The Ash Grove, Beyond November and Sunday, July 12th

Dear Friends, 

 

A year ago, the Ash Grove celebrated its 50th birthday with a 3-day festival at UCLA, hugely successful

in every respect.  The question was, what was next.  I spoke opening night and while saying this new, vibrant era, reminiscent of that of the 1960's era which spawned the club needed a contemporary 'Ash Grove' , I was acutely aware of the expenditure of time, energy and money in running a club, let alone establishing one.  Two or three unsolicited offers came about as a result of the festival, but considering the above, I discussed it with the Ash Grove Board, and fashioned a different path, more mobile, more targeted and directly responsive to the vast energy of the election campaign.

 

We planned and waited until after the campaign itself, appropriately opening this new phase five days after

President Obama's inauguration.  Since then, we've developed a troupe of great, local artists touring So. California with spectacular, free shows, combining great art with a message of social and political

activism.  Our slogan is "Party with a Purpose." We enthuse, entertain and inform, and will be putting on a large, outdoor festival in late summer, probably in Leimert Park. 

 

We will then continue the tour, primarily in working class areas in So. Cal.  We're also now working with local unions in presenting Anne Feeney's upcoming show supporting single-payer health care, our own signal issue at these events.  This is opening doors, in many ways.  We have gone Beyond November.

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What we are doing, almost uniquely, is critical to the formation of a progressive movement. Who can deny that movement is needed now or the ability and dedication of the Ash Grove in doing this part of it, as we've done for 50 years. 

 

Though all the artists are committed, we  provide decent, equal honoraria and pay all expenses of these free shows.  We've done it with volunteers and money from the sale of the Ash Grove historic tapes to Wolfgang's Vault, will need a couple of paid staffers for the festival who could dramatically help development of the tour

following that.  At some point, we'll run out if we don't raise decent money around this fundraiser.

 

Here's a great show, with some of the best of the best - flier attached.  Hope to see a bunch of you.

 

Ed

 

 

Teresa Conboy P.R.

teresaconboypr@yahoo.com

 

 

Ash Grove Summer Intra-National Event, Sunday, July 12

Featuring Michelle Shocked, Bernie Pearl, Roy Zimmerman, Sheila Nicholls, S. Pearl Sharp,

Conjunto Los Pochos, Get Lit players, S.H.I.N.E. Mawusi drummers, Richard Montoya of

Culture Clash

 

The kickoff of Ash Grove Summer, an Intra-National series, is Sunday, July 12^th on the beautiful grounds of a private home at 939 San Vicente Boulevard (at Larkin Place) in Santa Monica, 1:30 – 5:30.   The event is an Ash Grove Foundation fundraiser for its Summer Festival in August (date/location TBD).  Performances start at 1:30 p.m. and include Michelle Shocked, blues guitarist Bernie Pearl, pianist/songwriter Sheila Nicholls, musical humorist Roy Zimmerman, poet/writer S. Pearl Sharp, S.H.I.N.E Mawusi women's drum alliance, Get Lit players – teenage wizards with poetry from the sonnets of Shakespeare to hip-hop, Conjunto Los Pochos and Richard Montoya of Culture Clash.   Tickets are $40 per person.   For information: (310) 391-5794 or AshGroveMusic.com.   You can also mail ticket requests and/or donations to Ash Grove, Box 661--037, Los Angeles CA 90066.
              The fundraiser is one of a series of community events that has been held at various cultural centers around Los Angeles since the November election and billed as "Beyond November – Party with a Purpose" - bringing together an assortment of artists, advocacy and social action organizations, to entertain, to inform and to enthuse by tapping into the vast energy for positive change sparked by the Obama campaign.   The culmination this year will be a large free Summer Festival 2009 that will feature musical guests, community artists and speakers, in addition to an area where health, housing and other service organizations will provide direct counseling, referrals and aid to people in need.   Visitors can learn about and join groups and/or actions around these critical issues.  Beyond November is sponsored

by radio station KPFK, 90.7 fm, and the Center for the Study of Political Graphics (CSPG.)

 

The Ash Grove (1958 – 1973) on Melrose Avenue in Hollywood was a pioneering musical and political venue.   The performance standards and creative interplay among musicians, young and old, produced many great artists, enriched the lives of audiences, and gave the club a leading role in the culture of a generation.   Archived Ash Grove concerts from that era are available for listening or download at WolfgangsVault.com:  http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/sv/ash-grove/AS7.html .

 

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For additional information or images of the performers, please contact:

 

Teresa Conboy P.R.

teresaconboypr@yahoo.com