MAY/JUNE 2017: Anne Feeney's Fellow Travelers' Advisory, Volume 11, Number 2

Welcome to the May/June edition of the Fellow Travelers' Advisory.  This is the best way that I know to keep in touch with all the folks I know.  I'm so grateful to all the friends, family, followers, folkies and fellow travelers who support my work and make my life possible. The "reply" function works, so please let me know what you're up to - especially if you have news my 10,000 subscribers would be interested in.  For example, last month my faithful subscriber and dear friend Barbara Lebeau suggested larger type - VOILA!

Maryellen Deckard showed me how to enlarge any type that is too small on a PC laptop - Just down the button  with the windows logo on it adjacent to the space bar while pressing the + key.  To return, press the "-"  key (otherwise known as the hyphen).  If you know the keystrokes for Apple laptops, let me know.

As you can see from my tour schedule below, it's going to be a busy summer starting in FIVE DAYS -  If you're in or around Austin at 3PM on Sunday, May 21st, make a beeline to the air-conditioned Saxon Pub.  I played there first in 1990! This time I'll be joined by FABULOUS musicians who played on my new benefit/tribute CD 'WAR ON THE WORKERS' - available for purchase or download at cdbaby.com/all/unionmaid  Join me, the Hot Nut Riveters, Oliver Steck and more at 3PM, Sunday March 21, at the Saxon Pub!  You'll leave energized, inspired and uplifted!!!

2017 will be a challenging year for us all.  Fortunately, I get to keep doing what I have always been doing - raising hell, bearing witness, speaking truth to power and singing through the storm.  I hope to see a lot of you out there doing the same!

Don't forget to support the Utah Phillips Library - https://www.generosity.com/education-fundraising/utah-phillips-flanger-railroad-car-restoration

If you've checked out http://annefeeney.com lately, you'll see it's wildly different and under construction.  I could really use some help with it.  Let me know if you can help.

I'm including a new feature to improve my show.  I've gotten a holder that will display my backlit lyrics on my iPad so that I can jettison all my patter about forgetting lyrics and just sing the songs!  This too has a steep learning curve for me, so if anyone coming to Kerrville knows about iPads and Forscore, PLEASE help me to get this system up and runing!

Hope to see you somewhere on my Summer of Resistance tour! If you don't live in any of the cities I'm performing, I bet you know someone who does!  Please forward this newsletter to your friends. That's how it works.  You can be certain that your friends will not hear about these shows from my corporate sponsors  The calendar updates continuously at http://annefeeney.com/calendar.html

Thanks for your help, loyalty and support.  I couldn't do this without you. 

Anne Feeney - 
Summer of Resistance Tour

Sunday, May 21st, 2017 3:00 PM CD RELEASE w many special guests! Saxon Pub 1320 S. Lamar Austin, TX 512-448-2552 https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1481799?_ga=2.96070357.858604901.1494358221-2125165344.1494358220&__utma=1.1656138213.1494358220.1494358220.1494358220.1&__utmb=1.1.10.1494358220&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1494358220.1.1.utmcsr=google|utmccn=(organic)|utmcmd=organic|utmctr=(not%20provided)&__utmv=-&__utmk=44956964 Price: $5 Wonderful guests will be on hand to celebrate the releasea of benefit/tribute CD : WAR ON THE WORKERS also available for purchase/download @ http;//CDBaby.com/all/unionmaid

Saturday, June 17th, 2017 7:30 PM Diane Crowe presents Anne Feeney in Concert Mt. Toby Concerts for Peace and Social Change Leverett, MA https://mttobyconcerts.wordpress.com/

Sunday, June 18th, 2017 7:00 PM Barre Historical Society presents Anne Feeney, Unionmaid and Hellraiser with special guest Charlie King!! Socialist Labor Hall 46 Granite Street Barre, VT 802-331-0013 http://oldlaborhall.org/ Price: $15  I've been dreaming about playing at this National Historic Landmark since I first laid eyes on it in 1997! This dream-come-true is 20 years in the making - Please join me for a wonderful show!!!

Thursday, June 22nd, 2017 - Saturday, June 24th, 2017 at 2:00 PM Great Labor Arts Exchange iTommy Douglas Center for Labor Renewal 10000 New Hampshire Ave NW Silver Spring, MD 20903 http://laborheritage.org Price: see webste

Saturday, July 1st, 2017 7:00 PM Anne Feeney Summer of Resistance Tour Monkey House 1638 University Avenue Berkeley, CA http://www.themonkeyhouse.org/IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!! jOIN ME AND AILEEN VANCE AND OTHER SPECIAL GUESTS AT THIS GREAT VENUE!

