Disturbing the Peace: A Short History of the Protest Song

Our exploration of folk music continues with a lecture by FOLK New England founder, Betsy Siggins, who will present a history of the protest song throughout the ages, accompanied by Rand Burket and Kathleen Healey, who will perform examples of this political art form. Betsy, a member of the folk music scene since 1958, who has worked at many folk organizations, such as Club Passim (previously Club 47) in Harvard Square, and has many friends in the folk field, will trace this type of music all the way back to the 1600s.

Rand Burkert is a folksinger, children’s writer, and political and ecological activist living in Cape Cod. Last November, the morning after the presidential election, he took to the streets of Orleans, Massachusetts, to sing in protest – starting with “John Henry”. Kathleen Healy is a hard-working musician & songwriter living on Cape Cod. She draws from her experience of living and raising a family near the beach for many of her songs. Some say salt water runs through her veins. She writes from the heart and her honest lyrics and often poignant subject matter lend themselves to the unique quality of her voice.

This lecture is part of our Royston Nash Music Appreciation Series, supported in part by the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod, the Mid Cape Cultural Council, and the Kirkman Trust.

This program is free but please register at cotuitlibrary.org/events or contact the Library