Back From New Orleans!

FMC's Jean Cook and Jon Langford rock New Orleans

Our three-day bacchanal in the Big Easy (a highly productive bacchanal, we might add) has ended, and FMC staff are back in D.C., where we're basking in the warm memories of another successful Artist Activism Camp and "Musicians Bringing Musicians Home" concert. Bet you wish you had been there! Well, maybe you were. . . if so, cheers!

This year's retreat included such talented artists as Wayne Kramer (MC5), Jolie Holland, Jon Langford (Waco Brothers, Mekons), Saul Williams, Scott McCaughey (Young Fresh Fellows, Minus 5, R.E.M.), Laura Veirs, Vijay Iyer, Erin McKeown, Bonerama, Al “Carnival Time” Johnson, Martín Perna (Antibalas, TV On the Radio, Ocote Soul Sounds), Mariam Adam (Imani Winds), Luke Reynolds (Pictures and Sounds) and Paul Sanchez.

These musicians joined organizers FMC and Air Traffic Control in New Orleans to participate in strategy sessions about how to integrate activism and philanthropy into their musical lives and careers. They also took the time to tour local neighborhoods and visit with the city’s notable musicians and community leaders.

Then there was the concert, which was a doozy. The all-star show took place on May 22 at Tipitina’s Uptown and benefited Sweet Home New Orleans — a non-profit organization that provides social services and economic development programs to musicians, Mardi Gras Indians, and other traditional New Orleans artists affected by Katrina.

Check out our Events Coordinator Chhaya Kapadia's Flickr stream for a birdseye view of the action. Rumor has it the great Jon Langford was also prowling around with a flipcam; we'll post that video as soon as we determine its suitability for public consumption.

You should also have a look at Chhaya's post on her own blog about her experiences in New Orleans. She's a true Artist Activism Camp veteran (or "Carnival Timers," as participants call each other), with five retreats and concerts under her belt. Hot damn!

Artist Activism Camp Kicks Off in New Orleans!

Jon Langford flexes his activist muscles!

FMC staff are on the way to New Orleans for our latest Artist Activism Camp and "Musicians Bringing Musicians Home" concert. There's nothing like a three-day party in the Big Easy to kick off summer!

But it's not all bourbon and gumbo. The May 20-22 retreat — hosted by FMC and Air Traffic Control — is the fifth since the Gulf Coast storms of 2005. Artists from around the country converge on New Orleans to tour affected neighborhoods, visit with the city’s notable musicians and community leaders and participate in strategy sessions about how to integrate activism and philanthropy into their musical lives and careers.

This year's participants include Wayne Kramer (MC5), Jolie Holland, Jon Langford (Waco Brothers, Mekons), Saul Williams, Scott McCaughey (Young Fresh Fellows, Minus 5, R.E.M.), Laura Veirs, Vijay Iyer, Erin McKeown, Bonerama, Al “Carnival Time” Johnson, Martín Perna (Antibalas, TV On the Radio, Ocote Soul Sounds), Mariam Adam (Imani Winds), Luke Reynolds (Pictures and Sounds) and Paul Sanchez. We're excited to see them all!

The "Musicians Bringing Musicians Home" concert takes place at 9 p.m. CST on Friday, May 22 at Tipitina’s Uptown (501 Napoleon Ave) and benefits Sweet Home New Orleans — a non-profit organization that provides social services and economic development programs to musicians, Mardi Gras Indians, and other traditional New Orleans artists affected by Katrina. SHNO is also announcing its first-ever “challenge grant,” in which donations received on May 22 and through the end of the year will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $250,000. This challenge represents an opportunity to double the impact of contributions to SHNO at a critical juncture in the music community’s recovery. To make a donation to Sweet Home New Orleans, visit www.sweethomeneworleans.org or mail to: 828 Royal Street #833 NOLA 70116.

New Orleans-dwellers will definitely want to mark your calendars for the show. But if you're not a local, you can still can watch via live webcast at Tipitina's — showtime is 10PM CST.

Good News From New Orleans!

Al "Carnival Time" Johnson plays the "Hope for Home" benefit house party in 2007.

