Bittersweet Christmas Band, 2012 Performances

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Margaret Nelson

“The holidays are a mixed bag, and so is the Bittersweet Christmas Band. Traditional artists Phil Cooper, Margaret Nelson and Kate Early join forces with songwriter Susan Urban for a show with every possible perspective on the holiday season, from the reverent to the ridiculous. Gorgeous harmonies, great instrumentation—an act not to be missed.”

Bittersweet Band will perform this holiday season in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan. We present Unitarian-Universalist services as well as concerts.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23
JUST GOODS FAIR TRADE MARKETPLACE, Rockford, IL, 7pm, 201 7th St, 815/965-8903 or see http://www.justgoods.info

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24
COMMUNITY CONCERT for Park Forest Unitarian Universalist Community Church, Park Forest, IL, 7pm, 70 Sycamore, 708/481-5339 or diane@uuccpf.org, www.uuccpf.org

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25
SERVICE for Park Forest Unitarian Universalist Community Church, Chicago, IL, Topic TBD, 10 a.m., 70 Sycamore, 708/481-5339 or diane@uuccpf.org, www.uuccpf.org

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1
COMMUNITY CONCERT for Lakeshore Unitarian Universalist Church, Manitowoc, WI, 7pm, 620 Park Street, Manitowoc, WI, 920/686-0643 or luuf.parkstreet@gmail.com, http://sites.google.com/site/parkstreetluuf

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2
SERVICE for Lakeshore Unitarian Universalist Church, Manitowoc, WI, “The Dawn of Hope Returning,” 10AM, 620 Park Street, Manitowoc, WI, 920/686-0643 or luuf.parkstreet@gmail.com, http://sites.google.com/site/parkstreetluuf

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7
TWO WAY STREET COFFEE HOUSE, 1047 Curtiss, Downers Grove, IL, 8:15PM, 630/969-9720 or info@twowaystreet.org, www.twowaystreet.org

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8
SECOND SATURDAY COFFEEHOUSE at the Ethical Humanist Society, 7574 N. Lincoln at Howard, Skokie, IL, 8PM, 847/677-3334, www.ethicalhuman.org

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9
LISLE PUBLIC LIBRARY, 777 Front Street, Lisle, IL, 2PM, 630/971-1675, www.lislelibrary.org

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14
CONCERT FOR Kendall County Forest Preserve District, Yorkville, IL, 7pm, 110 W. Madison St., 630-553-4111, jpierson@co.kendall.il.us, or see www.co.kendall.il.us/forest_preserve.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15
THE ART GARAGE, Green Bay, WI, 7PM, 1409 Main Street, 920/448-6800, info@theartgarage.org, http://www.theartgarage.org

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16
SERVICE at Green Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Green Bay, WI, “Dance In the Dark of the Year,” 10AM, 1641 Commanche Avenue, 920/499-2344, or see www.greenbayuu.org

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21 – Private Party

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22
CRAZY WISDOM BOOKSTORE AND TEA ROOM, Ann Arbor, MI, 8:30 p.m., 114 S Main St, 734/665-2757, info@crazywisdom.net, www.crazywisdom.net

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NATO wasn’t all: January to June at a glance

Posted on October 15, 2012 by Margaret Nelson

Imagine my surprise when I realized I’d neglected my website for a full half year.  A lot of what’s kept me busy was peace and justice work: demonstrating, making banners, teaching banner making, leading Peace Sings, and writing letters to all sorts of political persons and entities, including the Chicago City Council and Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

In mid-January, I joined other protesters at Chicago’s City Council chambers for the sessions at which the Budget Committee and the Special Events Committee informed the full City Council about the preparations for the NATO summit.  Protestors sat quietly through the meetings, then spoke our comments for transcription into the Council records.  Most moving to me was an elderly World War II vet who reminded the Council that he and his buddies had risked their lives for American civil liberties, including the right to peaceably assemble and petition the government for redress of wrongs.  Later that same week, I came out to Federal Plaza in support of a Constitutional amendment to reverse the Citizens’ United decision.

February 3, Kristin Lems and I joined with West Suburban activist Dave Martin to present our fourth version of the Peace Sing at the Two Way Street, the longest-running coffeehouse in the Chicago metro area.  It was a lively evening, in front of an audience that sings along with enthusiasm.  Also in February, the Bittersweet Band began working on recording songs we’d added to our Holiday concert repertoire in the last two years.

In March I did some political phoning for a progressive Democrat running in the Illinois primary.  The response to my calls made it obvious that both local and national groups were calling for this candidate, and no-one had been keeping track of which voters had already been called.  Some who had intended to vote for him had decided to change their vote, because they’d been bothered by so many calls.  I asked the guys I was working with whether we shouldn’t quit calling; their answer was they couldn’t do that, because the big organization they worked for had decided otherwise.  My personal take on this is that the entry of big organizations into local politics is likely to lead to unintended negative results, even if the intentions of the big organization are benign.

A visit to the Holocaust Museum a few days later strengthened my determination to stand and march for American civil liberties during the NATO summit.  When the Nazis moved against the Jews, they first mocked them, then vilified them, then declared them non-citizens, revoked their civil liberties, and denied them the right to work.  It was a short step from there to declaring the Jews non-humans, and ruthlessly slaughtering them.  This is not a direction I want this country to go.

I served as an Election Judge for the Illinois primary, and will serve again in November.

