Emmas' Revolution—aka Pat Humphries and Sandy O

I have endless respect for these songwriters and musicians and women of conscience. I first heard Pat Humphries' song "Keep on Moving Forward" on the bus down to New York in February 2003 (before the war). With its simple, elegant clarity I knew immediately I was hearing the voice of a master writer. In Summer 2004 I was on staff at Augusta Old Time Week, teaching fiddle, when they were on staff as part of Vocal Week, teaching songwriting. We spent many memorable evenings out on the porch, with many other friends old and new, swapping songs and fiddle tunes (and eating the remains of the healthy snacks my wife Pam had compelled me to take to Clifftop and which I hauled with me, still uneaten, to Augusta). Since then I've had a chance to interview Pat and Sandy about some of the issues and concerns of songwriting and social activism which motivated my putting this Songs of Conscience site together; I hope to have that interview transcribed or MP3'd soon for an upcoming release on the site. To me, their work is an inspiration—the epitome of social conscience wedded to musical craft, artistry and integrity. Check them out when they come to your town (or bring them there!).

David Rovics

David is a sort of today's Johnny Appleseed of political songwriters; with seemingly endless energy and in constant motion, bringing music to events around the globe. My biggest complaint about him is probably that there is only one of him (although you'd never know it from looking at his touring schedule!).

Tom Paxton

Tom is one of the veteran songwriters whose classic work we grew up with (I learned some of his songs at summer camp and in my first few guitar lessons at McCabe's Guitar Shop in Santa Monica...) but he is still going strong, still feisty and fearless and willing to tweak the nose of the powerful. His "Short Shelf Life" songs are a reminder that humor remains one of the most dangerous of arrows in the songwriter's quiver, and that ephemerality can be a blessing in disguise... And, for procrastinators and perfectionist endless polishers like me... that moving quickly is a virtue!

Pierce Woodward

Pierce is a young writer willing and able to play dangerous folk music again, thank God! One of a great crew of young neo-traditionalists that include the band The Mammals, including his pal Michael Merenda, and his occasional band the Jolly Bankers—his songs are gritty, informed, and pure old time. I just had a chance to hang and play with him some at Folk Alliance '05 in Montreal and was blown away by his new song "Palestine Hotel" hear it!

Scott Ainslie

Scott's new CD - The Feral Crow is an awesome and courageous piece of work. I'd heard about Scott for years in the old time scene as one of the great younger old time (older young time?) fiddlers, but knew he'd been mostly touring as a blues guitarist for many years. But his latest album definitely steps into Songs of Conscience territory, and is getting a lot of well-deserved recognition and airplay. I hope to write more about him soon...