The org I work for, Future of Music Coalition, is getting its inauguration on with a bunch of kick-ass Windy City bands coming to rock D.C. on January 19. I'm too lazy (and busy!) to spin it, so here's the press release from Chicago's Hideout club (the awesome folks putting on the show). If you're in the District, come on by and help us celebrate!
Chicago musicians unite to celebrate inauguration in DC!
The Hideout and Interchange are thrilled to announce The Big Shoulders Ball: Chicago Celebrates Change. This celebration of citizen politics, independent music and Windy City civic pride will take place on the eve of the presidential inauguration—Monday night, Jan. 19—at the Black Cat in Washington, DC.
Featured performers at the Big Shoulders Ball include:
Andrew Bird
Tortoise
Waco Brothers
Eleventh Dream Day
Jon Langford
Sally Timms
David "Honeyboy" Edwards
Ken Vandermark
Freakwater
Icy Demons
Judson Claiborne
plus special guests to be announced.
On the Web, tickets go on sale via blackcatdc.com on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 4:00 p.m. CT. Cost is $50 with a portion of proceeds going to the Chicago Public Schools marching bands program and the Future of Music Coalition. In Chicago, tickets may be purchased at the Hideout. Ball-goers are encouraged (but not required!) to wear vintage, thrift-store, hand-me-down and ex-bridesmaid formal attire.
The Big Shoulders Ball represents a culmination of activities by the Hideout and Interchange during the 2008 election cycle. Interchange volunteers registered more than 1,500 voters at the Pitchfork Music Festival and the Hideout Block Party. The Hideout hosted fundraisers for Barack Obama and weekend GOTV carpools to Wisconsin and Indiana.
In addition to presenting the Big Shoulders Ball itself, the Hideout has chartered two buses to transport performers, staff, friends and participants in its GOTV activities to the DC area and back.
Hideout co-owner Tim Tuten is ecstatic about the ball. "Since the first Interchange Festival on the street in front of the Hideout in 2004, we have dreamed of the day that we could all celebrate a new direction for our country," Tuten says. "Of course we never dreamed that the person leading that movement would be a local guy from right here in Chicago. Our city's musicians, artists, writers and volunteers were part of the first wave of this ground-breaking campaign. They are the heart of our club's community. There was no way that we could miss this historic event."
The Hideout is a live music venue that supports cutting-edge creative artists. It has been nationally recognized as one of the best live music venues in the country, as well as one of the most politically progressive. Its staff and artists share a belief in artistic freedom and socially responsible business practices.
Interchange is a nonpartisan, all-volunteer effort to engage citizens in the democratic process through underground music and art. Interchange works with artists, performers, venues, and fans to mobilize individuals as enfranchised and informed voters who realize the value of civic participation and seize their power to organize, advocate, volunteer and vote.
Yeah, Tortoise! And Andrew Bird, too! And some Mekons!
Damn, I wish that was happening in Chicago! Honeyboy Edwards is awesome, as are a lot of those guys (get there early for Judson Claiborne). Sounds like fun.
I might have to jump on the jet plane to DC for that one.
[...] the eve of the inauguration Ted Leo, Tortoise and Andrew Bird are playing a show, dubbed The Big Shoulders Ball. It sure would be fun to be in D.C. for all the [...]
tortoise!!