Sunday, July 2nd, 2017 7:00 PM Anne Feeney's Summer of Resistance Tour Mendocino Community Center 998 School St Mendocino, CA 94582 http://www.communitycenterofmendocino.org//rkarch@mcn.com is the contact

Monday, July 3rd, 2017 8:00 PM Health Care for All Oregon presents Anne Feeney's Summer of Resistance Tour! Unitarian Universalist Church 4th and C Ashland, OR http://hcao.org/ Price: free!   Wes Brain  brain@mind.net is organizing the show

Wednesday, July 5th, 2017 7:00 PM Anne Feeney Summer of Resistance Tour Siuslaw Public Library 1460 Ninth St. Florence, OR http://annefeeney.comI'm delighted to return to this wonderful venue. See you there!

Friday, July 7th, 2017 - Sunday, July 9th, 2017 at 12:00 PM Oregon Country Fair (tentative)

Thursday, July 13th, 2017 8:00 PM Summer of Resistance - Portland - with the Chris Chandler Show and  Anne Feeney's Summer of Resistance Fremont Theater 2393 NE Fremont Ave Portland, OR 239 http://www.fremonttheater.com/events/?view=calendar&month=July-2017

Friday, July 14th, 2017 8:00 PM The Chris Chandler Show invites Anne Feeney's Summer of Resistance Tour to Remember Woody Guthrie TBA Esticada, OR

Saturday, July 15th, 2017 7:30 PM Anne Feeney's Summer of Resistance Tour Tacoma, WA Marilyn Kimmerling is the contact

Sunday, July 16th, 2017 8:00 PM Anne Feeney's Summer of Resistance Tour tba Seattle, WA PAUL BIGMAN is the contact

Wednesday, July 19th, 2017 8:00 PM Cumberland BC Hosts  Anne Feeney's Summer of Resistance Tour House Concert at Diana Paige's Cumberland, BC Canada 250-336-8893the perfect sorbet between Vancouver Folk Fest and Islands Fest. Call Diana or email her at dipaige@gmail.com for reservations and directions

Saturday, July 22nd, 2017 8:00 PM Anne Feeney's Summer of Resistance Tour - Benefit Concert for Larry Hildes tba Bellingham, WA  Gary Kantner and Betsy Pernotto are the organizers

Sunday, July 23rd, 2017 7:00 PM Anne Feeney's Summer of Resistance Tour tba Sequim/Port Angeles, WA

Wednesday, July 26th, 2017 8:00 PM Anne Feeney's Summer of Resistance Tour tba Grey's Harbor, WA

Sunday, July 30th, 2017 7:00 PM Anne Feeney Summer of Resistance Tour with Eliot Kenin in Eliot's barn! 1072 Pereira Martinez, CA 94553 800-965-1302Eliot is the author of "You Ain't Been Doin' Nothin' if You Ain't Been Called a Red" and "F#%k Off and Die!" I am overjoyed to be sharing an evening with him performing in his barn. Please join us for potluck and music, starting at 7PM eliotkenin29@gmail.com    Call or email Eliot for reservations and directions or DIRECTIONS - IMPORTANT!! from berkeley or oakland, take Highway24 toward Orinda - go north 3 miles to Bear Creek Road. Turn right. Bear Creek becomes Pereira Look for signs to barn on right. don't wear high heels. road from Pinole is still washed out. Bring a warm jacket. It's cool at night.

Monday, July 31st, 2017 7:00 PM LaborFest presents Anne Feeney and Roy Zimmerman!! ILWU Local 34 801 2nd St San Francisco, CA 94107

July 2014 - Anne Feeney's Fellow Travelers' Advisory - Volume 9, Number 9

This is my monthly email news. It's commercial free and, rest assured, no salesman will call.  You probably subscribed to receive it at one of my shows.  I'm very grateful to have you in my network of family, friends, fans and fellow travelers. If you know my work, you know I won't be attracting much in the way of corporate sponsorship.  Odds are I could come to your town and do a show and you'd never know about it - unless you read this newsletter.  And sometimes I'm not performing anywhere near you .... Do you know someone who lives where I'm playing?  PLEASE let them know. Thanks!

