Pamela Means: The Power of the Protest Song

RiverCulture is happy to announce that singer-songwriter, jazz musician, activist and educator Pamela Means will bring “The Power of the Protest Song: Our Shared History & Present Day” to Peskeompskut Park, Avenue A and Seventh Street in Turners Falls on Saturday, May 18 from 4-6pm. Part-performance, part mini-presentation, this free family-friendly public event explores the lineage of protest songs, how their meanings were transformed over time, and how they inspired cultural shifts within the realms of racial and social justice. This curated assortment of original songs and select, recognizable covers will be integrated into the presentation as a powerful demonstration of how grounding, unifying, and mobilizing protest songs can be. Additionally, Pamela will share her personal experience of becoming an artist and using her voice. Pamela’s commitment to interrogating social ills was fostered by her unique childhood. “As the adopted daughter of a white mother and black father, I learned about dismantling systems of oppression from the inside out.” Pamela has performed on 3 continents and across the country sharing stages with Pete Seeger, Neil Young, Shawn Colvin, Joan Baez, Richie Havens, Gil Scott-Heron, Adrian Belew, Violent Femmes, Holly Near and more. Learn more about Pamela at www.pamelameans.com “The Power of the Protest Song: Our Shared History & Present Day is supported by a grant from Montague Cultural Council, RiverCulture and Greenfield Cooperative Bank. Sunday, May 19 from 2-4pm is the rain date. www.riverculture.org