Dear Friends,

Compassion for the suffering of those in Israel and Palestine is calling me to respond. So today, on All Saint’s Day and Day of the Dead, I have called my representatives in Washington, DC (202-225-3121), as has my husband Scott. We are demanding that they advocate for a ceasefire or at least a pause to the fighting to allow for a sufficient level of humanitarian aid to reach the suffering Palestinians, half of whom are children. We’ve told them that we want our tax dollars to stop paying for weapons used to kill innocents in our name.

And here I talk to you and share my songs. It’s what I can do.

I just had a request to use Ashes and Smoke for a conference in Germany. What I share with you above is the shortened version of Ashes and Smoke that can be used more as a chant, or as a kind of incantation. Here is a link to a video of the dance I created for Ashes and Smoke. The tune has been changed some, but it will give you an idea of the form of the dance. The full song is on my CD, Where I Stand, and was written in response to the violence of 9/11,

I’ll be in Centralia on Nov. 11 for a concert sponsored by the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), commemorating the incident that I write about in my song, Centralia, 1989 (as sung by Joe Weihe) which is on my album, Washington Notebook. The 7:00 p.m. concert will include Jess Grant, Mark Ross, and Aaron Jesch. The poster and the song appear below.

May our memories of the past inform how we turn our compassion into action.

Linda

Here’s Scott:

I had such fun revisiting this March 4th concert during the editing process!  Whereas those of us who were at the FireHouse had a couple of hours at the actual event itself, I had the luxury of immersing myself in this wonderful event, and I came out feeling like I’d been bathed in joy.  

After editing out most of the microphone adjustments, musician transitions, intermission, blank spaces, and clumsy transitions which are inevitable in any live concert, and adding only a very few visual and audio enhancements at various points, what remains is the essence of this wonderful community event - the sort of “maple syrup moments” if you will, of a time that was not only heartwarming but which ended up raising over $1,500 for the Bellingham Food Bank.

So I sincerely hope you take some time to listen to and enjoy this video recording.  Whether or not you were in attendance at the FireHouse on March 4th, this is your chance to have your very own command performance of the concert!  The recording quality is excellent thanks to the skill and attention of recording guru Phil Heaven, so go ahead and listen to a little of it, fix lunch or supper, then come back and treat yourself to a little more after watching the evening news, or on your phone just before you go to bed.  Next morning, listen to another song or two as you fix your tea or coffee.  Take your time to take it in.  

However you do it, I promise you it will be a tonic for a blue day, and a supplement to a sunny one.  Enjoy!

Bellingham Food Bank Fundraiser and CD Release Concert

Part of that fun, too, also extended beyond the event to being able to hand over to the Food Bank the money that was raised through ticket sales and donations. The picture above is me delivering the check you see to BFB’s Administrative staffer, Erin Vonnahme. And in case you’re a numbers nerd like me, directly above is a snippet of how we arrived at the amount donated,

Scott Slaba

You can view the short, 3-minute trailer to the “Here’s to the Women” performance above. For more information on booking a showing of this film, please contact me: www.lindasongs.com

Thank you!!! And please share!

Linda Allen 

Women’s Suffrage

One-hundred years ago, Suffragists were state by state launching their final campaigns to secure the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment.  And then the Pandemic struck, active from 1918 through 1920.  As today, people were told to wear masks and to stay home.  In 1920, Carrie Chapman Catt was still trying to recover from the flu when she made her way to Nashville for the final push in a dramatic battle for passage. 

I’m happy to announce that my 53-minute film of “Here’s to the Women” and the trailer (see above) are now complete! It premiered at Seneca Falls Women’s Rights Historical Park on August 23rd, and is now available for individual or group showings.

You are invited to visit our Suffrage Page to find information about the virtual program, explore both traditional and my more recently composed music of Suffrage, books, movies, links and a host of other Suffrage resources.  You can also visit our store to see other Suffrage products: jewelry, note cards and more. 

Be safe and celebrate our victories.  And, as always, may we honor our ancestors by continuing their work for justice.

Linda