Oct 24: The BIPOC Good Cry

 

What:  The BIPOC Good Cry

When:  Friday, Oct 24, 7-9 p.m.

Where:  Meraki Community, 100 W 46th St., Minneapolis
(where Yoga Sanctuary is; former Solomon's Porch building)

More details on Facebook.

Setlist from 8/13 BIPOC Centered Sing about Water

Dear Friends,

If you're reading this, you probably attended the BIPOC Centered SING about Water in St. Paul on Wednesday night, August 13, 2025. Thanks so much for joining us!

Here is the list of the songs we sang with links to online recordings:

• Wade in the Water (African American Spiritual) - The Bird Sings website
• A Water Hymn (Connie Lim, aka MILCK) - Instagram video
• The Water Song* (Liz Digitale Anderson) - email goodtrouble@pointsoflightmusic.net for more details
• Rubber Ducky (sung by Ernie of Sesame Street! written by Jeff Moss) - YouTube video
• I belong (Sarina Partridge) - Bandcamp audio | also part of The Sacred Lands Playlist, a partnership with the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery: https://dismantlediscovery.org/sacred-lands-playlist/
• Oh River (Karisha Longaker of MaMuse) - YouTube video | The Bird Sings website
• Boundary Waters* (tune: Heart and Soul; text: Cory)
• Becoming Kin (Nathan Holst, inspired by Patti Krawec’s book, Becoming Kin) - YouTube reel
• Down by the Riverside (African American Spiritual) - YouTube video
• May This Body Be a Bridge (Te Martin) - YouTube video
• Waterfalls (TLC, written by Lisa Lopes) - YouTube video
• Shruti improvisation* (everyone present)
• Sitting at the Dock of the Bay (Otis Redding) - YouTube video

* no known recording online. Please share in the comments if you find one!

Here's some notes on Instruments

• CajonTab by Louson Drum - Liz has one of the Pro series. Get to know a bit of the cajon's musical history here. (Use Liz's, Conie's partner, affiliate link to get 10% off.
• Shruti Box, literally "sound" or "singing" in ancient Sankrit, replicates the sound of the Tambura, an East Asian Indian drone instrument. Part of the family of drone instruments that show up in many cultures, related to bagpipes and harmoniums. C.'s instrument is from Shrutibox.com run by Ron Kravitz of https://www.musicinthemoment.com/ in Philadelphia, PA; Ron has recently retired and is pointing folks to https://www.shrutibox.co.uk/. (Talk to C. if you're thinking about buying new or used).

Gratitude to Asha Shoffner of St. Paul Parks and Recreation and the Capital Region Watershed District for organizing this event.  

If you'd like to be added to C.'s BIPOC song circle list, please your request and email to goodtrouble@pointsoflightmusic.net.

May we sing together soon!   

C., Aimee, and Asha.

August 2025 Events: BIPOC + MMC MSP

Mon, August 11 - Heart Songs Online

Details HERE.

Wednesday August 13 - BIPOC Water Sing

Time:  6-8pm

Location:  St. Paul river location

We are inviting all BIPOC folks to the river to come sing about water!

No registration is required — just show up, bring a chair (if you want to sit), your dinner (if you want to eat), water/something to drink, and any percussion or non-amplified instruments you know how to play.

Email Asha.shoffner@ci.stpaul.mn.us for location info and the link to add songs about water that you’d like to sing!

Monday, August 25 - Singing for Liberation

Details HERE.

Wednesday, August 27 - MMC Mpls-St. Paul Gathering

Details on MMC's Events Calendar.

Thursday, August 28 - Sacred Lands SING @ Land Alliance Folk School, near Iowa City, IA

Details on MMC Events Calendar.

Friday, August 29-Monday, September 1 - Singing Rabbit @ Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage, Rutledge, MO

Details HERE.

Jul 4-6: Redefining Independence + Reweaving Belonging: a retreat for multicultural folks from rural spaces

What:  Redefining Independence + Reweaving Belonging: a retreat for multicultural folks with rural experiences

When:  Friday, July 4-Sunday, July 6, 2025 

Where:  Episcopal House of Prayer, Collegeville, MN

As multi-cultural* folks from rural settings on Turtle Island, we are immersed in a narrative of independence that isolates and weakens instead of making us strong. Out of necessity, many of us understood belonging as fitting in with low amounts of safety, comfort, and autonomy.