Regular readers will be familiar with FMC's efforts to help New Orleans musicians, like our annual Artist Activism Camp and benefit concert, where artists from around the country come together to discuss best practices for advocacy and play a show to help NOLA musicians still struggling in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

One such musician, Al "Carnival Time" Johnson, just got great news. As of December 29, the New Orleans R&B and Mardis Gras legend has brand new digs, courtesy Habitat for Humanity. Al lost everything in Katrina, including his longtime dwelling in the Lower Ninth Ward. Now he can finally come home.

This was a long time coming, and represents the hard work and generous support of individuals and groups like Sweet Home New Orleans — a non-profit that helps Big Easy artists get back to their neighborhoods and communities.

Congrats to Al on his new place!

New Orleans Done Right

Today's post is by FMC Events Coordinator Chhaya Kapadia, who just returned from our fourth Artist Activism Camp. The picture is hers, too!

We're happy to say that FMC's fourth trip to New Orleans years revealed a city rebuilding. There's still an unconscionable amount of work to be done, but what our government neglected, the residents of the city have stepped in to do with grace and class (and a little bit of help from Brad Pitt).

If you ever make it to New Orleans, we highly recommend you visit the Mother-in-Law Lounge, the former home of and now tribute to Ernie K-Doe. Ernie's widow Antoinette K-Doe tells the story of how she waited out Katrina for days in the second floor of the lounge before she got airlifted out of the building still flooded in six feet of water, but you wouldn't know it from seeing the new tiki bar in the back and the Christmas decorations alight.

That first night at the Mother-in-Law cascaded into a day of meetings about musicians engaging in activism, which segued beautifully into a thoroughly entertaining benefit concert for Sweet Home New Orleans, an organization that helps bring New Orleans musicians back to New Orleans post-Katrina and helps keep the city's musical traditions alive. See the nice Rolling Stone write-up and lots of photos here.

Check out out this previous post for a list of Artist Activism Camp participants and performers at the "Bringing Musicians Home IV" concert.

New Orleans Action!

Ann Chaitovitz (FMC), Brer Rabbit (Flobots) and Michael Bracy (FMC) chillin' in NOLA. [Photo: Chhaya Kapadia]

A handful of FMC peeps are in the Big Easy for our fourth annual Artist Activism Camp, which brings together emerging and established artists to talk about how to incorporate positive social change into their lives and careers. The three-day retreat is followed by "Musicians Bringing Musicians Home IV," a benefit concert for Sweet Home New Orleans — a non-profit group that provides housing and financial assistance to musicians displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

The show takes place tonight (December 4) at Tipitina's. Advance tickets are available here. If you're in the area, you gotta swing by to hear live sets and collaborations from/with Will Oldham (Bonnie “Prince” Billy), Nicole Atkins, Hank Shocklee (Bomb Squad, Future Frequency), Alec Ounsworth (Clap Your Hands Say Yeah), Jonny 5 and Brer Rabbit (Flobots), Waterflow (of Senegalese hip-hop band Wageble), Steve Berlin of Los Lobos, members of brass band Bonerama and jazz vocalist John Boutte.

FMC's Events Coordinator Chhaya Kapadia has been snapping pics of the activities leading up to the show — check 'em out here. Looks like a party!

Benefit for Sweet Home New Orleans

Our friends at Sweet Home New Orleans — a Big Easy non-profit that provides housing and assistance to musicians displaced by Hurricane Katrina — are the beneficiaries of a major bridal show at New Orleans' W Hotel on October 30, 2008.

But this isn't your mother's bridal show. As the press release states, "Operation Aisle Style is a party, a fashion show and an epicurean adventure inspired by intrepid travelers, libertines, alterna-wedding wunderkinds, Carolyn Gerin, creator of the best-selling Anti-Bride series by Chronicle Books, and Jennifer Stein, Editor in Chief of Destination I Do Magazine." That's a mouthful, but it sounds like a good time. And it's definitely for a good cause.

The event runs from 7:00pm - 10:00pm. If you're in the area and want to attend, RSVP at the Operation Aisle Style Facebook page, or via e-mail.

