Holly Near — an outspoken activist, singer, teacher, and recording artist — has spent nearly 40 years working for progressive political and social change. Over the years, Holly’s powerful anthems have captured the mood of many movements and now her voice and messages are no less urgent than when she began her work in the social change community. As one Holly Near fan put it, “She is a divine mix of Pete Seeger and Judy Garland!” Her latest recording, Show Up, is a pointed and provocative look at where society sits today — in a new millennium and going into the fifth year of a U.S. led foreign war. No topic is sacred to Holly Near. War, peace, love, family, corporation, government, addiction — they all come under her scrutiny on Show Up. But Holly is not merely an observer. She invites audiences to take a stand — to take the higher road of vision, peace, perspective, and leadership — and to show up.

A superb mix of original songs and covers, Show Up showcases Holly’s extraordinary talent. This new recording is a launch pad for a tour by this powerful singer and delightful storyteller. Holly brings history alive as she relates her work as a singer/songwriter and social change activist. And history meets the present as she takes on the opportunities and challenges facing the peace and justice movements of today. Whether out on her own or uniting with other contemporary activists, such as Gloria Steinem, Cindy Sheehan, and Medea Benjamin, Holly Near is keeping the political song tradition alive.

“Bold, profound, moving, hilarious and transformative,” emma’s revolution is the duo of award-winning, activist musicians, Pat Humphries & Sandy O, who write songs that become traditions. “Peace, Salaam, Shalom” is sung around the world and has been called the “anthem of the anti-war movement.” “Keep on Moving Forward” opened the NGO Forum at the UN Fourth World Conference on Women in Bejiing in 1995, becoming the unofficial theme of the Conference Their debut CD one x 1,000,000 = change includes “If I Give Your Name,” Grand Prize Winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. In the spirit of Emma Goldman’s famous attribution, “If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of your revolution,” emma’s revolution brings their uprising of truth, hope and a dash of healthy irreverence to concerts and peace & justice events across the US (including Camp Casey with Cindy Sheehan and the School of the Americas Watch at Fort Benning, GA). They have performed by invitation at the World Culture Open in Seoul, Korea, and at the Scottish Parliament’s Festival of Politics. Join the revolution!

Photo © Susan Wilson

 

 

  

Holly Near has an uncanny knack for getting right to the crux of the issues, connecting with every person in the room and creating musical magic with her charismatic personality and impressive talent. Tim Seelig, Artist director of The Women’s Chorus of Dallas and Turtle Creek Chorale

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On emma’s revolution:

The epitome of great, contemporary political music Sing Out!

Every single song [in Hands] is full of heart, soul, and verve, and I still can't listen to the whole thing without crying while trying to sing along — a sign of a true masterpiece. Kathyrn LaMar, San Francisco Folk Magazine