In this retreat, we take a step in redefining independence and reweaving belonging by sharing our stories, singing together, and dreaming our way towards a different way of being. We’ll practice belonging to self, while supporting each other’s growth as we practice becoming an interdependent community.

Jun 21: Songs In Your Body On This Land

We'd like to welcome People of the Global Majority (Black, Brown, Indigenous, People of Color, and Mixed Race) to these monthly song circles.

WHEN:  Friday, June 21, 6-8 p.m.

WHERE: Beautiful Studio, #214, 2242 University Ave W, St. Paul (more details below) 

 Hidden Falls Park (North Gate), St. Paul (map/more details below)

Facebook event

****UPDATE:  We wanted to be down by the river but it's supposed to Thunderstorm all of Friday (HELLO SOLSTICE) so we are moving indoors to the Beautiful Studio in St. Paul.

Beautiful Studio, #214, 2242 University Ave W, St. Paul

There's a parking lot in the back; you'll need to text us to get in (look for signs on the Hamden doors) and holler with questions!
No masks required this month but strongly welcomed + encouraged.

Led by GOOD TROUBLE, aka Conie Borchardt and Liz Digitale Anderson. We teach songs for joy, courage, grief, hope, and justice in the oral tradition, call and echo. You don't need to "be a singer" or "know what you're doing", you just gotta be willing to breathe and open your mouth and echo back. Maybe even move your hips and grab a shaker if you're feeling it...

Community potluck meal starting at 6 pm, singing starting at 7 pm and/or woven through

Down by the river at Hidden Falls Park; follow the north entrance drive all the way down to the parking lot and look for the SING HERE flag on the beach.

--
Photo by Mankwe Ndosi: Preparing the Unburdening Ground, Say Their Names Cemetery at George Floyd Square, Minneapolis

Setlist from April 19 Songs In Your Body On This Land @ The Beautiful Studio

Here are the songs we sang at the BIPOC+Mixed Race song circle, Songs In Our Bodies On This Land at the inclement weather location of The Beautiful Studio in the Dow Building on University Ave on Friday night, April 19, 2024 with links to online recordings for your at-home remembering pleasure.

1. Comfort* (Heather Wilson)
2. River Water Flows* (Earth Practice)
3. Let Go and Move (words: Candance Butler/music: Velma Frye)
4. One by One (Michael Stillwater)
5. One Body (Ahlay Blakely)
6. Holding Song (Ian Carrick)
7. We breath together / Stop the occupation (adrienne maree brown) plus harmonies and Ceasefire refrain by Rise Choir Collective
8. The Cure for the Pain (text inspired by Rumi; tune: Yam)
9. It’s not yours to carry anymore* (Liz Digitale Anderson)
10. PLZ PLZ Universal Soul (Lyndsey Scott)
11. The Way Knows the Way (Lyndsey Scott)

* no online recording available. If you discover one, please let us know in the comments!

Here are some of the Resources we promised to share: 

• 
  The World Wide Labyrinth Locator - an online resource to find labyrinths near you and around the world that are in public and private places.  
• My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem - Book recommended by Pauline.
• About the Card Decks: Having a tangible tool to sit with and reflect our feelings back to us helps us slow down, process, and make space for emotional work and intentions we otherwise tend to ignore. In April we spread out the Rest Deck by Tricia Hersey and the Earthcraft Oracle Deck (Hay House).  
• Instruments we use: 
• CajonTab by Louson Drum - Conie has a 12" CajonTab; Liz has one of the Pro series. Get to know a bit of the cajon's musical history here. Use Liz's affiliate link to get 10% off!
• Shruti Box, literally "sound" or "singing" in ancient Sankrit, replicates the sound of the Tambura, an East Asian Indian drone instrument. Part of the family of drone instruments that show up in many cultures, related to bagpipes and harmoniums. Conie's instrument is from Shrutibox.com run by Ron Kravitz of https://www.musicinthemoment.com/ in Philadelphia, PA.

Thank you to the crew who sang with us! The right people were there, tenderness, grit, and support were shared. Community was tended. This is part of the dream Liz and Conie are working towards!  

And many apologies to you if you didn't hear about the location change until too late.  We don't make a decision to change details of an event lightly and believe we made the right decision considering the wind and coolness.  

Many thanks to Michael G for lending us the cozy Beautiful Studio for us!

  
It takes more than desire to keep this BIPOC song circle going. Your contributions, energetic, trades, and financial, a0re welcome and needed! If you missed the big blue-green tip jar, contributions can be sent through Paypal or Venmo or a check can be mailed to P.O. Box 11791, St. Paul, MN 55111.

