De la Canción Protesta a la Canción Propuesta!
A Night of Political Song
Friday April 27, 2007
$15 gen. - 8pm
For advance tickets click here.
Veteran singer and song-writer, Holly Near, will lead a roundtable of song-sharing between Bay Area song making giants, celebrating political thought & activism. This evening offers a rare encounter with musicians from diverse artistic and social movements and generations featuring Melanie DeMore, Lichi Fuentes, MamaCoatl, Jose “Dr. Loco” Cuellar, & Tomas Montoya.
This song exchange was inspired by informal gatherings organized by Holly Near in her living room as a way of exchanging creative expressions and encouraging dialogue between progressive artists. This night of political song brings this kind of exchange to the stage in an informal round table of songs where participants will also be able to share their creative process, how they create music, which addresses social and historical issues.
Singing in public since the age of eight, Holly Near is a unique combination of entertainer, teacher and activist. With an immense vocal and music talent, Holly’s work has established her as a leading voice within the world of music that articulates the social conditions of the world community. Unwilling to separate her passion for music from her passion for human dignity, she has recently been to Botswana in support of the San People, many of whom have been removed from the Kalahari and put in camps; attended the annual protest of the School of the Americas in Georgia; joined soldiers and families in Fayetteville, NC for the 4 year anniversary of the invasion of Iraq; and was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize along with 1,000 women who work for peace around the world.
Jose Cuellar is a professor of La Raza Studies at San Francisco State University. As a saxophone player, he is "Dr. Loco", a nickname given to him by one of his research subjects; in this role, he leads the musical group Dr. Loco's Rockin Jalapeño Rock Band, which plays at a wide range of community events ranging from county fairs and political benefits to educational lectures on Chicano music. Cuellar holds a Ph.D. in anthropology and is a scholar of Chicano culture. Currently Jose teaches at la Peña a Tejano/Norteño Accordion Workshop.
Lichi Fuentes, a multi-instrumentalist known for her strong voice and commitment to social justice. She is an important voice in the Bay Area's Latin American new song scene who has been described as a natural vocalist whose "commitment to social justice is a tangible force in her music" (SF Bay Guardian). Chilean-born Lichi, was the founder and lead vocalist of the group Altazor. Currently musical director of La Peña's Community Chorus, Lichi also teaches music at elementary schools in Oakland and Berkeley.
From seductress to revolutionary to Earth Mother, MamaCoatl is a prism of a woman whose voice is so needed in these turbulent times. Incorporating a fearless, feminine rearticulation of trova (Latin American protest song) and spoken word infused with jazz, funk and traditional Mexican sounds, MamaCoatl tells stories from both sides of the border in a time when the streets across America are filled with people using their voice to demand immigration reform.
La Peña’s Mexican Guitar teacher, Tomas Montoya, has recorded for C.L. records, teaches classical guitar, and has a wide range of musical styles. He contributed to the soundtrack for the award winning film Alambristal and has performed with Dr. Loco's Rockin' Jalapeño Band at the American Music and Arts Festival in Westminster, Maryland.
