Solidarity Rock

Solidarity Rock is an artist run organization working to partner musicians, artists and creative people in Cuba, Canada and eyond. Since 2008, we have been working to collect instruments and musical equipment to help our friends in Cuban rock bands find their own way through music.

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Release: CANADIAN MUSICIANS UNITE TO RAISE MONEY AND EQUIPMENT FOR CULTURAL EXCHANGE IN CUBA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:
Drew McIntosh
Solidarity Rock
780-902-9696
info@solidarityrock.com
SolidarityRock.com

CANADIAN MUSICIANS UNITE TO RAISE MONEY AND EQUIPMENT FOR CULTURAL EXCHANGE IN CUBA

Edmonton, AB, February 23, 2001 – Solidarity Rock, a non-profit society based in Edmonton, Ab, which partners Canadian and Cuban rock bands and fans is pleased to announce its upcoming benefit series and Cuban rock tour. Rock bands in Vancouver, Edmonton and Winnipeg are asking the public to clean out their closets and bring donations of used instruments and other musical equipment to the Solidarity Rock gear drive shows happening this spring. All donated implements will be shipped to Cuba and distributed among rock bands in the centre of the country. Details as follows: February 25, 2011, High Class Low Lifes, The Thrashers – The Cavern, 112 Osborne Street, Winnipeg, MB, March 4, 2011, SubCity and Vibrating Beds – Times Change(d) - Winnipeg, MB, March 11, 2011, Kids On Fire, The Republic of Champions, Pink Slips & Terrorist – The Royal Albert Arms, 48 Albert Street Winnipeg, MB, March 18, 2011, AK-747s, The Receptionists, Antiparty – Lana Lou’s, 362 Powell Street, Vancouver, BC, April 21, 2011, Lineup TBA – The Crown and Anchor, Edmonton, AB, May 7, 2011, Lineup TBA - Edmonton, AB

From March 24-April 3, 2011, Winnipeg’s Kids on Fire will become the third band ever to tour Cuba. They will play 6 concerts and appear on 2 television programs as well as local and national radio appearances. This tour will break new ground. All dates will be with Trinidad Cuba’s ARRABIO. This will be the first time a Cuban rock band has toured Cuba.

Rock and Roll was once banned as counter-revolutionary. Musicians were targeted and their concerts outlawed. Cuba’s laws changed, but rock remained unofficially taboo. Punk rock as a musical style and personal philosophy has existed in Cuba for over 15 years, struggling to exist in an environment where basic equipment does not.

There have only ever been two rock tours through Cuba, and both of them have been done by Solidarity Rock members. The organization was founded by Drew McIntosh, the documentary filmmaker who made 7and7is… Una Vez Por La Vida, following 7and7is on the first ever tour of Cuba. Two years later, brought the first official Solidarity Rock tour across Cuba with Edmonton’s SLATES playing 10 shows in 14 days in January 2010. Over the past few years, there has been a groundswell of enthusiasm for rock n roll, and there are many more bands and shows now than there ever has been before. We believe our actions will produce untold opportunities for Cuban youth to define themselves in the face of a changing world.

For more information on Solidarity Rock, please contact Drew McIntosh at 780-902-9696 or info@solidarityrock.com. For details on Winnipeg benefit, contact Kids on Fire at info@kidsonfiremusic.com, for Vancouver, contact Rob Nuclear of the AK-747s robito@gmail.com.

Solidarity Rock partners Cuban and Canadian musicans and fans to create a better world for us all. Through benefits and ground breaking musical tours, Solidarity Rock is bringing the promise of inclusion and freedom that exists within Rock and Roll. Solidarity Rock is an arts group with no political affiliations or positions. Our work is about music and art.
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