Since the 1980s, Billy Bragg has made an indelible mark on the
conscience of British music, becoming perhaps
the most stalwart guardian of the radical dissenting tradition that
stretches back over centuries of the country's political, cultural and
social history. It's a legacy that has brought an artist with a keen
sense of political activism and an informed sense of humanity and
humor, as well as a way with a pop hook, to fans the world over. "Bush
War Blues" was recorded in Ann Arbor, Michigan, during his 2006 US
tour. For more info: www.billybragg.co.uk
Chuck Brodsky's music combines the simple elegance of storyteller, witty social commentary, and a deep underlying compassion infusing his work with humanity and humor to create musical tales of unsung heroes and forgotten but incredible people. A spellbinding and colorful performer, his music draws on such influences as folk, country, and the traditional music of his North Carolina home. He's performed three concerts of his celebrated baseball story songs at the National Baseball Hall of Fame. More info at www.chuckbrodsky.com
Best-known for writing a-song-a-week for Jim Hightower's radio show, Steve Brooks keeps firing a steady barrage of satire with CDs like "Fever" (2003) and "BushWhacked" (2004). Dick Cheney's hunting accident happened the very weekend a thousand folksingers were in Austin for the Folk Alliance conference. An impromptu songwriting contest was called, and within 24 hours, 10 artists had written songs. Judges picked "Deadeye Dick" as the winner. Hear more at www.stevebrooks.net
The DC Labor Chorus is a group of labor and community activists from the DC metropolitan area. The chorus mission statement says it best: "We sing for all who labor, we sing to organize. We are a mighty chorus, we're singing for our lives." Sopranos: Mary Best, Susan Holleran, Sonia Kassambara, Pam Parker. Altos: Lakeisha Harrison, Laura Larco, Rocky Delaplaine, Connie Cordovilla, Makawsi Mcharo, Luci Murphy. Tenors: Don Pelles, Elise Bryant. Basses: Ken Giles, Peter Jones, Steve Jones, Abelardo Sandoval, Fred Solowey. Solidarity Forever! Contact Artistic Director Elise Bryant at ebryant@nlc.edu
Graham and Barbara Dean have been writing songs and performing together for 20 years, and were able to step up the pace when the last of their four children went to college. In 2004 they recorded their first CD, "Tom Paine's Blues," a collection of mostly original peace, social justice, and protest songs. They were joined by Kim and Reggie Harris on "Amazing Grace." They host a weekly radio show in Great Barrington, MA, and run a monthly benefit concert series. More info: www.commonsensesongs.com
Anne Feeney is "the best labor singer in North America" according to Utah Phillips. Her award-winning songs are sung and recorded by activists everywhere, including Peter, Paul and Mary. For this project, Anne sent in her wonderful rendition of Roy Zimmerman's hilarious song, "Defenders of Marriage," which is also on her new CD. For more info: www.annefeeney.com
An accomplished musician and composer, Jon Fromer has won numerous awards for his songwriting, including two Northern California EMMY's for musical composition. His rich voice and unique rhythmic guitar arrangements lift spirits at rallies, demonstrations and picket lines around the nation. Jon comes from a family of musicians and artists, a family raised on the idea that "a singing movement can't be beat." Jon's music speaks of all aspects of life from love to work, from struggle to celebration. He can be reached at mjfromer@worldpassage.net
Imagine a modern-day Peter, Paul & Mary -- only edgier, and with a quirky sense of humor. Girlyman's harmony-driven style veers from contemporary folk to country rock to pop. Each member switches off songwriting duties, lead vocals, and a range of instruments, including acoustic guitar, djembe, banjo, baritone guitar and mandolin. Since forming in 2002, the band has gained a strong following around the country, and has toured nationally with the Indigo Girls and Dar Williams. More info: www.girlyman.com
Evan Greer is 21 years old and lives somewhere between the Greyhound bus and your couch. He writes and performs energetic folk-punk songs, and has been touring full-time since he left school last year. Evan seeks to use his music as a tool for drawing the connections between anti-oppressive struggles and building a movement toward radical social change. He is a member of Riot-Folk!, an anti-capitalist musician's collective that is making Folk A Threat Again. Music and information available at www.riotfolk.org
