May 2023
Donate Here to Support this Work
 
“No matter who you are, what name you choose
The miles you’ve walked in someone else’s shoes
Who you are, the work you do
Does not define our care for you
You are welcome here.”
— from "You are Welcome Here", on Emergence

Dear Friends,

What a busy time these last two months have turned out to be! In a few days we hope to have posted a link to an edited video of the wonderful March 4th concert for you to enjoy as you are able. In the meantime - here’s wishing you a happy deepening of Spring, and hopefully a joyful return to weather suitable for planting and true growth.

Linda and Scott

"Along with your song writing and music, you've passed on to me a renewed conviction to stand up to injustice and fight for those beliefs worth fighting for. And the friendship we share has helped me rekindle a much-tried optimism for humanity." Julian Smedley

"Utter bliss! Light some candles, grab the knitting needles and devote an evening to "Emergence" with Linda Allen and friends. So much to appreciate: a spectrum of emotion from outrage to tender compassion; the glorious ensemble and harmonies, and the heart of your talent and creativity throughout." Mary Koch

"Few musical journeys can inspire, rile you up, make you want to dance and ease your sleeplessness into slumber as Emergence does. I am so glad that I've seen Linda's musical bud blossom into the most excellent flower of sound." Bruce Baker

 
 

The March 4th Fundraiser and CD Release Celebration was great fun! To be surrounded by wonderful musicians, friends, and community acquaintances in such a loving and upbeat environment was incredibly special. Perhaps most important, it was an honoring of Linda and her role as songwriter, poet, and powerful musical presence in this community, and a loving recognition of the amazing body of work she has produced for over half a century, continuing right up to this remarkable CD, “Emergence.”

 
 
 

Thanks to all!!

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

A Small Vase of Flowers
 
 
I Choose
 

 
Here's to the Women

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

“To the wrongs that need resistance, to the right that needs assistance, to the future in the distance, give yourselves”
— Carrie Chapman Catt

Listen to tracks or purchase downloads from Here’s to the Women, and Failure is Impossible

 
“Whether tender or strident, lyrical or percussive, her vocal eloquence adds to the power of her lyrics and music
”
— Review, Portland Folklore Society

To listen to tracks and read about each song, click on the image above.

 
““Allen’s life work uncovers the injustice, focuses on that and brings song to help mend and move through our life cycles. Congrats to Allen on fifty years.”

”
— Chris Lunn, Ancient Victorys

“Linda Allen: Hear Her Roar”, Entertainment News Northwest, April 2019. Read the article here.

I'm so happy to let you know that "The Rainy Day Songbook" is now online here on our website!

Back in the late 1970s, when I was newly arrived in Bellingham, I put together a CETA grant to create the Rainy Day Songbook and an accompanying cassette.  I worked with the Whatcom Museum, the library, and a  host of wonderful musicians, some of whom have now passed on.  The Rainy Day Songbook is long out of print, but I recently found the master for the cassette, and Phil Heaven re-mastered it.  With copyright considerations, it is not available to download, but you can listen to it all.  The Songbook is only available used, but some of the highlights are also online.

I have just loved hearing these voices from out of the past. For a taste of the fun stuff that’s in this collection, click on on the audio track to “Silver Tip” just to the right.

To access all the songs on the album, go to our Washington, My Home link and click the ‘Listen” button.

Have fun!

To listen to an archive of the Rainy Day Band in concert:

 

 

The Rainy Day Band