Monday, April 14, 2008

Bravo! Come down for “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED”!

“MISSION ACCOMPLISHED” EVENT
MARKS FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF IRAQ WAR’S END

THIRD MAN, GIANT BEAR,
ANTIQUE CURTAINS,
AND DAN MONTGOMERY
TO PLAY FREE OUTDOOR EVENT DOWNTOWN,
FEATURING CLASSIC PROTEST SONGS AND ORIGINAL MATERIAL

SATURDAY, MAY 3, BEGINNING AT 2:00 P.M.
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC,
NEAR THE NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MORE INFO:
April 8, 2008
901 481 5104

Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed. And now our coalition is engaged in securing and reconstructing that country. --George W. Bush, May 1, 2003

MEMPHIS—On Saturday, May 3, we commemorate the fifth anniversary of this historic moment with “Mission Accomplished: Five Years Later,” an afternoon of free music and free thought. Memphis artists Dan Montgomery, Antique Curtains, Giant Bear, and The Third Man will take the stage on the grounds near South Main Street and Nettleton Avenue, near the National Civil Rights Museum, to perform a selection of classic and contemporary protest music.
“Mission Accomplished: Five Years Later” is an outdoor event, free and open to the public.

The artists:
Dan Montgomery: "Montgomery's ability to spot people you'd never notice and turn them into characters you can't resist is uncanny." –Cosmik Debris.

Antique Curtains: “Perfectly Wire-d songs with an arty, angular approach that will leave you panting for more.” –vicitimoftime.com

Giant Bear: “This highly touted Memphis-based quintet throws big band, bluegrass, country and Bob Dylan into a blender with unpredictable and exhilarating results.” –Creative Loafing
The Third Man: "Smart pop is hard to come by, and the Third Man's latest release, ‘Among the Wolves,’ is borderline brilliant.” –Commercial Appeal

Key Points:
 While Memphis’ activist community have staged and/or taken part in numerous rallies and protests opposing the Iraq War, this is the first event to include significant participation by Memphis’ independent music community.

 Each band/artist will be performing a mix of classic “protest” rock music (Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Rolling Stones, etc.) as well as original music.

 Yes, we are doing this to take advantage of the many thousands of people who will already be downtown for Beale Street Music Festival.

 No, we are not trying to position ourselves as a competitor to that event. This is a locally-focused alternative to mark an important date in the history of our nation’s propaganda.

 3,874 American lives have been lost since May 1, 2003—a date that President George W. Bush arbitrarily declared “an end” to the Iraq War. (Source: www.antiwar.com/casualties)

 Tennessee has lost 93 men and women in the war. (Source:projects.washigtonpost.com/fallen )

 As our country slips farther into recession, the long-term economic burden of the war on American taxpayers is currently estimated as $1 – 5 billion. (Source: www.alternet.org/waroniraq)

Photos, MP3s, press materials and artist interviews available
by contacting Kerry Hayes, kerry.hayes@gmail.com or 901 481 5104.

No comments: