Workers Cabaret

One of the things that’s been most exciting these past few months has been the re-kindling of my love of singing and guitar-playing. And particularly my soft spot for old labour tunes and protest songs. For the first time in quite a while I’ve been running through Joe Hill and the wobbly singer-organizers, Woody Guthrie, Phil Ochs and John Prine, It’s a blast, and has reminded me how much of a difference daily singing can make to my emotional state.

And if there’s one thing better than singing, it’s someone to sing with. Meg and I have been trading songs, learning some new ones, laughing as we stumble over wrong chords and forgotten lyrics. And those are some of the moments I most look forward to with her.

So I was especially thirlled with her suggestion that we pull together a few songs and play at a Workers’ Cabaret that’s held once a month at a local bar.

Yes, The End on Commercial Drive hosts these nights of labour ballads and resistance songs, and we’ve decided to throw ourselves into the mix sometime soon. No dates yet for our own singing - first we’ve got a pick out a few songs and practice up - but May 15 is the next Cabaret. My parenting schedules might keep me away that night, but I’ll see what I can do. And in any event, Meg will check our the scene and report back. I’m excited just at the prospect of hearing about it.