 If the gorgeous picture of my grandsons (below) is not displaying properly, you can check it out online at  http://fellow-travelers-advisory.blogspot.com

Before you head off to any of my shows, be sure to call the venue to make certain that the details are right.

My CDs are available at http://cdbaby.com/all/unionmaid

and NOW ... on to the news!!

Nicholas John Berlin, born June 21, 2013 - Sebastian Edward Berlin , born August 22, 2010
T

IN THIS ISSUE:


TX - Pittsburgh - Sweden
Midsummer in Sweden
Off to Ireland!
Upcoming concerts
Supreme Court goes insane 
Amy's worldwide concert

TX- Pittsburgh - Sweden

The Kerrville Folk Festival was the wonderful experience I've come to count on it to be. 
I didn't go out to the campfires at night the way I used to....  went to sleep after the main stage ended... or even before that. It was a pleasure to see my friend Dan Boling get some well-deserved recognition in New Folk.  The truly great energy at the festival seemed to emanate from my daughter's camp -- Merrville.  The day I left for the festival the PA Defense of Marriage was ruled unconstitutional by a Federal judge.  Needless to say, I got a lot of mileage from Roy Zimmerman's terrific DEFENDERS OF MARRIAGE.

I worked my way home through College Station, Austin, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Kansas City, St. Louis and Louisville with the fabulous Brad Yoder.  In addition to his considerable on-stage talent, Brad is a consummate tourmate... super polite and helpful.

Many thanks to Danny Yeager, Amy Sue Berlin, Mike Meadows, Leslie Harris, Judy Ancel, Bill Clause, Dick Mitchell, Greg Johnson, Tim O'Connor, Lee Graham, Barb Royce, Lynn and Kat Green, Laura X, Kay Drey, JP Wright, Kay and Walter Tillow

I had 36 hours in Pittsburgh to unpack, pack and fly to Sweden.  Yee hah!

Midsummer in Sweden

I arrived in Sweden on June 19th, and apparently brought lots of cold weather and rain with me. The Swedes had been celebrating summer's early arrival.. the sunshine and warm weather... and then I arrived. Rainy and cold. The weather was fair for my outdoor gig on June 26th, but went right back to blustery winds and rain.  My birthday (July 1st) was a soggy affair. The sun finally came out today -- yay! and here I sit writing my newsletter.  It'll be a short one.

I'll be playing at the Joe Hill House, where he was born, in Gavle.  The Swedish Wobs have control of the house - now a Museum.  That is always fun and inspiring. And I'm doing a show in Stockholm at Vinterviken with my great pal Jan Hammarlund  (http://www.janhammarlund.se/ in Swedish) or in English  -  https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/t1.0-9/10245545_272679682900197_622855524_n.jpg.  I'm hoping Jan will come to the US next year to tour with me and his brand new wonderful CD of Malvina Reynolds' previously unrecorded songs.

Ireland - Here We Come!!!

Three weeks until the Irish adventure begins!  Yee-hah!  We have an absolutely fantastic group of travelers - some folks I've known for many years and really admire
My new Facebook page about the Ireland tours is up at  https://www.facebook.com/irelandwithannefeeney
Ireland with Anne Feeney in the search window of Facebook should work, too.
Tour vicariously with us.

Coming right up!!

Anne Feeney Thursday, July 17th, 2014 8:00 PM Anne Feeney in Konsert Joe Hill Huset Nedre Bergsgatan 28 Gavle Sweden 070-3186391 http://www.gavle.se/turism/sevart/gamla_g.html Price: frivilligt -,forslagsvis 100 kr Saturday, July 19th, 2014 2:00 PM Anne Feeney and Jan Hammarlund in Concert Vinterviken Stockholm Sweden Tuesday, July 29th, 2014 - Wednesday, August 6th, 2014 at Tuesday, July 29th, 2014 Come to Ireland with me for a Labor History Tour!! Innishfree Tours http://johnsmithmusic.com/tour-irelandIt's all confirmed - all we need is you!! I've got a labor history tour of Ireland that will knock your socks off! Ireland's history is as interesting as its countryside is gorgeous. Please join me for ten days you'll never forget in the "Isle of Saints and Scholars." Contact vbelinoski@austin.rr.com for the details. Thursday, July 31st, 2014 8:30 PM Si Kahn and Anne Feeney in Concert Firkin Crane Shandon, Cork City Ireland Price: 15 euroJoin me and Si Kahn in this beautiful theater as we do a concert in the spirit of Mother Jones, Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie! Sunday, August 10th, 2014 2:00 PM Anne Feeney in Konsert Meken Smedjebacken Sweden http://www.smedjebacken.se/arkiv/evenemang/arkivforevenemang/evenemang/annefeeneypameken.5.61fc4c4145aef13eb7a57.html It's increasingly clear that it's a war between persons and women