Francisco Herrera, founder and co-director of Trabajo Cultural Caminante, supports social movements through the arts and organizational development. A catchy mix of rhythm and soulful singing keeps the audience attentive to Francisco's lively presentations. His songs speak of the life, joys, pains and struggle of working people in the commitment for social change, making struggle for justice contagious and inspirational. Francisco writes and produces for children and adults in churches, union halls, community centers and concert halls. E-mail contact: miranomas@yahoo.com
Colleen Kattau is a bi-lingual singer-songwriter based in Central New York who performs Latin American nueva cancion and original compositions based on heart and poetry. "Conscientization" is a concept developed by Paulo Freire of raising consciousness through experience and dialogue that leads to action and transformation of reality. She has three CDs, with another on the way. Pete Seeger calls her a "great singer and organizer." When not doing that, you can find her in the garden growing and harvesting vegetables and herbs. More info: www.colleenkattau.com
John Lilly is a versatile songwriter and roots country performer from Charleston, West Virginia. He won the 2005 Ghost Writers In the Sky Songwriting Contest for original songs in the style of Hank Williams. John was formerly a tour guide at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville and a member of the Green Grass Cloggers dance team. His three self-produced CDs have received widespread airplay and critical acclaim. For more information, visit www.johnlillymusic.com
George Mann makes music with Julius Margolin and others in the NYC area, and has worked many years as a union organizer. He's been singing and recording since his teens, and his work with Julius spans the past eight years. George writes and arranges many of their tunes, and has produced three CDs with Julius, four solo CDs and the first two "Hail to the Thief" compilations. "There's No Way Out" is from his upcoming solo album, due for release in October 2006. More info: www.georgeandjulius.com
A thorn in the side of power for more than 70 years, Julius Margolin has a lifetime of struggle and more than a few victories to remember. He served in the Merchant Marine during World War II and earned four combat citations while organizing for the National Maritime Union and the CIO. In 2004, Julius celebrated 50 years as an IATSE Local 52 member, and he turned 90 on August 16, 2006. George has made a film about Julius's life, "A Union Man," that is making the rounds. For more info, go to www.georgeandjulius.com
Utah Phillips is an itinerant folksinger and a storyteller, often characterized as "an engaging rogue afflicted with a certain jpheticeromomania." Mostly he tries to live and breathe union. A founding lifetime member of traveling musicians' Local 1000, AFM, Utah is enjoying his 52nd year in the Industrial Workers of the World, still his fondest association. By this time next year, he will have the world's first solar-powered pacemaker installed. More info at www.utahphillips.org
Jolie Rickman (1979-2005), presente! This song is part of an incomplete record of Jolie's larger-than-life personality and her boundless compassion and energy that demanded expression in song. It was Jolie's gift to distill complex issues and emotions into deceptively simple songs, and through performance and the lyric beauty of her music that she most often transcended the ordinary, offering hope of a better world. Jolie's CDs "Sublime Detonation" and "Suffer To Be Beautiful" (both remastered with bonus tracks) are available through Syracuse Cultural Workers: www.syrculturalworkers.com
Pat Wynne is a singer/songwriter, performer and published prose writer. Pat teaches at City College of San Francisco and Laney College in Oakland, where she conducts the SF Bay Area Labor Heritage/Rockin' Solidarity Chorus. She's also a union organizer at San Francisco State University and member of Locals 6 & 1000 of the American Federation of Musicians and two A.F.T locals. In 1990, she lost her son, Richard. She feels that she is representing all mothers when she sings her song about Cindy Sheehan. E-mail contact: wynnegilbert@igc.org