The next BIPOC+Mixed Race Song Circle will be a special one!  On Friday, May 10, 2024 we are directing everyone to join us in singing with guest songleader Shireen Amini, an amazing Puerto Rican-Iranian musician and non-binary human (she/her/elle).  More details here for Friday night's song circle and Thursday night's Drum Song class!  After that, we'll should be at the river on Friday, June 21, around the summer solstice!  Stay tuned here or signup for the "Soul Songs BIPOC/Mixed Singing Space" list here.

Keep singing and stay warm, hydrated and creative!

Love, Liz and Conie, a.k.a. Good Trouble

Apr 19: Songs in Your Body On This Land (BIPOC-Mixed Races Song Circle)

We'd like to welcome People of the Global Majority (Black, Brown, Indigenous, People of Color, and Mixed Race) to these monthly song circles.

When:  Friday, April 19, 2024, 6-8 p.m.

Where:  Hidden Falls Park, North Gate (down by the boat launch!) INCLEMENT WEATHER PLAN UPDATE: BEAUTIFUL STUDIO.  See details below

Led by GOOD TROUBLE, aka Conie Borchardt and Liz Digitale Anderson. We teach songs for joy, courage, grief, hope, and justice in the oral tradition, call and echo. You don't need to "be a singer" or "know what you're doing", you just gotta be willing to breathe and open your mouth and echo back. Maybe even move your hips and grab a shaker if you're feeling it...

We will be down by the river at Hidden Falls Regional Park-- take the main drive past the picnic area all the way down to the parking lot and we will be on the sand probably close to the boat loading dock (look for the SING HERE flag). We plan to have a bonfire and be outdoors even if it's cold, so layer up!
Feel free to bring snacks to share

>>>If it's raining, please check this event page for updates!
RAIN PLAN IF NEEDED:

We'll meet at The Beautiful Studio #214, 2242 University Ave West, St. Paul
(There is parking in the lot behind the building; you'll need to text us to get inside.)
**We will be requesting that folx mask up for the sake of collective community health if indoors. Thank you for understanding**

--
Photo by Mankwe Ndosi: Preparing the Unburdening Ground, Say Their Names Cemetery at George Floyd Square, Minneapolis

Setlist from Mar 8 Songs In Your Body On This Land @ Studio 240, NKB

Here are the songs we sang at the BIPOC+Mixed Race sing Songs In Our Bodies On This Land at Studio 240 (Rosy Simas Danse) in the Northrup-King Building on Friday night, March 8, 2024 with links to online recordings for your at-home remembering pleasure.

• Earth My Body (unknown) - Liz's adapted lyrics: Liberation / Solidarity / Justice coming / Ground in love!
• I did not come here alone (The Peace Poets)
• Carry This All (Ahlay Blakely)
• I decline (Ahlay Blakely)
• Sweet Surrender (text: Saint Symeon/music: Sophia)
• Comfort* (Heather Wilson)
• Honor the Dark (Lea Morris)
• Loosen, Loosen (Aly Halpert)
• One by One (Michael Stillwater)
• Let it go (Words: Michael Leunig/Music: Suzann Frisk)
• Go Lay Down (Naje)
• Not a Lone Wolf (Steph Drouin, Aimee Ringle)
• Don’t go putting the world on your shoulders (Will Lawrence, Erin Bridges) - from Sunrise Movement songbook
• The Way Knows the Way (Lyndsey Scott)
• Healing is Possible (Orion Johnstone) 

* no online recording available.  If you discover one, please let us know in the comments!

Thank you to the crew who sang with us! The right people were there, tenderness, grit, and support were shared. Community was tended. This is part of the dream Liz and Conie are working towards!

Special thanks to Rosy Simas Danse for creating space for BIPOC artists. Deep gratitude to Rebekah, the studio manager.

Setlist from Feb 16 Songs in Your Body On This Land @ Studio 331, NKB

Here are the songs we sang at the BIPOC+Mixed Race sing Songs In Our Bodies On This Land at Studio 331 (Rosy Simas Danse) in the Northrup-King Building on Friday night, February 16, 2024 with links to online recordings for your at-home remembering pleasure.

