Political songs with Dave Rovics (USA) supported by The Lurkers
Friday 31st July 2009

By Mithra Cox
Posted Monday, June 22, 2009

Dave Rovics (USA) will play at the Harp Hotel, Tempe on Friday 31st July, supported by local trouble-makers The Lurkers

David Rovics has been called the musical voice of the progressive movement in the US. Amy Goodman has called him "the musical version of Democracy Now!" He will play at the Harp Hotel in Tempe as part of his Australian tour.

Since the mid-90's Rovics has spent most of his time on the road, playing hundreds of shows every year throughout North America, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Japan. He and his songs have been featured on national radio programs in the US, Canada, Britain, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Denmark and elsewhere. He has shared the stage regularly with leading intellectuals (Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn), activists (Medea Benjamin, Ralph Nader), politicians (Dennis Kucinich, George Galloway), musicians (Billy Bragg, the Indigo Girls), and celebrities (Martin Sheen, Susan Sarandon).

He has performed at dozens of massive rallies throughout North America and Europe and at thousands of conferences, college campuses and folk clubs throughout the world. He has loads of MP3's available for free download, as well as gig listings for the rest of his Australian tour on his website along with CDs, links, etc.

More importantly, he's really good. He will make you laugh, he will make you cry, and he will make the revolution irresistible.

The Lurkers draw on the tradition of artists and musicians who use their music for political agitation. With a line-up of banjo, double bass, guitar and occasional mandolin and harmonica, The Lurkers are influenced musically by American hillbilly and old timey music, and influenced politically by the likes of Woody Guthrie, Joe Hill, Pete Seeger and Berthold Brecht. All three Lurkers share the singing and songwriting, which means every set has a variety of styles from blues to hillbilly to mountain music or traditional folk. The Lurkers are a local band based in Sydney, Australia.