The Peoples' Voice Cafe 239 Thompson St, New York, NY 10012 / 212-787-3903
PVC is an alternative coffeehouse offering live and live-stream entertainment in New York City,
presenting folk, blues, jazz, rap, poetry, spoken word, storytelling, theater and dance since 1979.
We shine a spotlight on social issues and artists from underrepresented cultures.
LOCATION:
Advent Lutheran Church
2504 Broadway at 93rd Street
New York, NY 10025
(1, 2 or 3 train to 96th St.) adventnyc.org
Wheelchair Accessible - Elevators Available
Pete Seeger: A Birthday Tribute A Benefit Concert for WBAI* and PVC
* 99.5 FM Peace & Justice & Labor Union Community Radio
Pete Seeger inspired the American Folk Music Revival, performing throughout the world and advancing and supporting music and musicians in the struggle for peace, civil rights, workers rights, and the environment. He is known for his work fighting the Red Scare, and with MLK, Jr., and the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater. Tonight we will celebrate Pete's extraordinary music and life in a benefit concert for NYC's WBAI Peace, Justice, Labor and Community radio station, and the Peoples' Voice Cafe.
Reverend Billy & The Stop Shopping Choir are a radical performance community based in New York City. Reverend Billy Talen delivers sermons with spark and satire. Members of the choir come from many different creative and activist backgrounds. They are grounded in the work of Justice and in service to the Earth, and love to sing together. Earthalujah!
Judy Gorman's songs are rooted in blues, folk and jazz. Judy has performed with Pete Seeger, Harry Belafonte, Sweet Honey, Odetta, Meryl Streep, Whoopi Goldberg, Richie Havens, and more.
Pete Seeger said, "Judy Gorman shoots the arrow straight to the heart; she's a wonderful singer and musician."
"Real music in a sea of mediocrity." - German Public Radio.
Mario Cancel-Bigay is a marvelous poet, singer-songwriter, and a virtuoso on the cuatro, Puerto Rico's national instrument. As an artist and NYU professor of ethnomusicology, Mario's songs focus on anti-colonialism, social justice and love.
In approaching the cello, Barry Kornhauser draws on a parallel musical incarnation as a bass player and guitarist to inform his musical options, the primacy of accompaniment and playing in a rhythm section with the added bonus of a singular melodic voice.
Robin Burdulis is a multidimensional percussionist who The New York Times observed "plays her percussion instruments like a symphony."
The NYC Metro Raging Grannies promote global peace, justice and social and economic equality by raising awareness through song and humor. The Grannies are hell-raisers despite their mild mannered exteriors. Non-violent but dangerously funny, musical, and perilously visionary! mercy@comicbookradioshow.com
Bracha Lieberman is a social worker, activist, occasional songwriter and actor, and Board President of Peoples' Voice Cafe. Bracha believes that it's important to start your day off with an act of kindness, that community counts and in the power of song to bring people together!
Chris Lang is a singer/songwriter and founding member of the activist band
Such As Us, which performs throughout the tri-state region at environmental and progressive festivals and events. They often played with Pete Seeger at various Clearwater events.
Master and Mistress of Ceremonies:
Bob Hennelly (WBAI) Lindsey Wilson (PVC)
SHOWTIMES:
All shows start at 8 PM, Saturdays. Doors open at 7:15.
No reservations, so come early to be assured a seat.
ADMISSION:
Suggested contribution: $20. Friends of PVC*: $12. Students & Youth: $12
Folk Music Society of NY Members: $12. Judson Memorial Church Members: $12
More if you choose, less if you can't. No one turned away for lack of money. *Friends of PVC include monthly sustainers, regular volunteers, Collective members,
performers and people who donate at least $30.
ACCESSIBILITY:
Wheelchair accessible (including bathrooms). For info call 212-787-3903.
Masks are no longer required
We will continue to offer KN95 or other high quality masks to anyone who wants one.
We use three HEPA air purifiers within the Assembly Hall.
Paul Kaplan and Rod Sinclair
Paul Kaplan and Rod Sinclair are bringing their finely crafted lyrics and tunes grounded in the terse reality of the old songs to PVC. Rod, from Fife, Scotland, now living in Denmark, has sung his songs and played guitar and 5-string banjo all over the world. He has previously toured with Dick Gaughan and fiddler Brian McNeill. Paul Kaplan's warm style and gentle humor have charmed audiences since the 1960s, when his early protest songs were published in the legendary magazine Broadside. His most well-known songs are "I Had an Old Coat," "Call Me the Whale," and "Henry the Accountant."
paulkaplanmusic.com rodsinclair.com
Tonight will start with an Open Mic!
Sign up at the show by 8:00 pm.
