Here's the story...
The Progressive Movement had a good thing going at the intersection of politics and music during the 1960’s and early 1970’s as the Civil Rights Movement, protests over the Vietnam War, and the Feminist Movement flourished. Bands were held up by the national media because their messages were timely.
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Over time, the voices and people producing these kinds of music fell out of the mainstream limelight. It’s not that protest music wasn’t, or isn’t being made, it’s that the musical megaphone of the Movement from the 60's and 70's has gone missing because national media attention waned around bands that support Progressive messages. There have been a number of smaller initiatives since then but now it's time for something huge.
It’s time to reach into pop culture and make sure our issues are important in that arena by supporting musicians that speak our values and putting them, front and center, into the mainstream. If we're going to change the world, there are a lot of people to reach and music is one very powerful way.
The Netroots Music Project is made up of 3 coordinated platforms aimed at bringing today's protest bands and artists into the national spotlight again. These three platforms are:
1. A stage platform via an annual Unity Concert that focuses Progressive energy on a single issue related to the city Netroots Nation is in. In 2014, the issue in focus was the unprecedented water shutoffs in Detroit. There was no musical medium to propel people's messages on a larger scale and we noticed. In 2015, the first annual concert will be focused on immigration reform and immigrant rights through featuring Latin-fusion artists as well as pop, rock, rap and singer/songwriters from around the country.
We have 8 spectacular, passionate acts signed on to speak truth to power through their music:
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Salvador Santana, singer/songwriter/band leader
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Rooftop Revolutionaries, political hard rock band, activist
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Irene Diaz, singer/songwriter
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Gina Chavez, singer/songwriter
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War Poets, rock band
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YUCA, rock band
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Jasiri X, hip hop artist, activist
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Macarone (Maurice Bradford), Rap Activist, DOP INC
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Check the GALLERY to see images, video, and info on the artists
2. An organizing platform via a Music Track at Netroots Nation aimed at enabling artists, activists, organizers, producers, and labels in coming together to find new ways to bring a soundtrack, voice, and strength to the Progressive Movement. It first starts with getting everyone to the table to share ideas. What blossoms from there is where the true strength of democratically organized community planning is found.
3. An online platform for journalists and other media producers to connect with bands and organizers in neighborhoods across the country who are working together planing events, voter registration drives, GOTV and other actions with music. There are so many stories from within the Progressive Movement that need to be told and can be told through music. This will be an online space to connect with each other and connect to media makers looking to elevate our stories to a broader audience.
And this is just the beginning.
All donations will go directly to the production of the Netroots Music Project's platforms and hiring technical and creative experts to make sure it succeeds.
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Because music brings people together, it unites us across sometimes seemingly endlessly divisive lines. When we combine the impact of music with the power of political engagement, we have an unstoppable force of progress in the hands of the people, where it should be.
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Other Ways You Can Help
Besides donating, please spread the word! We are all part of the Netroots and we need your help to make this happen!
- Make sure to use the Indiegogo share tools above!
- Share this link via Facebook, Twitter, email, and other social platforms!
* Please Note: This is the first of 2 funding campaigns and if either is not successful, we will not be able to produce a concert next year and Perks are only delivered in the event that we meet both fund raising goals. As you can see in the Perks section, if that does happen, everyone who donated $1,000 and above will receive free registration to Netroots Nation 2015.
Who We Are:
There are many more people working on this project and this list will only grow as we move forward!
Advisers:
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Mike Lux, Co-founder of Democracy Partners
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Eleanor Goldfield, singer/founder Rooftop Revolutionaries, activist
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Jasiri X, hip hop artist, activist
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Sera Roadnight, publicist/artist manager
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Maggie Szabo, singer/songwriter
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Mike Amato, tour manager
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Gabriella Lemus, Executive Director and President, Progressive Congress
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Winnie Wong, Seismologik Media
- Stevie Bensen, backing player
Video Team:
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John Rhode, President, Crosslight Productions
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Mo Murphy, film editor
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Glenn Berkovitz, production sound
- Victoria Hoyt-Heydon, production sound assistant
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Special thanks to Bell Sound Studios, Hollywood for providing locations for the video shoot.
