Hey Everyone..

I am in the process of trying to get the word out on this year's DISSIDENT FOLK & ARTS FESTIVAL as we are rapidly approaching the date, and so wanted to put up the final info for all of you here. Please feel free to fwd this info to others.

Forgive me if some of this info is redundant, but some aspects have been changed somewhat. Hope those of you in the New York area can come by and join us as we offer music, poetry, discussion,networking, and a photography exhibit in protest speak of war-mongers, corporate corruption and "the Decider"....


THE DISSIDENT FOLK & ARTS FESTIVAL 2007 –

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Presented by John Pietaro and the Howland Cultural Center- ******************************************************

The second annual Dissident Folk Festival -- now under the expanded name of The Dissident Folk & Arts Festival--returns to Beacon's Howland Cultural Center on October 13 of this year. This festival celebrates a diverse view of protest song and poetry, offering works of social change, labor, peace and pride through many genres. Special segments this year include A TRIBUTE TO BERTOLT BRECHT in the evening and two afternoon events--a workshop on WOODY GUTHRIE and a presentation on NEW ORLEANS TODAY. A guest speaker will be Steve Gold, a candidate for Beacon's mayor. The evening will close off with a rousing performance by the renowned Jazz violinist Gwen Laster and her ensemble. Protest photography by John Economos and Maxine Smith will also be on exhibit and the performances will run throughout the day.

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Last year's Dissident Festival was the first in this series of annual topical music concerts. It featured brilliant sets by the likes of Malachy McCourt, Pete Seeger, Bev Grant and numerous others from acoustic music to the edge of avant folk, to pop, blues, world music and more. There were also special tributes to both Woody Guthrie and Paul Robeson. (see below for press excerpts about the 2006 Festival). ********************************************************

The organizer began the Festival as a means of presenting cultural workers--artists who focus on activism through their art—in a large-scale setting. This is the only such Festival of its kind and it is scheduled to be an annual event at least through the end of the Bush Administration. Our progressive mission is not covert; we are promoting peace, equality, labor and immigrant rights. Another goal of this Festival is to break the image of the protest singer as a "white guy with an acoustic guitar" exclusively. The Dissident Folk & Arts Festival insists on bookings that are never homogenous in sounds, look, age, culture or style. The imagery onstage is as expansive as the content of the songs and poems. The cultural workers speak!

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-SCHEDULE-
1:00 – Doors open 1:10 – opening song by THE FLAMES OF DISCONTENT 1:15 - opening remarks by event organizer/MC John Pietaro

1:20 – 2:20 - WORKSHOP: "Woody Rediscovered" (STEPHAN SUFFET & ANNE PRICE)
2:20 – 2:50 - PRESENTION: "New Orleans Today" (MEL & VINNIE)

MUSIC/POETRY:
3:00 – 3:20 – Anti-War Choir VOICES FOR PEACE led by Danielle Woerner
3:20 – 3:50 – Roots Duet REDWOOD MOOSE
3:50 – 4:00 – Poet ARIANNA DEJESUS
4:00 – 4:30 – Protest Ensemble THE MACDOUGAL ST. RENT PARTY
4:30- 5:00 – Mexican Revolutionary Musician ZENOTE SOMPANTLE
5:00 – 5:10 – Poet ROBERT MILBY
5:10 – 5:40 – Singer/Guitarist THOM JOYCE
5:40 – 6:10 – Radical Labor Song Duet GEORGE & JULIUS
6:10 – 7:10 – DINNER BREAK
7:10 – 7:40 – Activist/Musician/WVKR Air Personality CHRIS RUHE
7:40 – 7:50 – Guest Speaker STEVE GOLD, activist/politician
7:50 – 8:20 – Alternative-Folk Singer/Songwriter BRUCE MARKOW
8:20 – 8:30 – Activist Poet/Author SANA SHABAZZ
8:30 – 9:00 – Legendary Folkie BEV GRANT & THE DISSIDENT DAUGHTERS
9:00 – 9:20 – BREAK

9:20 – 10:30- SOLIDARITY SONGS: A TRIBUTE TO BERTOLT BRECHT:
(9:20 – 9:30 –intro statement about Brecht - John Pietaro
9:30 – 10:00 – Progressive Cabaret Duet JENNIE LITT & DAVID ALPHER
10:00 – 10:30- Alternative Protest Band THE FLAMES OF DISCONTENT)

10:30 – 11:00 – FINALE: Celebrated Jazz Violinist GWEN LASTER ENSEMBLE **********************************************************************
Festival specifics…
WHEN? -SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13TH, 2007 1:00 PM – 11:00 PM

WHERE? HOWLAND CULTURAL CENTER 477 MAIN STREET, BEACON NY 12508 845-831-4988 www.howlandculturalcenter.org

ADMISSION? $10. (all proceeds will be donated to the Howland Center's geo-thermal heating system project)

----FOR MORE INFO PLEASE SEE WWW.FLAMESOFDISCONTENT.ORG----