Hey folks,
So Week 4 is almost upon us (I seem to only have time for updates just shy of the open-mic nights themselves... gotta do something about that...). This week brings us some open mic material, and some travelling guests!
The contemporary political milieu is kinda unavoidable at present: tacky campaign signs cluttering views, largely uninspiring drivel (in the form of advertisements and scripted interviews) clogging the airwaves and television broadcasts, financial crises... and so on. Lovely material for songwriting at least. A question I have for all of us therefore, is to consider the role of politics in songwriting, or politics in art. Artists have been commenting on political and philosophical issues for centuries (cf. Plato's banishment of the poets from his Republic). Lately celebrities (of various levels of intelligence) have gotten in the game, and have been met with a variety of reactions ranging from outright repugnance to mild annoyance. What do you think? What, if any, is the role of politics in art?
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE LIGHTER:
This week's guest performers are coming through all the way from VANCOUVER! James Lamb and Emily Brown will be sharing a bill at the London Music Club w/ local band "The State Bird of Idaho", but prior to heading down into the Cellar Lounge, they'll be hanging out in the LMC Front Room w/ us, and hopefully sharing their songwriting insights. Please come by early if you can, to meet them, talk to them, and listen to some of their tunes. All are invited to go watch their performance later in the Cellar Lounge. James and Emily will also likely have some merchandise with them, so if you enjoy their music and are in a position to help out some hungry Canadian artists, by all means feel free to buy something!
James Lamb: http://www.myspace.com/jameslamb
Emily Brown: http://www.myspace.com/missemilybrown
State Bird: http://www.myspace.com/statebirdofidaho
Next week's featured guests will troubadours from New York City and Frisco: Miwa Gemini and Nathan Moomaw. I'll post some more information about both musicians (whom I've had the pleasure of playing with) shortly! For now, here are some links to their music:
Miwa Gemini: http://www.myspace.com/miwagemini
Nathan Moomaw: http://www.myspace.com/nathanmoomaw
Take care all!
Olenka
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2 comments:
"The opinion that art should have nothing to do with politics is itself a political statement"
George Orwell
Yes. That opinion, which ostensibly appears devoid of an ideological foundation, is in fact laden with a very particular ideology. It's up to the artist to reflect upon the role of politics in his/her art, and to become conscious of his/her engagement with social and political issues in his/her life and art.
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