Which Side?: A Protest Music Teach-Out

Which Side?: A Protest Music Teach-Out is back with another half-dozen local artists ready to dive into classic and contemporary protest songs and the meaning behind them. Which Side?: A Protest Music Teach-Out is a concert and discussion series celebrating all forms of protest music. Held at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge, the series is organized by a group of locals who know the importance of culture, and uses author James Sullivan’s book Which Side Are You On?: 20^th Century American History in 100 Protest Songs as a starting point for an exploration, and performance of songs that ask listeners to consider how music gives voice to resistance, advocacy and change.

Although the series anchors itself to the book, collaborators also contribute 21st-century music, both originals and covers. Haasan Barclay, David Champagne (Treat Her Right), Ezra Furman, Bob Pernice, Veronica Robles and Ryan Walsh (Hallelujah the Hills) are scheduled to perform on September 17. Singers will be backed by the house band, The Paid Protesters, led by Ed Valauskas, with Paul Buckley, Magen Tracy and Mike Oram. Each performer will do a song inspired by Sullivan’s book, and a song of their own.