, winter, and spring) alerting members of upcoming concerts.
