​April 10: Labor Live@5: SongRise

Hosted by Chris Garlock

SongRise is a DC-based, women's social justice a cappella group. "SongRise encourages perseverance, raises awareness, breaks down barriers, touches hearts and inspires action through song. Inspired by the rich tapestry of voices raised for change, the founders of SongRise gathered their colleagues and friends to sing for social justice."
 
"We use our music to inspire the fight for social change. We offer up our singing talents at community events, rallies, protests, farmer's markets, civil rights celebrations, arts showcases, schools, prisons, the Capitol ... you name it, we will stand up and sing!  Our mission is to inspire action through song." 

"As a social justice based a Capella group, we have some songs that deal directly with workers rights, and then a number that deal with the inter-sectional nature of justice. One song on our list, Bread and Roses, is written following the women's textile strike in the early 1900's. Another song we sing, Breath Fire, follows the story of the workers of the Union Carbide fertilizer plant in Bophal,India, after a major chemical spill. Our repertoire includes songs that focus on Environmental justice, racial justice, equality and empowerment, domestic violence, sexual assault, LGBTQI+ rights, gender equity, religious tolerance, and solidarity."
 
SongRise itself is a collective of people who pool their talent and then lend their music to other social justice causes. 

Today’s setlist includes A Change; Breathe Fire; Mountain Song; I’m Gon Stand; We Shall; Trillogy; Glory; Ain’t Gonna; Woke Up; B&R; Living Planet.
 
Labor Live@5 produced by Jason Roe; engineering by Ciera Shine and Robin Smith; photo by Chris Bangert-Drowns. 

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