Carolyn Hester, with Karla & Amy Blume
Folk legend Carolyn Hester, a pioneering figure in the Greenwich Village Folk Scene, came to New York in 1955 and recorded her first album for Coral Records in 1957. Known as a fiercely independent artist, she continues the work of a lifetime using her unique empathy to translate meaningful messages for her audience in the ongoing effort to create a better world. Her honeyed voice has raised up other artists to this calling, from Bob Dylan to Nancy Griffith. Tonight she will be joined by her daughters, Karla and Amy Blume, who continue the tradition of American Folk Singer-Songwriters. "Her sensual honey-husk voice has been a model for wave after wave of female singers. It somehow always sounds both sweet and strong-hearted, alluringly feminine and fiercely independent." --Scott Alarik, Boston Globe.
Tonight's concert is supported by Folk Music Society of New York and by Folkus-NYC.
The Peoples' Voice Cafe and the Peoples' Music Network work closely together, and many of our performers and attendees are active in both organizations. We encourage you to attend the Summer Gathering of the People's Music Network on Memorial Day weekend in Groton, Mass. for our annual PMN Summer Gathering. The event begins with arrival and participatory singing on Friday. On Saturday and Sunday we'll have participatory workshops and song swaps, and a Saturday night "Collaborative Concert Round Robin" – all highlighting the role of music in progressive social change. Expect numerous opportunities to share music, sing together, and to join efforts to bring music into the heart of struggles for justice and freedom today.
Jamie Anderson
Singer-songwriter-comic Jamie Anderson has played her unique original songs in hundreds of venues in four countries. She's a multi-instrumentalist who's folk without the Birkenstocks, country without the big hair and jazz without the angst. Songs on her thirteen albums range from the serious "Beautiful," about body image, to the tongue-in-cheek "Marry Me," where she sings about wanting to marry Rachel Maddow because, really, who wouldn't? For 30 plus years she has performed at colleges, clubs, folk festivals, and pride events in 47 US states and all over Ontario. She's also the author of three books.
jamieanderson.com Facebook
Double Trouble
Celebrating 36 years of Trouble. Evy Mayer and Jean Farnworth started performing as Double Trouble in 1989.
Evy sings and plays ukulele, guitar, dumbek
and other percussion instruments, and collects popular songs of the early 1900s as well
as rounds, humorous songs, world music, singer/songwriter and children's music. Jean
sings and plays Celtic harp (32 strings, 45" tall), and 12-string guitar. She includes
Renaissance, traditional Celtic music, vintage blues, as well as songs she has written,
in her repertoire. Lyrical and haunting on one song,
and boisterous on the next, Double Trouble handles their instruments with authority and project
their voices with beauty and clarity. Twisted, yet sensitive; multi-cultural; extremely
dangerous. They have produced three albums. ukelady123.wixsite.com/evymayer
Saturday, June 21, 2025 on Governors Island
Porch Stomp on Governors Island
PVC returns to Governors Island this summer with a great lineup of some of our favorite performers.
11:00 AM - 11:40 AM
Open stage for any PVC artist
11:40 AM - 12:00 noon
Mario Cancel-Bigay
12:00 noon - 1:00 PM
Lindsey Wilson
Al Ronzoni
Joel Landy
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Steve Suffet
Barbara Rosica
Bob Malenky
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Judy Gorman
Abbey Hegerfeld
Gary Allard & David Simon
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Violizzy Taub
Pat Lamanna
Mike Glick
4:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Marie Mularczyk O’Connell & The Copper Kettle Band
Lydia Adams Davis
Songs of Freedom Sing-Along
Getting there:
You must have a ferry ticket to get onto Governors Island. Booking for June should open up on or about May 1. More Info
Sunday, June 29, 2025 at 3pm in Brooklyn
John John Brown
Sunday, June 29, 2025, Folkus-NYC will be presenting Peoples' Voice Cafe artist John John Brown in concert. John John Brown's debut album, The Road, has received international acclaim, with critics calling it "a blend of astute Americana accompanied by a quiet, reflective glow," and "so well written that every song could be a short story." Post to Wire noted that "John Prine is a clear influence in the way Brown rolls astute observations and a humorous slant into his lyrics." In recent years, John John was chosen a Kerrville New Folk winner and an Emerging Artist at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival.
Folkus-NYC takes place at the Brooklyn Art Haus at 24 Marcy Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11211. The show begins at 3:00 PM. For more information visit folkus-nyc.org or call 917-975-9762.
Our Fall Season begins September 6 with
Mario Cancel-Bigay and Rubén González & Handmade
Help The Peoples' Voice Cafe!
We are making great progress towards our fundraising goal!
A heart-felt thanks to all who have contributed so far.
If you can help, please click here.
The Peoples' Voice Cafe is supported in part by the generosity of
Peoples' Voice Cafe, started in 1979 by members of Songs of Freedom and Struggle, carries forward the vision of
using songs and performing arts to support the struggle for peace and justice.
All are impacted by the history and ongoing practice of systemic racism in this country and the continuing
brutal murders of Black Americans by police.
We stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter, outraged by the many faces of racism found in education,
healthcare, housing, jobs, poverty, criminal justice, and voting. All must be free to move about in the
"land of the free" without suspicion, harassment, or arrest.
Peoples' Voice Cafe stands committed to speak out, sing out, and work against racism, white supremacy, and
indifference.