And stay tuned for more info about our Fourth Annual Artist Activism Camp, which takes place in New Orleans in December.

OK Go & Bonerama — Two Great Tastes That Taste Great Together

OK Go

Lots of excitement here at FMC this week, as pop-rock princes OK Go and New Orleans brass-funk act Bonerama are coming to D.C.'s 9:30 Club this Saturday, February 2. (Also known as the day before the Superbowl.)

The concert is a benefit to raise money for NOLA music legend Al "Carnival Time" Johnson and Sweet Home New Orleans — an organization that provides housing and rental assistance to musicians scattered by the storm.

The bad news is, the show is completely sold out. The good news is, the show is completely sold out. The former is true if you're a fan who doesn't already have tickets. The latter is true if you care about the ongoing struggles facing Big Easy musicians in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

But if you're not in the area or don't have tickets, there's still an exciting way for you to help the cause. On Tuesday, February 5, OK Go and Bonerama will release a collaborative, iTunes-only EP called You're Not Alone. The 5-song mini-album boasts an inspired take on David Bowie's "Rock and Roll Suicide," and also features Al Johnson on a cover of the Bob Dylan classic "I Shall Be Released."

Confession time: we've heard You're Not Alone, and can tell you unequivocally, it's awesome. Don't believe us? Check out this Blogcritics review of the EP. And make sure you stand in digital line bright and early next Tuesday to get your copy.

OK Go and Bonerama first met at FMC and Air Traffic Control's annual Artist Activism Camp, which brings musicians together in New Orleans to discuss best practices for positive social change. Attendees also tour the the Lower Ninth Ward to hear from residents about efforts to revitalize their communities.

Check out these articles in Washington Times and the Washington Post Express, to read how OK Go's Damian Kulash was affected by his experiences in New Orleans.

Musicians Help New Orleans Musicians

OK Go

Last week, FMC and Air Traffic Control got their indie-rock on at two concerts to benefit New Orleans musicians still struggling to secure housing after Hurricane Katrina.

The first show, "Musicians Bringing Musicians Home III," took place in the Parish Room of the New Orleans House of Blues on Thursday, January 10. Performers included Nellie McKay, Jon Langford & Sally Timms of The Mekons, Patrick Hallahan of My Morning Jacket, Charles Bissell of The Wrens, Kimya Dawson, Timothy Bracy of the Mendoza Line, Janet Bean of Freakwater and members of Bonerama, who provided sure-footed backup during several artists' sets. Need we say it rocked?

Here are some cool shots of the evening's festivities from NOLA.com.

The concert came at the end of FMC & ATC's annual Artist Activism Camp, which brings musicians together to discuss best practices for artist advocacy. During the two-day meeting, attendees went on a tour of New Orleans, checking in with Ninth Ward musicians about efforts to revitalize their community. Thursday night's show was a benefit for Sweet Home New Orleans — a coalition of non-profit organizations that helps find affordable housing and provides rental assistance for artists scattered by Katrina.

The following night, January 11, saw infectious pop-rockers OK Go join up with New Orleans funk faves Bonerama for a show to benefit Crescent City music legend Al "Carnival Time" Johnson, who lost everything in the hurricane. The two groups have also collaborated on an iTunes-only EP, You're Not Alone, which features Al on a cover of Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released." The mini-album will be released on February 5, just in time for Mardis Gras!

Check out pictures from the gig here.

Bummed you missed the NOLA show(s)? You can still catch OK Go and Bonerama when they perform at the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC on February 2 — which will be streamed and podcast by NPR. It, too, is a benefit for Al Johnson and SHNO, so don't miss this opportunity to help out Big Easy musicians in need.

Stay tuned for more info on this exciting event.

Bhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifenefit Concerts for New Orleans Musicians

Happy New Year!

