Okee dokee folks… It’s getting hard to focus on doing anything these days while the United States is being eaten away from within by an aggressive cancer. I thought of the band who played on the doomed Titanic as the ship went down. Is that what we should be doing, playing music while this country dies? Harry Chapin released the song “Dance Band on the Titanic” in 1977 and these lyrics seem appropriate right now, “Jesus Christ can walk on the water, But a music man will drown, They say that Nero fiddled while Rome burned up, Well, I was strummin’ as the ship go down, I’m in the dance band on the Titanic, Sing ‘Nearer, my God, to Thee,’ The iceberg’s on the starboard bow, Won’t you dance with me?” Each day we get closer to full-on fascist rule by the mango moron and his South African keeper. The media should be calling out every unconstitutional action by the Morons Are Governing America (MAGA) cult, and just about every one is unconstitutional, but they seem to be just bowing to the spoon-fed propaganda instead of reporting actual news. We have already hit the iceberg but the question is, “Will we sink or swim?” Is the Carpathia close by? The water is freezing and we are getting numb… SOS… read on… “We need to make protest songs great again!” I received that text message from a friend the other day. I am a proponent of great protest songs and I like to write them as well. If I had the financial means I would produce a CD of protest songs against the mango moron. But, hey, how about this? If you have a protest song that pertains to the current political climate, send me a link and I will make a mention of it here. PLEASE NOTE: I am NOT an equal opportunity protest song person, if you are on the wrong side of history you can keep them to yourself..
The Rose Garden Coffeehouse in Mansfield, MA is accepting entries for their annual Performing Songwriter Competition. “The goal of the competition is to encourage emerging singer/ songwriters to seek recognition for their work and to offer them the chance to further their careers. Duos or groups should not enter; this competition is for individual singer/songwriters.” Winners receive a $100 prize and a featured gig at the Rose Garden Coffeehouse. Deadline for submissions is March 22, so get your entries in now! For more, compose on over to: bit.ly/rosegardencontest
Stronger Through Song. That is what Hear In Rhode Island hopes will happen as a result of the first Stronger Through Song concert on March 1. Stronger Through Song (STS) is the concept of raising awareness of great, local, singer-songwriters and at the same time helping to raise money for the annual Rhode Island Folk Festival (RIFF). The first STS concert takes place at MillRace in Woonsocket. This first edition of the show will feature the award-winning blues and folk artist, Ed McGuirl; the sultry, award-winning songstress and MC of RIFF, Beth Barron; an award-winning mainstay of the RI music scene as well as the host band leader of the RIFF, Dan Lilley; and the up-and-coming singer-songwriter Polly Bessette, whose newest video, “Sane Baby,” has been nominated for a Motif Music Award. There is a suggested donation of $15 at the door for this show. MillRace is located at 40 South Main Street, Woonsocket. Free parking is available in front of the building and across the street at Market Square. For more, cross the finish line over to: RhodeIslandFolkFestival.com or millracekitchen. org.
My favorite Canadian songwriter, Kathleen Edwards, is coming to the Narrows Center for the Arts on April 5. At the beginning of last summer I did a podcast with her in advance of her show in Plymouth, MA (motifri.com/ rootsreportpodcast/episode-102-kathleenedwards), It’s been over a dozen years since Edwards last graced the stage at The Narrows Center. That show was just before she retired from the music business and opened a coffee shop. In the past couple of years, she sold the coffee shop, got married and moved to Florida, recorded a new album, and is (thankfully) back at it. If you don’t know who Kathleen is, you really should find out, trust me, you will be glad that you did! For more, keep your “Options Open” and get to: narrowscenter.org.
A few years ago I chatted with comedian Tammy Pescatelli in advance of her RI show. Tammy will be a guest on my Roots Report Podcast before her next RI show; we are arranging the interview now, so look for it soon. Tammy will be bringing her “funny” to The United Theatre in Westerly on Friday, March 28. Her career started in earnest in 2004 when she was a finalist on “Last Comic Standing.” I have watched her Netflix comedy specials, Finding The Funny, and Way After School Special several times and they hold up with repeated viewing. Pescatelli can get you laughing about sports, television, dating, and family. She is currently a regular on the “Sherri” syndicated talk show and has appeared on the highly acclaimed Showtime Comedy Special, Women Of A Certain Age 2. Stream her comedy and then check her out live on March 28! While you are checking out this show you may want to look into a show a few days before this one that features the Beatles original drummer, Pete Best. Pete Best and his band will give the audience an opportunity to hear the music from his time with The Beatles and include anecdotes from Pete about those early days. For more, Ring-Go over to: unitedtheatre.org. •