The annual brass-band festival is back in Somerville this weekend, and will be making a swing through Providence on Monday for the second year in a row. Press release is after the jump. Festival runs from Friday though Sunday at Davis Square in Somerville, then heads down here.
Monday — The event begins with performances at India Point Park from 1pm to 5:30pm. At 6pm the parade departs from the India Point pedestrian bridge, continuing down Wickenden Street to South Water Street where the bands will play at a block party from 7pm to 11pm.
PROVIDENCE, RI – On October 12, 2009, Providence will proudly host thirteen activist street bands from around the world for the second PRONK! Providence Honk Fest. The event begins with performances at India Point Park from 1-5:30pm. At 6:00, the parade departs from the India Point Pedestrian Bridge, continuing down Wickenden Street to South Water Street, where the bands will play at a block party from 7-11:00 pm.
Participating bands include: Pink Puffers Brass Band (Rome, Italy); Banda Roncati (Rome, Italy); Hungry March Band (Brooklyn, NY); Pinettes Brass Band (New Orleans, LA); Brass Messengers (Minneapolis, MN); Rude Mechanical Orchestra (New York, NY); Black Bear Combo (Chicago, IL); Environmental Encroachment (Chicago, IL); Titanium Sporkestra (Seattle, WA); Minor Mishap (Austin, TX); Yellow Hat Band (Seattle, WA); Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band (Somerville, MA); What Cheer? Brigade (Providence) and Extraordinary Rendition Band (Providence).
These brass, reed, percussion, and dance bands, having germinated in the streets of the world’s seething metropolises, will bombard Providence after the HONK! Festival of activist street bands in Davis Square, Somerville. Non-musical performers include: Circus Theatrics, The RISD Pink Bikes, The Woolies, Sweat Logistics, and the Excuse Me Sircus.
Joyous community bands have begun to emerge in every corner of the world from the ashes of modern-day gloom. Blending traditions of second line and klezmer, funk and Bollywood, mardi gras and carnival, these bands honk their horns, beat their drums, and wave their flags in the streets to reclaim public space for the purpose of revelry. All over the world, they provide the people’s soundtrack for community gardens, public school yards, puppet shows, pride parades, worker rallies, peace marches, and neighborhood fundraisers. At HONK!, 25 of these bands will come together, for one weekend, to delineate a blissful sovereign state in the streets of Somerville. A group of these bands will parade through Providence after HONK! to continue the revolutionary party. Learn more about HONK! at www.honkfest.org.