Rise Up Singing in Memory of Pete Seeger

Hi folks,I am sure that you have been as touched as I have by the many trips to Pete Seeger since his recent death. We will have a special Rise Up Singing evening where we will concentrate on his legacy of song and community singing. Ed Britt is planning to attend with his banjos will lend some authenticity to the evening! Here is the press release I sent this snowy morning to the area media. In addition, if you can put up some flyers, please let me know. Read below for other news:

Rise Up Singing

Wakefield’s Rise Up Singing group salutes the memory of Pete Seeger on Friday, February 21 at 7:30 PM. As Seeger wrote in the introduction of the Rise Up Singing book: “Once upon a time, wasn’t singing a part of everyday life? As much as talking, physical exercise, and religion. Our distant ancestors, wherever they were in this world, sang while pounding grain, paddling canoes or walking long journeys. Nowadays we tend to put all these things in boxes. Can we begin to make our lives once more ‘all of a piece?’” We believe that Seeger’s life was “all of piece” as he inspired our gathering for monthly singing as he inspired so many others. Come sing the songs he made popular from "Goodnight, Irene" to "Where Have All the Flowers Gone."

Rise Up takes place at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Wakefield, located at 326 Main Street, across from the library. Singers and instrumentalists of all ages are welcome to this informal and spirited evening of shared music making. Rise Up Singing is a sort of “round robin” singing circle, inspired by but not limited to the Rise Up Singing book edited by Peter Blood and Annie Patterson. The group was founded and is led by the minister of the church, Rev. Maddie Sifantus who is also a professional singer. There is a free will offering (suggested donation $5). Please bring a non-perishable item for the Food Pantry. Parking is behind the church, behind the Town Building, or on the street. For more information, call Reverend Maddie Sifantus at her home office: 508-358-7091, email her at msifantus@uuma.org or leave a message on the church answering machine (781-245-4632).

Courtesy photo: In photo, Ed Britt. Taken by Miriam Morales