A concert entitled "Singing for Our Lives" will honor the 100th anniversary of the Bread and Roses strike in Lawrence, an event of immense significance in American labor history.
The People's Music Network for Songs of Freedom and Struggle will gather Jan. 27 through 29 to honor the great textile strike of 1912. It will perform a concert as part of the "Bread and Roses Centennial" celebration at the Lawrence High School Performing Arts Center, 71-72 North Parish Road, tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 27 at 7:30 p.m.
Musicians from Seattle to San Francisco, Brooklyn to Boston and beyond will perform, as well as the Lawrence High School Girls' Ensemble and LHS student and hip hop artist Supnater. Included in the bill are Anne Feeney, Jon Fromer, Bev Grant, Evan Greer and spiritchild (Back to the Roots), Tom Juravich, Rebel Voices and a choir made up of the People's Music Network and local participants.
Tickets are available in advance for $5 for youth and low income residents and $10 to $25 on a sliding scale, general admission, through PayPal. Tickets are also availabel at the Andover Bookstore, Lawrence Heritage State Park and other locations.
On Saturday and Sunday, the rest of the Winter Gathering will take place at the Lawrence Senior Center, 155 Haverhill St. Music workshops focused on labor and other topics, a round robin Saturday night and Songs of the Spirit on Sunday morning are some of the scheduled events. A special feature Saturday afternoon will be an historical multi-media presentation in word and song by Karen Brandow and Charlie King entitled, "1912: Occupy Lawrence"
The Lawrence Public Library has offered space for some of the gathering's 19 workshops Saturday at various times between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Detailed information will be available at the Lawrence Senior Center on Saturday morning.
The general public is encouraged to attend all events. Small donations will be accepted for individual events, but those wishing to eat at the gathering must register in advance ($120 covers everything including five meals and the Friday night concert). Scholarship money is available.
When the People's Music Network came to Lawrence in 2004, folk singer Pete Seeger, a member of the group, said that by 2012 everyone in this country should know Lawrence, Mass. Tomorrow's concert will be the first night in the year-long series of events. For more information, go to peoplesmusic.org, or call 978-474-0606.