 

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Ain’t Gonna Hate My Neighbor

Posted on December 27, 2011 by Margaret Nelson

My newest recording, “Ain’t Gonna Hate My Neighbor”, is now available!  After a summer of singing and playing my old Autoharp at the Evanston Farmer’s Market, I had a notion I might be ready to put out a truly solo recording, one on which I provided my own accompaniment.   Turns out I was right.  The CD contains eight traditional songs plus ten of my own compositions. My alto lead vocals are backed by Autoharp, rhythm instruments, gorgeous acapella harmonies from Patti Ecker and Tricia Alexander, and a bit of Phil Cooper’s lovely guitar playing. Full disclosure: several of my songs shamelessly promote peace, love and ecological sanity.

You can order “Ain’t Gonna Hate My Neighbor” right now  by mail from me –send a check or money order for $17.00 to: Margaret Nelson, 2206 Green Bay Road, Evanston IL 60201. If you buy three or more copies as a single purchase, send just $15.oo per CD (I will cover the cost of postage.) Within a few weeks, “Ain’t Gonna Hate My Neighbor” will also be available for purchase and download at CD Baby.

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Bittersweet Christmas Band 2011 Schedule

Posted on December 6, 2011 by Margaret Nelson

Bittersweet Christmas Band is an annual association of traditional artists Phil Cooper, Margaret Nelson, Kate Early and songwriter and “wise” woman Susan Urban. We deliver a show that presents every possible perspective on the holiday season from the reverent to the ridiculous.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25
GALLERY 28, Geneva, IL, 8PM, 28 N Fourth Street, 630/845-9673, info@Gallery28.biz, www.gallery28.biz

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26
FRONT PORCH MUSIC, Valparaiso, IN, 8PM, 505 E. Lincolnway, 219/464 4700 or fpm@frontporchmusic.com, www.frontporchmusic.com

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27
SERVICE for Park Forest Unitarian Universalist Community Church, 10AM, “Dance in the Dark of the Year,” 70 Sycamore, Park Forest, IL, 708/481-5339 or admin@uuccpf.org, www.uuccpf.org

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2
CRAZY WISDOM BOOKSTORE AND TEA ROOM, Ann Arbor, MI, 8:30PM., 114 S Main St, 734/665-2757, info@crazywisdom.net, www.crazywisdom.net

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3
COMMUNITY CONCERT for Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent, OH, 7:30 p.m., 228 Gougler Avenue, 330/673-4247, uukent@sbcglobal.net, www.kentuu.org

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4
SERVICES for Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent, OH, 9:30 and 11:15 a.m., “Dance in the Dark of the Year,” on the winter solstice and the holiday season in general.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9
HOUSE CONCERT for Bonnie & Bill Paulson, Naperville, IL, 8PM, 213 N. Sleight St., $10 Suggested Donation, 630/355-0276 or kvpal@sbcglobal.net

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10
SECOND SATURDAY COFFEEHOUSE at the Ethical Humanist Society, Skokie, IL, 8PM, 7574 N. Lincoln at Howard, 847/677-3334, www.ethicalhuman.org

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11
SERVICE for Beverly Unitarian Church, Chicago, IL, 10:30AM, “Dance in the Dark of the Year,” 10244 S. Longwood Dr., Chicago, IL, 773/233-7080 or beverlyunitarian@gmail.com, www.beverlyunitarian.org

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16
HOUSE CONCERT for Mike Tuten & Carol Huber/MadFolk, Madison, WI, 8PM, 608/274-6340 or maddog-210@charter.net

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17
THE ART GARAGE, Green Bay, WI, 7PM, 1409 Main Street, 920/448-6800, info@theartgarage.org, www.theartgarage.org

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18
SERVICE for Lakeshore Unitarian Universalist Church, Manitowoc, WI, 10AM, “Dance in the Dark of the Year,” 620 Park Street, Manitowoc, WI, 920/686-0643 or luuf.parkstreet@gmail.com, http://sites.google.com/site/parkstreetluuf

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 7-9 p.m. (central)
ON THE RADIO – Annual Holiday Hoot with other performers at Folk Festival on 90.9fm WDCB Public Radio, broadcast live from Glen Ellyn/Chicago – listen online at www.WDCB.org

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Peace Sing scheduled at Two Way Street Coffeehouse

Posted on October 29, 2011 by Margaret Nelson

Word is just in that Kristin Lems and I will be presenting our PEACE SING at the Two Way Street Coffeehouse in Downer’s Grove Friday, February 3, 2011.  We’ll be joined that evening by Dave Martin, the author of “Bring Our Soldiers Home”.  Come prepared to sing and laugh.

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Concert Cancellation notice

Posted on August 30, 2011 by Margaret Nelson

The previously announced November 3 Shameless Hussies concert has been cancelled. (One of the Hussies had necessary surgery done in late October, and would not have been able to participate in the show.)  She’s recovering nicely; we all hope to Hussy again in the not-too-distant future.

 

OCTOBER 24 CONCERT

 

The October 24 concert at Stage Left in Woodstock was a real pleasure.  Tricia Alexander has put together an excellent concert series of local, mostly female, performers sharing their musical thoughts with the audience.  Tricia introduces the concert, and does a few songs.  The guest artists follow her with short individual sets. After a  break, everyone comes on stage to perform round-robin style, with one musical idea leading to another. On the 24th, Tricia and I traded peace and justice songs, with some love and ecology mixed in.  Usual night for these concerts will be the FOURTH MONDAY of each month. Stage Left is a beautiful room with excellent sound, just to the left of the historic Woodstock Opera House on the Woodstock town square.  Be There!

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