MAGPIE Concert
Friday – December 2 - 7:00 pm
Mount Toby Concerts - 194 Long Plain Rd. (Rte. 63), Leverett, MA
www.magpiemusic.com

With a career that has spanned forty years, Magpie has traveled the globe, bringing its unique sound and breathtaking versatility to audiences everywhere. Award-winning recording artists, songwriters, musical historians and social justice activists, Greg Artzner and Terry Leonino always promise a presentation that is highly entertaining as well as provocative and deeply moving.

Magpie's songs touch on historical, cultural and social interests with a large selection focusing on Civil Rights and the environment. Terry and Greg's sound is that of two very strong voices, one female, one male, in powerful leads and two-part harmony, embellished by Terry's guitar, harmonica, mandolin and dulcimer. Theirs is a powerful sound, full of passion and fire.

This performance will focus on the story of John Brown. It will draw from their CD featuring 11 songs about the famed abolitionist, his family, friends and associates. Plans are in the making for the presentation of their one-act play of the same name on May 6, 2022.

In Greg's words: We have also tried to raise some questions about violence. Our national history is rife with violence. In our present day most of us deplore violence and take a lofty moral view of U.S. history as if our nation all along was non-violent. Nothing could be further from the truth, and slavery represented one of the most violent aspects of that history, far more violent than anything Brown ever did. So the question is: when is violence, and further, violent civil disobedience, appropriate? When is a law or a government so wrong and so intransigent that it may be deemed appropriate to resort to it? Which is a greater "immorality" or a greater "evil," pro-active violence aimed at a redress of injustice or silent complicity in the injustice? How do we as a racist society deal with this story and with the legacy of slavery? From our point of view, Brown’s most important and most disquieting legacy is a call to direct action, not to violence. We believe, as people who have had the benefit of the great leaders Gandhi and King, that non-violent direct action is always best. Indeed, as we enter a new century there remain many problems in our society rooted in the negative aspects of our history which still require us to take direct action. We encourage everyone to search their own conscience and find their own way to take that action for the things they believe in. In particular, we encourage people everywhere to become involved in learning and practicing anti-racism, not just what is euphemistically referred to as non-racism. In our opinion, if you’re not part of the solution to racism, you’re part of the problem.

Suggested donation $15 to $25
Reserve seats at diacrowe@yahoo.com or call 413-336-2589

COVID -19 Policy: Masks are required indoors. Proof of Vaccination for the virus is no longer required. Measures we have taken at the concerts include reduced room capacity to 50 people and distancing of seating from others. We also use two room purifiers.