Upcoming Jen Chapin gigs, from Brooklyn NY to Paris France

March 22, 2012 Happy Spring everyone! Last Saturday I brought my boys to a march celebrating the 6 month anniversary of the Occupy Wall Street movement and heralding the “American Spring.” While Van napped on my back, Maceo joined the chants and got a deluxe ride on the shoulders of a very kind man from Senegal whose name amid the festivities sounded something like “Hamish”. We also spoke with a matter-of-fact grandmother from New Jersey who is active in the Occupy Student Debt movement ($1 Trillion and counting), and discussed all the decent investment bankers we know with a man from Queens bearing the sign “St. Patrick — drive all the snakes from Wall Street!” We were given balloons and flowers, and had a grand time. I have joined the movement in my own small way for many reasons, with long-time concern about widening income inequality and the reckless and rapacious consolidation of the food system around the world, in admiration of its decentralized and non-cult-of-personality nature (“leaderless and leaderful,” Cornel West called it), in celebration of its many means of expression from music to good food to the famous “mic check,” with excitement in the flowering of complex connections being made and alternatives being explored, and with fervent belief in the commons. It is those things that we hold in common as a society -- those institutions that require the participation of the community to thrive and tax-based funding from the government to survive -- that offer stability to our society and enable economic growth, entrepreneurship and creativity. Parks, transportation networks, water supplies, public safety, scientific research, health clinics, arts and culture groups, and so on. The commons, and those who work in them, have been under attack in recent years, both directly and through the casino mentality in the financial system that has gambled with much of our shared resources. I join the Occupy movement as part of the push back against these damaging trends. For my family these days, it is all about public schools, and the beloved and sometimes beleaguered local elementary school which has become a nurturing locus of our community and family life. The arts, among other vital programs, have been cut from our school budget, and the community is working together to restore them, bit by bit. This coming March 31st will see another one of our fund- and friend-raising House Concert Benefits for PS9 Arts Programs, also featuring the contemporary classical music of fellow PS9 parent and acclaimed composer Sean Hickey. I have a lot of other interesting shows coming up — please do scroll down the list! -- with the latest addition to the schedule just coming in from Fort Myers, Florida. It’s rare that we get to make the trip to the sunshine state, so before I book our tickets, please let me know if you’d like us to add another Florida date at your home or other special space, on Saturday, April 28th.. If you have a moment, I’d love to hear from you with a quick reply. Thanks for listening! Jen PS — One of the big inspirations to me in songwriting is the incomparable Bill Withers. I highly recommend that you seek out this powerful documentary about him, “Still Bill”, that says so much about art, family, and roots. Upcoming Shows Saturday, March 31st * 6 – 9 pm House Concert to benefit PS9 Arts Programs Also featuring the contemporary classical music of Sean Hickey Our place, near Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn * 347 432 0283 * $65 couple, $35 individual includes dinner, drinks, dessert, music and childcare! Tickets on sale now at Brown Paper Tickets Trio with Stephan Crump on acoustic bass and Jamie Fox on electric guitar Friday, April 20th * 8 pm An Evening of Chapin Music featuring a Tribute to HARRY CHAPIN with The Chapin Family WSC Performing Arts Center 12901 15 Mile Rd., Sterling Heights MI 48312 * 586-294-4673 $30, $35 -- including : Tom Chapin, Jen Chapin, The Chapin Sisters a benefit for Hope Center of Macomb Please bring non-perishable food! tickets on sale now at (586) 491-2924 Duo with Jamie Fox on electric guitar Saturday, April 21st * 8 pm C3 Exchange presents Grand Haven Community Center — Acacia Auditorium 421 Columbus Ave., Grand Haven MI 49417 *616.842.2550 * $15 adv./$20 door (tickets available here) With very special guest Brian Vander Ark Duo with Jamie Fox on electric guitar Sunday, April 22nd * 10 am C3Exchange, Inclusive Spiritual Community Grand Haven Community Center 421 Columbus Ave., Grand Haven MI 49417 We’ll be contributing some songs to the mix, with an Earth Day theme in mind! Duo with Jamie Fox on electric guitar Friday, April 27th * 7:30 pm Foulds Theatre /Alliance for the Arts 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers FL 33901 * 239-334-7007 Ext. 130 $30 ticket, to benefit Harry Chapin Food Bank Duo with Jamie Fox on electric guitar Saturday, May 12th * time tba Chez Anne 41, rue du Ruisseau, 75018 Paris France * +33 (1) 42234203 Duo with Stephan Crump on acoustic bass Friday, May 25th * 8 pm Kennett Flash 102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square PA 19348 * 484-732-8295 $15 advance/$18 at the door — TICKETS ON SALE NOW Trio with Stephan Crump on acoustic bass and Jamie Fox on electric guitar Saturday, June 2nd * 7:30 pm Concerts at Bonnie Branch Ellicott City, MD for more information and/or to reserve please contact Ryan Simmons at Concert@BonnieBranch.org Trio with Stephan Crump on acoustic bass and Jamie Fox on electric guitar Thursday, June 28th * time tba 89 North Patchogue NY helping to open this brand new venue! with opening sets from Cassandra House and Silverqueen Full band!