Monday, September 1st, 2014 Labor Day in Olympia, WA!! stay tuned... more details coming Olympia, WABob Guenther is the contact gbob294(@)aol.com

Friday, August 22nd, 2014 - Sunday, August 24th, 2014 at Friday, August 22nd, 2014 Labor Campaign for Single Payer Strategy National Conference ILWU Local 6 99 Hegenberger Road                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Oakland, CA http://www.laborforsinglepayer.org/2014-strategy-conference-registration/ Get involved in a meaningful way to bring single-payer quality health care to all Americans! come to this conference!!! Monday, September 1st, 2014 Labor Day in Olympia, WA!! stay tuned... more details coming Olympia, WABob Guenther is the contact gbob294(@)aol.com Saturday, September 13th, 2014 Saturday, September 13th, 2014 8:30 AM Fighting Bob Fest Sauk County Fairgrounds Baraboo, WI http://fightingbobfest.orgCome to the 13th Annual Fighting Bob Fest! Return to the Grassroots! Sept. 13 at the Sauk County Fairgrounds in Baraboo, Where It All Began 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Kickoff  on Friday night, Sept. 12, at the Barrymore Theatre in Madison, 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Join 5,000-10,000 activists in the biggest annual gathering of progressives in the country! Fighting Bob Fest was founded by Ed Garvey, with the indispensable help of Sue and Tom Holmes. Co-sponsored by The Progressive magazine and the Madison Capital Times.

Saturday, October 25th, 2014 6:00 PM Annual Eugene V Debs Dinner Sycamore Banquet Center Terre Haute, IN 812--232-2163 http://debsfoundation.org/

I'd love to fill in some midwest dates here.  Got any ideas?

Saturday, November 8th, 2014 7:00 PM Anne Feeney at the Champaign Urbana Folk & Roots Fest Champaign, IL http://folkandroots.org/

Wednesday, November 12th, 2014 6:00 PM Thomas Merton Center Award Dinner Honoring Jeremy Scahill! Sherator Station Square Pittsburgh, PA http://thomasmertoncenter.org

Sunday, November 16th, 2014 7:00 PM Lou and Peter Berryman Return! Allegheny Unitarian Universalist Church 416 W North Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15212 412.877-6480 Price: $15-25 Coming in spring 2015 - Anne Feeney and Dana Lyons -  Teamsters and Turtles Together at Last!! AMY AND MIKE DO AN INTERNET CONCERT!!!! Now no matter where you live, you can see my daughter Amy in concert on Concert Window. To watch the show go to https://www.concertwindow.com/shows/7383-amy-sue-berlin-and-mike-meadows     The show is LIVE and begins at 10PM EDT, 9PM Central, 8PM Mountain and 7PM Pacific If you're in Ireland, it's at 3AM, Sweden & Denmark and Harare 4AM on Thursday, July 31, 2014 ENJOY!! Well, that's it for July.  Write back with your news

May-June 2014 - Anne Feeney's Fellow Travelers' Advisory - Volume 9, Number 8

Thanks so much for being part of my network of friends, family, fans and fellow travelers.

Your top questions for May 12, 2014:

Did you get enough people for your Irish tour?  YES!!

Is there still room for me??  YES!! (five seats left)

Will you be at Kerrville?  YES!! the first 17 days
Did your son do that crazy ultrathon and bike trek??  YES!!!
Are your grandchildren still adorable?  YES!!!!

(details within)

MY top questions for May 12, 2014

Anybody want to produce a show for me in DALLAS on Thursday, June 12th?  YES !!!

Anybody want to produce a show for me in ST LOUIS on Sunday, June 15th?    YES !!
Thank you Leslie Harris!  Thank you Laura X!



THE IRISH TOUR IS A GO!!

Don't you want to go?  As Tom Wolfe says, "Are you on the bus or off the bus?"  I'm so pleased that enough people signed up before the deadline that we can definitely do the tour BUT we still have five empty seats that I would love to fill. C'mon now - you'll not regret it.  If you would like to spend 10 glorious days in Ireland with me and a small but lively group of very cool people, drop a line to vbelinoski@austin.rr.com. 

