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 [email protected] produced by Jason Roe; engineering by Ciera Shine and Robin Smith; photo by Chris Bangert-Drowns. 

Hosted by Elise Bryant

Gaiteros de Sanguashington is a Colombian-American band from Washington DC. We play a variety of Colombian rhythms, including Vallenato, Cumbia (popular folk music from Colombia’s Caribbean region) and Tropipop (a blend of traditional musical forms with foreign Latin genres, such as salsa and merengue). The band has played alongside renowned iconic Colombian singer, Toto la Momposina, Latin Grammy 2015 best new artist- Monsieur Perine and Champeta Criolla- as well as world music band Tribu Baharu.
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Gaiteros de Sanguashington has emerged as one of the premier Colombian bands in the Washington DC area, recognized and beloved by the Colombian and Latino Community and those who enjoy international music.
Produced by Jason Roe and engineered by Robin Smith and Ciera Shine.

Hosted by Chris Garlock

Joe Uehlein, acoustic guitar and vocals, Avril Smith, electric guitar and vocals, Larry Ferguson, drums, Greg Mulley, bass and Jessica Lake, vocals.

The U-Liners play a wide variety of music in the roots-rock and Americana genres including country, rock, folk, bluegrass, rock’n roll, swing, folk-rock, country-rock, blues, rhythm & blues, soul, and more. The U-Liners have a deep and eclectic repertoire ideal for dancing or listening. The U-Liners have performed at the Rock and Roll hall of Fame in Cleveland, the Knitting Factory and the Mercury Ballroom in NYC, Bally’s in Las Vegas, at the AFL-CIO, SEIU, and all of DC’s finest venues. Find out more on their website.

Produced by Jason Roe and engineered by Robin Smith and Ciera Shine. photo by Chris Bangert-Drowns

Hosted by Chris Garlock

The North American Martyrs are: Eamon Clifford on guitar and vocals, Richard Benjumea on lead guitar, Christopher Broholm on trumpet and vocals, Noah Kalish on bass and Steve Nejelski on drums. The band seamlessly merges American and Latin melodies and rhythms into a tapestry that is reflective of a shared DMV heritage. They are unique for their almost exclusive use of original material and sophisticated songwriting. Three of the band's principles (Benjumea, Broholm, and Clifford) are all serious songwriters. The band has been labeled Honky-Tina for the way they merge Country, Latin, Jazz, and Blues for a distinct and original sound. The band has played throughout the DC area and also in Baltimore.

Find out more on the North American Martyrs Facebook page.

Produced by Jason Roe and engineered by Robin Smith and Ciera Shine

Hosted by Chris Garlock, Produced by Korey Hartwich and engineered by Robin, Ciera and Dadrian. 

Featuring band organizer Henry Bagwell (far right) and four members of the IAM UnioNation band: Alex Stone (acoustic guitar and vocals), "Mack" McKinney (vocals, second from left), Dustin Fountain (congas, far left) and Dannette Jones (vocals, not pictured). 

Songs:
Midnight Railroad Blues (words/music by David Riggs, performed by Stone, McKinney and Fountain); Bone Tired (performed by Stone, McKinney, Fountain and Jones); No Mercy (performed by Stone, McKinney, Fountain and Jones); For All of the Times  (words/music by W.J. Kent; performed by Jones). Plus a holiday song performed by McKinney. 

International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) members express their solidarity in a number of ways – on the strike line, at the ballot box or simply with some words of encouragement to a union brother or sister. UnioNation is a band founded by IAM members from across the country -- and even Canada -- who hope their songs will inspire union and non-union workers to fight for justice on the job; for them, solidarity means a guitar chord, a chorus verse, and even their very own albums. The band has proven to be an outlet for IAM members with a musical talent and an urge to spread the word about the labor movement.  

Click here for details on the band and their CDs. 

Hosted by Chris Garlock

Featuring David G. Wright and his band. The musicians of “The Wright Touch,” led by David Wright (sax & vocals), have been performing together since the early 1980’s. The band performs a variety of repertoire including Ballroom Dancing, Sinatra, Motown, Classic Rock, Latin, and Disco. Read more on the website.

Wright, a member of the Washington DC Federation of Musicians (AFM 161-710), in 2003 received the Jazz History Appreciation Month Award from the Department of the Interior for his “musical achievements, accomplishments, and dedication…” 

Produced by Korey Hartwich. Engineered by Ciera Shine and Robin Smith.

Hosted by Chris Garlock

Featuring retired IBEW 26 member Dick Bissell on drums, Don Oliver on Bull Fiddle, and Jared Marx on keyboard. Black Coffee is a jazz combo born in 2005, playing jazz standards from the 30's and 40's.  

Produced by Korey Hartwich. Engineered by Robin Smith, Curtis Fye and Ciera Shine.

Candy Shannon hosts
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The Fritz/Kocur duo derives their unique sound from their varied individual backgrounds. Their two musical paths converged in their shared love of jazz music, with Patrick Fritz bringing years of experience playing in rock bands to add an edge to his sound, and John Kocur bringing his sometimes-powerful, sometimes-sweet saxophone tone honed from years of study with both great classical talents and great jazz artists. The duo blends their unique artistic histories monthly at Blend Coffee Bar in Ashburn, VA and have also performed together at the Bethesda Row Arts Fair, Trinity House Cafe, and Leesburg Beer and Wine Company. In a truly collaborative effort, they each share their song-writing capabilities to add music to their sets that you can't hear elsewhere, while also covering current pop hits that you can't hear quite like this in an effort to allow jazz music to continue a tradition it had at the height of its popularity—exploring improvisation over tunes that would be familiar to all those in their audiences.
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John is currently a member of the DC Federation of Musicians Local 161-710 and the Washington Area Music Association.

photo by Chris Garlock

Luci Murphy hosts Luis Garay’s Percussion World Ensemble is a multicultural group playing Afro-Latin rhythms in a high energy performance of original music for 20+ years in and around Washington D.C. The members of the ensemble professional percussionists who perform world rhythms, specializing in rhythms of the Americas and Africa:
Luis Garay: Drums, Marimba, Balafon, Djembe, Timbales
Eddie Montalvo: Congas, Bongo,
Igor Kozlov: Bass Marimba, Percussion,
Joe Link: Drums