September 29th, 2011
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Sounds Like A Revolution by Summer Love & Jane Michener
Sounds Like a Revolution is a feature documentary about a whole new generation of activist musicians who are living proof that music is an important and powerful tool in the on going struggle for social change.
Focusing on the personal experiences of four independent musicians: Michael Franti, Fat Mike, Paris, and Anti-Flag, we come to understand their motivations and their struggles as they face a post-9/11 environment where dissent is silenced and media outlets either ignore or self-censor material before it’s released. More »
The film is a collection of live performances, political rallies, music videos and uncensored commentaries from some of the most outspoken icons in the business—folk legend Pete Seeger, The Dixie Chicks, David Crosby, Steve Earle, Jello Biafra, Ani DiFranco, Wayne Kramer (MC5) and more.
Sounds Like a Revolution offers a unique historical perspective behind the new wave of protest music sweeping North America. With exclusive footage, the film follows Michael Franti from Bagdad to San Francisco as he challenges corporate media with his radical message, POWER TO THE PEACEFUL. From apathy to activism the film profiles NOFX lead singer Fat Mike as he converts his ‘apathetic’ fan base into the first punkrock lobby force. From the concert mosh pit to Congress, the film follows Anti-Flag as they take on the US Army’s predatory recruiting practices. While Paris takes us into his revolutionary cyberworld of social activism. Sounds Like a Revolution is a testament to the power of indie artists everywhere who are committed to expressing dissent and telling the truth as they see it, whatever the consequences.
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Free F’alling at the Supermarket by Edward Anthony Gal
Free F’all Sundays is a weekly open mic that takes place at the Supermarket restaurant/club in Kensington Market, Toronto every Sunday night. The dedicated organizers, Steve York and Leh-Lo (Tony Rabalao), have successfully built up one of the most talent rich open mics anywhere. Combined with an unsurpassed community spirit and atmosphere, it has become the premier venue in Toronto for new talent.
The film captures the essence of a night at the Supermarket, and through meeting and getting to know the organizers and performers, shows how we all can benefit by being positive and helping each other out.
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Musical Concert Featuring Leh-Lo, Steven York and Guest
Leh-Lo is a singer/songwriter/musician who founded and penned songs for the Juno nominated band Joydrop. He’s played with a wide range of artists including Big Sugar, Grammy winner Thelma Houston, K-os, Bass is Base, Saukrates, KO, and Ivana Santilli to name a few. Leh-Lo is currently working on his second album to be released in 2012.
Steve York is a Canadian singer-songwriter, roots-rock artist and lead vocalist of the indie group Mercy Flight. Known for his unusual compositions and distinctive melodies, Steve also plays keyboards and blues harp in the Scenic Caves, the Dead Tuesdays and Down by Riverside. More »
Leh-Lo and Steve York started a singer/songwriter open mic night at The Supermarket in Kensington Market called Free F’all Sundays. It has grown into Toronto’s biggest open mic night, bringing a wide range of developing and established artists in the Toronto music scene, together to perform, create, interact and grow.
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Jane Michener Director of Sounds Like A Revolution
Jane Michener started her career in Prague producing short films with local artists. After returning to Toronto in 1999, Jane started Petersburg Films with Director Jay Fields. Since then, Jane has produced several internationally award winning short films.
Her most recent short, Desastre, premiered at Toronto’s International Film Festival, was screened to critical acclaim at the Palm Springs Short Film Festival, broadcast across the nation on CBC’s Canadian Reflections series and garnered her a Genie nomination. More »
Jane’s documentary career started with a serendipitous encounter with Sounds Like a Revolution’s director Summer Love. Together they created Deltatime Productions and embarked on an adventure of a lifetime. In addition to Sounds Like a Revolution, Jane is currently producing a 35mm short film in partnership with Bravo television and is in development of her first dramatic feature.
Post-screening Discussion:
“How to Start a Revolution with Music”Join in on a discussion with representatives of the film and music community to discuss:
- How corporations and governments silence dissent and effective strategies for overcoming this.
- How capitalism and oppositional culture can feed off each other. As director Michael Moore has said in reference to the corporate financing of his anti-establishment documentaries: “Capitalists will sell you the rope to hang themselves with if you can make a buck off it.”