We at FMC are always pleased when musicians donate their time and energy to help other musicians. So we're psyched about two shows taking place in New Orleans next week that benefit artists still struggling in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

The first event takes place on Thursday, January 10 in the Parish Room of New Orleans' House of Blues. "Musicians Bringing Musicians Home III" features Jon Langford & Sally Timms of The Mekons, Patrick Hallahan of My Morning Jacket, Charles Bissell of The Wrens, Kimya Dawson (who recently contributed eight songs to the hit movie Juno), Timothy Bracy of the Mendoza Line, Janet Bean of Freakwater and Craig Klein, Mat Perrine, Eric Bolivar & Bert Cotton of Bonerama. The concert is a benefit for Sweet Home New Orleans — a coalition of non-profit organizations that helps find affordable housing and provides rental assistance for the city’s cultural ambassadors.musicians displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Tickets are available here.

The New Orleans Times-Picayune just wrote an item about this first show.

The following night, OK Go and Bonerama play a concert at Tipitina's to aid New Orleans music legend Al “Carnival Time” Johnson and Sweet Home New Orleans. Tickets are available here. OK Go and Bonerama have also collaborated on an EP for the same cause, to be released in February. The two groups will also play at Washington, D.C.'s 9:30 Club on February 2. Stay tuned for further news about that show.

Check out this press release for more info on both New Orleans events.

Sweet Home New Orleans: Helping New Orleans Musicians Return Home

On December 1, FMC and Sweet Home New Orleans invite you to join Mike Mills of R.E.M. at a Washington, DC house party to aid one of the Big Easy's most beloved musicians, Al "Carnival Time" Johnson. There are a limited number of tickets available to this private event; for info on how you could attend, e-mail hopeforhome@futureofmusic.org.

We figured this would be a fine time to post about the event's beneficiaries, sponsors and special guests. Today's entry is about Sweet Home New Orleans, a fantastic group that aids Crescent City musicians.

Sweet Home New Orleans is a collective that works to revitalize New Orleans music community by connecting artists impacted by Hurricane Katrina to an array of social services, while providing direct assistance for relocation and housing. SHNO’s goal is to help New Orleans retain and maintain its unique musical culture, by helping its artists and performers return to and stay in their old neighborhoods. This is accomplished through relocation, rental and renovation assistance for affected musicians.

According to SHNO data, out of 4,500 musicians who previously called New Orleans home, nearly 3,000 have yet to secure stable housing in the city post-Katrina. 1,500 of these families remain displaced outside the metro area.

Here's some more info from the Sweet Home New Orleans Website:

• Sweet Home New Orleans directs resources to this community through an innovative data-sharing system that connects local and national service providers.
  
• Since opening its intake center in June of 2007, Sweet Home has served 250 tradition bearers with $150,000 in housing aid, and approximately $96,000 in assistance from its network of partners.
  
• Sweet Home New Orleans administers housing assistance through a case management system that addresses each household’s needs holistically.

New Orleans' rich and vibrant culture has contributed to almost all of our nation's musical idioms, from jazz and funk to rhythm & blues and rock 'n' roll. At the heart of it all are New Orleans' musicians, whose oversized talent and contagious energy make up the soul and spirit of the Big Easy. We applaud SHNO's commitment in helping Al "Carnival Time" Johnson and many other musical talents reestablish their community and cultural roots.

The Amazing Al "Carnival Time" Johnson

On December 1, FMC and Sweet Home New Orleans invite you to join Mike Mills of R.E.M. at a Washington, DC house party to aid one of the Big Easy's most beloved musicians, Al "Carnival Time" Johnson. There are a limited number of tickets available to this private event; for info on how you could attend, e-mail hopeforhome@futureofmusic.org.

We figured now is a perfect time for a few posts about Al, Sweet Home New Orleans, and the importance of protecting the Crescent City's cultural heritage. Let's start with the guest of honor.

Alvin Lee Johnson is better known to everyone in New Orleans as Al "Carnival Time" Johnson. His famous song, "Carnival Time", originally recorded in February 1960, has become a Mardi Gras tradition, and it continues to be performed every Mardi Gras/Carnival Time season.

But Al, like many musicians in New Orleans, was a victim of Hurricane Katrina. The Gambit Weekly recounts his story:

"I lost everything in Katrina. I was in Mississippi for a barbecue the Saturday before the storm, and we tried to come back that day, but they wouldn't let us in." Johnson's home was on Tennessee Street in the Lower Ninth Ward. "Water filled it up. The house got moved off the foundation and back into the yard 25 feet. We came back after the storm and Armand and Patty St. Martin and the Arabi Wrecking Krewe went in and salvaged some stuff, some laminated stuff."