 Your $2250 will cover 9 nights in great hotels, all ground transportation from July 29th through  August 6th, all breakfasts, three sumptuous dinners, admission to all heritage sites -  It's a fabulous value.  I love taking friends to Ireland.  I have been going to the Emerald Isle regularly since I was 26 years old, and I'm a fun and fairly knowledgeable guide. There is lots more information at http://annefeeney.com/Pages/irishtours.html   Any questions? Reply to this newsletter, or check out the many articles I have posted on my blog, the Fellow Travelers' Advisory, or send me your phone number and a good time to call.  You'll be welcome indeed!

Our luxury coach safely navigates even the wee byways, so we don't miss out on anything!

Anne Feeney and Brad Yoder touring to Kerrville, TX

for Pete's Sake!

The press release for this tour is posted at http://www.annefeeney.com/news.html

The dates are:

Sunday, May 18th, 2014 4:00 PM Anne Feeney and Brad Yoder: Kerrville or Bust! The Barn 1225 North Bend Road Cincinnati, OH 45224 513-766-6121 Price: $15-25 suggestedcontact Jon at jon@footprintsforpeace.org to reserve a seat. Monday, May 19th, 2014 - Saturday, June 7th, 2014 at Monday, May 19th, 2014 Kerrville Folk Festival Quiet Valley Ranch Kerrville, TX http://kerrville-music.comAs I have every year since 1989, I will be camping deep in the heart of Texas at my favorite folk festival with my festival family, enjoying fabulous music under the TX moon. And, I'll let you in on a little secret - The stars at night ARE big and bright. Sunday, June 8th, 2014 4:00 PM Anne Feeney and Brad Yoder in Concert Danny Yeager's house College Station, TX (979) 777-8758 http://brazos_progressives.typepad.com/news/2007/02/anne_feeney_hou.html Price: free!Y'all were so wonderful and generous last year when my health made the concert impossible ... I'm doing a free concert for you and bringing along another super-talented player! Thursday, June 12th, 2014 8:00 PM Anne Feeney and Brad Yoder in Concert tba Dallas, TXLeslie Harris is the contact. jharris866@aol.com details continuously updating at http://annefeeney.com/calendar.html Friday, June 13th, 2014 7:30 PM OKC Labor Council presents Anne Feeney and Brad Yoder :Kerrville or Bust! The Blue Door Oklahoma City, OK Price: $15-25 donation Saturday, June 14th, 2014 7:00 PM Heartland Labor Forum's 25th Anniversary Celebration with Jim Hightower and Anne Feeney IBEW Local 124 301 W 103rd Terr Kansas City, MO 816-517-4083 http://cas.umkc.edu/labor-ed/radio.htmA VIP dinner is available at 6PM. Call Bill Clause at 816-517-4083 for information. Sunday, June 15th, 2014 5:00 PM Anne Feeney and Brad Yoder in Concert Marriott Residence Inn Party Room 8011 Galleria Parkway St Louis, MO 63117 http://www.ncmdr.org/ Price: $15-25 suggestedfor more information, contact Laura X laurax@sbcglobal.net Proceeds from this concert will, in part, support the UMSL National Clearinghouse on Marital and Date Rape: Monday, June 16th, 2014 8:00 PM Anne Feeney and Brad Yoder in Concert with John Paul Wright The Rudyard Kipling 422 W Oak Street Louisville, KY 40203 https://www.facebook.com/railroadmusic.org‎

MY FIRST LIVE STREAMING CONCERT!

Mark your calendar, set your cell phone alarm for Saturday, May 17th, 2PM Eastern Daylight Time, 11AM West Coast time, 1PM Central time, 8PM Swedish time, 9PM Zimbabwe time

I'm excited to announce that I'll be playing my first live broadcast show online on Saturday, May 17th. It'll last about 40 minutes.

Tune in to:
http://www.concertwindow.com/shows/6153-anne-feeney to hear me play a set of songs from my deck (weather permitting), or my dining room.  There's a chat feature with this program, so you'll be able to ask questions and make requests.


Toast a bagel and join me for my first ever live interactive web concert! See you on Saturday!


