Lupe, Atmosphere join RNC-targeted Labor Day fest
Posted on August 12th, 2008 – 12:16 PMBy Chris Riemenschneider
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“Superstar” rapper Lupe Fiasco, Mos Def, Billy Bragg and our very own Atmosphere have been added to the lineup at the Sept. 1 union-sponsored Labor Day festival on Harriet Island during the Republican convention, joining the previously announced Steve Earle, Tom Morello and Allison Moorer. Tickets are on sale for the labor-friendly price of $10 for the event, now called Take Back Labor Day. You can get them through Ticketmaster or www.TakeBackLaborDay.com.
I’m guessing that former Sen. John Edwards, who was previously advertised to appear at the Labor Day fest, won’t be making it.
What do you guys think of these obviously anti-GOP-leaning concerts (”progressive” is usually as political as they’re claiming to be)? Others include the Ripple Effect with Michael Franti & Spearhead, Matisyahu, Anti-Flag, Dead Prez, I Self Devine and more at the capitol grounds on Sept. 2, and the ProVention rally on Aug. 31 inside/outside O’Gara’s with the New Standards, Honeydogs, Cloud Cult, Haley Bonar, Maria Isa and more. And of course some old band called Rage Against the Machine is playing the Target Center on Sept. 3.
Do you think these events will have much impact on the RNC or serve much purpose? Will you attend because of their causes, the music, or both? Or will you stay away?Â
6 Responses to "Lupe, Atmosphere join RNC-targeted Labor Day fest"
These shows have fantastic lineups (especially the Harriet Island Labor Day show) but I believe their political impact will be marginal. Right-wingers will stay away from these events like the plague, so these artists will basically be preaching to the choir.
I agree that the Harriet Island line up is spectacular. Music (or a musical genre) cannot a movement make. See the punk rock genre for exhibit A.
That said, the reason that these shows will be meaningful and can have a political impact is that they can inspire “the choir” to take action on their political beliefs. This is hardly just preaching to the choir.
With the $10 ticket price my fiancée and I are considering attending. Billy Bragg is worth more than that by himself.
The artists may be preaching to the choir, but I don’t think that will stop Republicans from attending. Especially the RATM show.
I don’t think these shows will ‘inspire’ the left much, either. I went to the last Tibetan Freedom Concert show in Alpine Valley, a left-leaning event if there was one. Something like 20,000 people showed up. Mike D made a passionate appeal to the crowd during the Beastie Boys set to show up in Chicago the next day to protest the Chinese ambassador’s presence there and to let the guy know the treatment of Tibet would not be tolerated anymore. Everybody cheered.
The next day 50 people showed up to protest.
I’m not sure how these concerts in St. Paul will have a significant meaning, given that at this point, most people have decided on the candidate they want to vote for already.
i think the events are more to give us lefties something constructive and fun to do instead of just sitting around being pissed off at the headaches being caused by all of the RNC traffic/hoopla/crowds.
that’s how i see it anyway.
also a statement that they can have their big old party in our backyard, but that doesn’t mean we have to like it.
if the RNC is what it takes to get a bunch of great shows (many outdoor even), then that’s fine by me!
sure beats the RNC’s actual music lineup (Daughtry @ Epic, Sammy Hagar @ First Ave, Leann Rimes, Beach Boys (ok, the BB of the 60’s and 70’s would be fine, and prolly not playing for the RNC, etc.)
Which BB lineup is it? The one with Mike Love, or the one without? :p
I see RATM’s show in Denver is free as part of a music fest thing. Tough to imagine they couldn’t have found an organization here to do the same.
Nate, it wasn’t about finding an organization… there was already a group (i believe some of the same people who booked the Ripple Effect show?) one in place trying to get them a venue…
they were denied both the State Capitol and Harriet Island multiple times due to already increased security budgets in St. Paul
i can’t really think of any possible spaces in Minneapolis that they could have used to host a free show of that size
also, it appears Lupe is no longer playing the Take Back Labor Day festival…
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