But his ordeal wasn't nearly over. According to Johnson, "The city came in and bulldozed the house. I didn't request it. In fact, I was trying to get them to let it stay, but they said that it was in imminent danger."

Since then, Johnson has been spending half his time in Houston and half in New Orleans. He has been approved for a house in the Musicians' Village, and there have been several benefits on his behalf. "Everything is uncertain," he says, "I had one address for years and now I don't have one."

Check out this video of Al performing at FMC's 2007 Policy Summit in D.C.:




Stay tuned for a closer look at Sweet Home New Orleans, and the terrific work they do.

Hope for Home

On December 1, FMC and Sweet Home New Orleans invite you to join Mike Mills of R.E.M. at a Washington, DC house party to aid one of the Big Easy's most beloved musicians, Al "Carnival Time" Johnson. There are a limited number of tickets available to this private event; for info on how you could attend, e-mail hopeforhome@futureofmusic.org.

"Hope for Home" is being organized to support the rebuilding and relocation effort for the thousands of New Orleans' musicians affected by Hurricane Katrina, including Al Johnson. The event, which takes place on Saturday, December 1, is co-hosted by FMC, Mike Mills of R.E.M., Michael Petricone and Eric and Sharapat Kessler, who have graciously opened their home for the occasion. Johnson and Mills will perform -- exciting, we know! Minimum donation is $200 per person, with 100% of proceeds going to the beneficiaries. All contributions are tax-deductible.

In addition to the performances and excellent food, attendees will have the opportunity to bid on one-of-a-kind signed material from R.E.M. and Pearl Jam.

Stay tuned for posts on Al Johnson, Sweet Home New Orleans and R.E.M., as we gear up for this worthy event.

Indigo Girls Bringing New Orleans Musicians Home!

Don't you just love band's that walk the walk? We sure do. They make us jump on the bed with joy. Here is a great article in the Times-Picayune about their awesome show on Sunday night to benefit Sweet Home New Orleans in their work bringing many of the 2,500 displaced New Orleans musicians and Mardi Gras Indians back home.
If you want to know more about this spectacular organization you can listen to this feature from NPR's, "All Things Considered". PS. A little bird told us that the IG's raised over 10K with this one show!

WPFW: Why Community Radio Matters

Jenny just returned from Piety Street Recording studios in New Orleans where Damian & Tim from OK GO, Bonerama and Al "Carnival Time" Johnson were collaborating on a forthcoming benefit record to support Sweet Home New Orleans.

While there she listened obsessively to WWOZ the spectacular community radio station that features a lot of local New Orleans music. Just this morning she was sent this link to a mini movie about DC's own spectacular community radio station WPFW. It was produced by Jessica Duda who is also working on a Net Neutrality documentary. It gives you a clear picture of why it's so important to expand community and low power radio.

Sweet Home New Orleans

As we approach the second anniversary of Katrina, roughly 3,000 musicians remain without housing in New Orleans. The number is staggering, but New Orleans proved once again you can't keep a good city down and you can't silence its music.

The Indigo Girls, Damian Kulash of OK GO, Jim James of My Morning Jacket, Pamela Z, Bonerama, and Al "Carnival Time" played Sunday night in front of more than 400 fans to raise money for Sweet Home New Orleans, a coalition of non-profits that helps Katrina displaced musicians find new homes. "Musicians Bringing Musicians Home" took place at the historic venue Tipitina's Uptown. (I forget to mention Matt Nathanson in the original post. Sorry, Matt. You did a wonderful job along with all of the other artists.)

The Indigo Girls played some of their big hits. Though he didn't have a treadmill, OK GO's Damian Kulash was equally entertaining with the backing of Bonerama. We should have photos and hopefully video up soon. In the mean time, here's a great piece about the event from ABC 26 in New Orleans.

Indigo Girls with the Baby Dolls



Al "Carnival Time" Johnson with Bonerama