SWEDEN AND DENMARK 

I'll be in Sweden from June 18th until August 12th (except for my Irish excursion - July 29th through August 6th).  If you would like to hire me, or me and the fabulous Jan Hammarlund, contact Julie Leonardsson at mailto:picasso77750@yahoo.se

THE FINISH LINE

My son, Daniel Berlin, finished that grueling test of endurance, and raised almost $4000 for refugee relief! Well done, son. His blog of that adventure appears here:https://www.causes.com/campaigns/72465-support-refugee-rights-in-africa-asia-and-latin-america

So looking forward to three weeks in the company of my wonderful daughter, Amy Sue Berlin and her charming husband, Mike Meadows, as we camp together at the Kerrville Folk Festival. I get to see their new house in Austin, too!

Happy Birthday Tony Mumphrey, Kevin McCahill, Collin McCahill, Fellow Traveler Scott Stephansen, Frances Kennedy, Celeste Taylor, Chris Kennedy, Kathleen Feeney,Terri Wondra, Kip Ruefle and Rick Laus!

Huge thanks to Diane McMahon, Ginny Hildebrand, Harry Levine, Chris Chandler, Bob Barnes, Grace Cox, Lynne Dobson, RD Grunbaum and Linda Orgul, Carlyn Syvanex, Chris Kennedy, Liana Kennedy, Ken Orchard, Carole Costello, Brian Charlton, Dotty Dale, Betsy Pernotto, Bob Marshall, everyone at the Heartwood, Jim and Joey, Larry & Karen Hildes, Dana Cooper, Cynthia Stamper,Dan Bern, Sue Gibb, Mike Honey, Marilyn Kimmerling, Adam... I know I've missed some wonderful folks... the tour was fabulous, and I certainly couldn't have done it without the kindness, consideration and immense talent of my tour partner - EVAN GREER.

Thanks and goodbye til after Kerrville.

March 2014 - Anne Feeney's Fellow Travelers' Advisory - Volume 9, Number 5

In this issue I'm welcoming 200 updated and new subscribers to the Fellow Travelers' Advisory! Some of you folks go back to the Summer of Solidarity Tour from August 2013...  Sorry for the delay in getting you onboard.  I've been super busy, but it's a good busy, not a stressed busy.

It's my pleasure and privilege to welcome you to my network of family, friends, fans and Fellow Travelers.

Come to Ireland with me this summer!

Lots and lots of you expressed interest in the Ireland tour.  If you're interested, please contact Vicki Belinoski at vbelinoski@austin.rr.com

Tuesday, July 29th - August 6th, 2014 Come to Ireland with me for a Labor History Tour!! Innishfree Tours http://johnsmithmusic.com/tour-ireland The dates are confirmed, the rooms are reserved -- all we need is you!! I've got a labor history tour of Ireland that will knock your socks off! Ireland's history is as interesting as its countryside is gorgeous. Please join me for ten days you'll never forget in the "Isle of Saints and Scholars."  This year's tour starts and ends in Dublin.  Come in a day early and book a room at the Academy Best Western.  Be sure to mention Inishfree Tours and get a discount.  Day 1 starts with a full Irish breakfast at our hotel.  Then we'll climb aboard our luxury coach and head south to Cork City.

Then on through historic towns  to Cork, where we'll check into the Maldron Hotel.  We'll be in Cork City for three days, where we will attend the"Spirit of Mother Jones" Festival.   On July 30th we'll treat you to dinner at the Waldron Hotel, and to a private concert by a wonderful local musician. The festival lineup is still shaping up, but on July 31st, The Spirit of Mother Jones Festival will present me and Si Kahn in concert.

The Mother Jones Monument in Cork

festival board member Gerd O'Mahony

our genial host at Maldron's

On August 1 we'll head to Dingle, one of the music capitals of Ireland, and spend three days taking in breathtaking scenery by day and fabulous Irish music by night. We're staying at the Hotel Ostan Ceann Sibeal in Dingle. http://www.dingleway.com/accommodation/ballyferriter-hotel-hotel-ostan-ceann-sibeal.php We'll be providing a fine dinner one of our nights in Dingle, and fabulous music every night!

August 4th we'll take a scenic cross-country drive and return to Dublin.  I'm still working on the whole Dublin itinerary, but it will unquestionably be the emotional high of the tour.  We will discover so much about the history, spirit and culture of the Irish people - AND tour the Guinness brewery.  Our last night, we treat you to dinner.

Let me know if you want to be one of the lucky 22 to make this tour with me in 2014 and I'll connect you to the wonderful folks at Innishfree Tours.  This tour is a fabulous value and a guaranteed good time.

Annual Oscars Dinner cancelled.

