Activist folk singers come to WIU
University Relations
Issue date: 10/2/09 Section: News
Anne Feeney and David Rovics, activist folk singers who call themselves 'cultural workers,' are scheduled to perform at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6 in Western Illinois University's COFAC Recital Hall, located in Simpkins Hall.
Feeney and Rovics' fall tour of the Midwest is called "Union Makes Us Strong."?Feeney, a former civil rights lawyer and founder of a rape victims' advocacy group, has previously appeared in Illinois at labor-backed cultural events, progressive venues such as Chicago's Heartland Café and union struggles, such as the early '90s "war zone" in Decatur, Ill., where Staley, Caterpillar and Bridgestone/Firestone locked out workers or forced them to strike, according to news accounts of the time.
The granddaughter of a union organizer and folk singer, Feeney's (www.annefeeney.com) recordings include "Heartland," recorded live at the annual Mother Jones banquet in Springfield, and 2008's "Dump The Bosses Off Your Back."
Rovics' CDs, such as "Living in These Times" and "Halliburton Boardroom Massacre," are available online. ?Despite their musical similarities, Feeney and Rovics stand on different sides in regard to downloading and electronic commons issues.
They will debate their opinions in a mass media law class on Oct. 6 at 11 a.m. in Simpkins Hall 214. Rovics' article on the controversial Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) case is available at www.counterpunch.org/rovics10092007.html.
"Rovics is a journalist [and] a self-taught writer," Barr said. "How interesting that in a time of waning journalism revenues and audiences to have international recording artists fulfill the relatively recently lost role of 'foreign correspondent.' Rovics' online blogs are just that good."
Barr added that journalist Amy Goodman calls Rovics "the musical version of Democracy Now."
Besides contributing to publications such as Alexander Cockburn's CounterPunch newsletter, Rovics also has appeared on stage with the likes of Billy Bragg, Danny Glover and Susan Sarandon, and next spring he is scheduled to tour with Danbert Nobacon, former member of Chumbawamba (see www.davidrovics.com).
Feeney and Rovics' fall tour of the Midwest is called "Union Makes Us Strong."?Feeney, a former civil rights lawyer and founder of a rape victims' advocacy group, has previously appeared in Illinois at labor-backed cultural events, progressive venues such as Chicago's Heartland Café and union struggles, such as the early '90s "war zone" in Decatur, Ill., where Staley, Caterpillar and Bridgestone/Firestone locked out workers or forced them to strike, according to news accounts of the time.
The granddaughter of a union organizer and folk singer, Feeney's (www.annefeeney.com) recordings include "Heartland," recorded live at the annual Mother Jones banquet in Springfield, and 2008's "Dump The Bosses Off Your Back."
Rovics' CDs, such as "Living in These Times" and "Halliburton Boardroom Massacre," are available online. ?Despite their musical similarities, Feeney and Rovics stand on different sides in regard to downloading and electronic commons issues.
They will debate their opinions in a mass media law class on Oct. 6 at 11 a.m. in Simpkins Hall 214. Rovics' article on the controversial Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) case is available at www.counterpunch.org/rovics10092007.html.
"Rovics is a journalist [and] a self-taught writer," Barr said. "How interesting that in a time of waning journalism revenues and audiences to have international recording artists fulfill the relatively recently lost role of 'foreign correspondent.' Rovics' online blogs are just that good."
Barr added that journalist Amy Goodman calls Rovics "the musical version of Democracy Now."
Besides contributing to publications such as Alexander Cockburn's CounterPunch newsletter, Rovics also has appeared on stage with the likes of Billy Bragg, Danny Glover and Susan Sarandon, and next spring he is scheduled to tour with Danbert Nobacon, former member of Chumbawamba (see www.davidrovics.com).
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