For at least the past dozen years my cousin Bill and I have watched the Oscars together.  One year Julie fixed a fantastic dinner for us, and a tradition was born.  Every year the guest list has grown - to 26 people one year in my little house. Over the years we added added a second television monitor, ballots, a giant toteboard, costumes, paparazzi and for the last two years - the Daniel McTiernan  Excel Toteboard withcontinuously updated results displayed on a monitor. The gala evolved into a sit-down dinner with 5 courses inspired by the 5 "Best Picture" nominees. Like the guest list, the number of nominees has increased..Threats of a blizzard in Pittsburgh this Sunday night gave cold feet to many of our key attendees.  A much smaller group will huddle here to watch the Oscars.  

It was fun to dream up the menu.  If you are somewhere warm and want to spend a lot of time cooking today,  here's the menu for the ten-course  we had planned:

Mussels Dijon - Captain Phillips- 

Super Healthy Salad - Dallas Buyers' Club

Chicken Piccata - American Hustle

Pasta with Rao's Marinara Sauce - American Hustle/Wolf of Wall Street

Massaged Kale - 12 Years

Tub of Cheap Beer on Ice - Nebraska

Irish Trifle - Philomena

Floating Island - Gravity

Lots of Champagne and Good Wines - Wolf of Wall Street

For "Her" put an 8-Ball Toy as the centerpiece on each table to answer any questions you have on who will win in a particular category. (If you have a better idea, let me know...)

On the Road Again: NYC-FT MYERS via MIAMI - 

The 2014 "Plumbers' Relief" Tour

I left Pittsburgh on frigid Friday, January 24 for the People's Music Network for Songs of Freedom and Struggle Annual Winter Gathering.  PMN is a great organization. Delayed by traffic, I arrived about 30 seconds before I was scheduled to perform .. It was a challenge!

This pic from the finale on Friday night.  People's Music Network is a fabulous community of activist songwriters.  It's been around for a long time.  Pittsburgh videographer Rich Fishkin recently posted a treasure trove of great performances from the early 90s on youtube.  There are some really great performances archived in these videos - Pat Humphries of Emma's Revolution performing her new song "Swimming to the Other Side."  Jon Fromer with a great performance of "We Do the Work," Jay Mankita performing "Old Devil Time" with gorgeous harmonies by Sarah Underwood and (I think) Heather Lev, Faith Petric and Bob Reid singing "Why Am I Painting the Living Room?"  and so many more

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1/s851x315/10104_10202962120394981_1190524968_n.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7uWNDIaipM

If those links don't get you there, go to youtube, search for richfishpgh, scroll down his page to FREEDOM TROUBADOURS OF THE 90s   connect with him on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/rich.fishkin

My next show wasn't until January 31 in Durham  (part of my strategy to rest more on my tours and stay out of hospitals).  After a glorious 3 day rest stop at my friend Shirley's in DC, I headed on to Durham to visit the amazing Vicki Ryder and her wonderful husband Doug.  They and their committee organized a show that packed a UU church and raised thousands of dollars for the NC NAACP, where I met the inspiring Rev Wm Barber.  I sold all the CDs I had packed for the entire tour at this show, and had to have more sent to me in Jacksonville.Endless thanks to 
Vicki and her terrific committee.

In JacksonvilIe I made my debut at the Mudville Music Room, sharing the evening with the marvelous Tim Grimm.  Six people who came to the show had never been to the venue.  They heard me on "Brother Stan, the Union Man" - a labor radio show on 1600 AM, WZNZ - hosted every wednesday from 2-4 and streaming online at http://1600thebeach.com

On February 8 I performed at the Lake Worth Playhouse with a very talented ensemble in a multi-media Pete Seeger tribute.  Joyce Brown, the producer, sold out two $20 per shows at the 350 seat theater - a pleasant time was guaranteed for all!  Congratulations Joyce!

Then on to Boca Raton, where Bob and Patty Bender and friends put on a terrific show for me, which benefitted in part the Peace Action Education Fund  I had such a great time with them. I so enjoyed the music of my opening act, Pink Slip, that I invited them to join me at the Luna Star the next night and they did

My good friend Michael Stock, who hosts the venerable Folk and Acoustic Show on WLRN
invited me on the show just before my visit to Alexis and the Luna Star Cafe

If you're getting tired reading this, imagine how I felt about now!!
Lucky for me, I got a respite at the home of the amazing Amy Carol Webb and her wife.
Then on for a great visit with Rosanna Lane and Bill Deegan in Naples, and on to Estero, where I enjoyed seeing Ed Sadlowski and his terrific wife, Marlene and their adorable puppy Zoe

I did two shows for my fabulous labor sister Laura Griffin in Ft Myers... I did an Irish show for the United Irish Club of Ft. Myers, and my standard labor/politics show for the SW FL AFL-CIO.

On to Tallahassee where my anxious presenters informed me of a number of competing events going on that afternoon and evening. .... one of which was a Peter Yarrow fundraiser for Alzheimer's awareness.  My concert was supposed to be after a potluck, but with Ward and Rebecca's blessing, the hungry guests arriving got treated to a concert before dinner, and I got to go to the show and sing "Have You Been to Jail for Justice?" on stage with Peter.  Peter was very generous and thoughtful with me and the four fans of his who accompanied me to the show.

Photo courtesy Doug Gauss

A gazillion thanks to all my fabulous Hosts and Presenters:  Bev Grant, Shirley Shultz Myers, Vicki and Doug Ryder,Candice Carter, Ray Lewis, Ken Connors and Cee Cee Severin, Joyce Brown, Howard in Lake Worth,   Patty and Bob Bender,  Alexis at the Lunastar, Amy Carol Webb and Brooke Bell, Rosanna Lane and Bill Deegan, Ed and Marlene Sadlowski, Laura Griffin,  Ward and Rebecca...  All in all, it was a great tour and I came home with enough money to retire my $5300 plumbing bills... But winter is still here, dammit.

Please Let My Son, Daniel, hear from you 

I'll let Dan tell you in his own words about this extraordinary project:

Imagine walking out of your home in Washington, D.C., carrying nothing but a backpack, hoping to make it to Guadalajara, Mexico. You don't have enough money for a bus ticket, let alone a flight. You don't have your passport. You don't speak Spanish. You haven't had time to say goodbye to anyone except your closest relatives. You don't know if you'll ever return.

This is the situation that many of the world's 15 million refugees have faced. Through my work with forced migrants in Zimbabwe, I've met people who are travelling, mostly by foot, from places like Goma, DR Congo, to South Africa. The 3500 kilometer journey is fraught with danger. These men, women, and children risk their lives because they hope that South Africa will be somewhere they can enjoy the basic human rights that are unavailable in their home countries--most fundamentally the right to life and the right to not be tortured or raped; but also basic freedoms such as the right to shelter, food, water, work, and education.

This April, I plan to ride my bike 800 kilometers across Zimbabwe to South Africa, following the path of many refugees and asylum seekers, and then run 56 kilometers (34 miles) across the tip of Africa in the Two Oceans Ultra-Marathon. My goal is to find 100 people who will support me by donating $56 ($1 / km of running) to Asylum Access, to fund their refugee rights programming.

Eighty percent of the world's refugees live in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and Asylum Access's mission is to make the legally recognized rights of these refugees a reality. I had the privilege of working with Asylum Access when I lived in Ecuador, and I was able to see first-hand the transformational impact of helping refugees assert their rights. Although I am no longer affiliated with Asylum Access, I firmly believe that their innovative approach is the best model for providing long-term support to refugees. I also know that, unlike some larger organizations, $5600 will make a real impact, allowing Asylum Access to provide legal assistance to more people who need it. Of course, financial support of any amount is greatly appreciated, and if you are unable to donate you can still support my cause by sharing this site with your networks.

I'll be blogging here about my training and planning for the trip across Southern Africa. To find out more about Asylum Access, visit www.asylumaccess.org. Thank you for your support.

-Dan

To support Dan in this effort, click this link:

https://www.causes.com/campaigns/72465-support-refugee-rights-in-africa-asia-and-latin-america

And Great News from My Daughter, Amy Berlin!

Amy's first recording, a 6 song EP titled FRAGILE BONES,  is now available on CDBaby
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/amysueberlin  As her mother, I'm uncomfortable reviewing this CD, but I encourage you to preview it on CDBaby and post a review.

I think the youthful purity, simplicity and vitality of this recording is impressive, and her honesty is startling and evocative.  But judge for yourself.  And download or buy it for yourself and tell your friends!

Best read I've had in a while: Chris Chandler's Feb Muse and Whirled Retort

I love it when you write back.  Hoping to be where you are soon!  Happy Birthday Shirley! Get well, Lee.