1. Gather / We Are Not Alone (Joanna Laws Landis)
2. Do You Feel? Do You Heal? (Words: Spirit)
3. Smash/layer up: I did not come here alone (The Peace Poets) + We breath together / Stop the occupation (adrienne maree brown)
4. Loosen, Loosen (Aly Halpert)
5. Stay soft (Samantha Rise)
6. Armor (Ahlay Blakely)
7. Refrain from Life (unknown) - led by Rama
8. Stop outsourcing your self-worth (Liz Digitale Anderson, based on a quote by Logan Ury on the We Can Do Hard Things podcast)
9. I am free in my body (Shireen Amini)

Thank you to the crew who sang with us! The right people were there, tenderness, grit, and support were shared. Community was tended. This is part of the dream Liz and Conie are working towards!

Special thanks to Rosy Simas Danse for hosting us and offering Conie B a transdisciplinary artist space residency for the week.  Deep gratitude to Rebekah, the studio manager, and George for taking photos (coming soon)!

Mar 8: Songs in Your Body On This Land @ Northrup King Bldg

We'd like to welcome People of the Global Majority (Black, Brown, Indigenous, People of Color, and Mixed Race) to these song circles.

When: Friday, March 8, 6-8 p.m.
Where: Studio #240***, Northrup King Building, 1500 Jackson St. NE, Minneapolis (map)

Facebook event link

Led by GOOD TROUBLE, Conie Borchardt and Liz Digitale Anderson. We teach songs for joy, courage, grief, hope, and justice in the oral tradition, call and echo. You don't need to "be a singer" or "know what you're doing", you just gotta be willing to breathe and open your mouth and echo back. Maybe even move your hips if you're feeling it

**We will be requesting that folx mask up for the sake of collective community health indoors. Thank you for understanding**

*** This is a shoe-free dance studio. There will be shoe coverings for those who need them.

** There will be chairs available but if you prefer sitting on the floor, you might want to bring a pillow or bolster or whatever makes you more comfortable!

***This is an accessible location.*** 

For those new to the Northrup King Building, it is a huge former seed warehouse, so you may want to take extra time to find us. Here's some navigational tips (and rest in the fact we'll have Good Trouble signs posted to help you find your way!): 

If you need to use the elevator,

1. Park at northern end
2. The ramp is between dock 8 and 9
3. Enter Door F (between dock 5 and 6)
4. Once inside, the elevator is around the corner to the left (an old industrial one is ahead of you; a modern one is behind you)
5. On the 2nd floor, turn left off the elevator and go straight a ways.
6. When you get to a corner, turn left (it's the only way).
7. Then follow the descending room numbers until you get to 240!

Wanna take the stairs? 

• There's a few entrances you can pick from. Floor maps are abundant inside. If you take the main entrance (with the awning), you can pickup the directions from step 5 above once you're on the second floor, i.e., turn left once you get to the main long hallway.

Can do some steps but not all the stairs?  Or want a more direct experience?

1. Enter Door D (just beyond PF Cafe, in the loading dock area)
2A. Climb stairs to 3rd floor OR
2B. Go through stairwell into hallway. Turn right at intersection. Freight elevator is there. **If you need someone to open and close the heavy freight gates, let us know ahead of time and we'll have someone available to help! When you get off the elevator, turn left.
3. On the 3rd floor, when you arrive at a intersecting hallway, turn left.
4. Studio 331 will be straight ahead.

--

Photo by Mankwe Ndosi: Preparing the Unburdening Ground, Say Their Names Cemetery at George Floyd Square, Minneapolis

Feb 16 @Studio 331: Songs In Your Body On This Land @ Northrup King Bldg

We'd like to welcome People of the Global Majority (Black, Brown, Indigenous, People of Color, and Mixed Race) to these song circles.

When: Friday, January 12, and February 16, 6-8 p.m.
Where: Studio #331***, Northrup King Building, 1500 Jackson St. NE, Minneapolis (map)
Facebook event link

Led by GOOD TROUBLE, Conie Borchardt and Liz Digitale Anderson. We teach songs for joy, courage, grief, hope, and justice in the oral tradition, call and echo. You don't need to "be a singer" or "know what you're doing", you just gotta be willing to breathe and open your mouth and echo back. Maybe even move your hips if you're feeling it 

Conie is a recipient of a three thirty-one space artist residency (Rosy Simas Danse) and this gathering is part of their 2024 residency.

**We will be requesting that folx mask up for the sake of collective community health indoors. Thank you for understanding**

*** This is a shoe-free dance studio.  There will be shoe coverings for those who need them.

** There will be chairs available but if you prefer sitting on the floor, you might want to bring a pillow or bolster or whatever makes you more comfortable!  

**We will have a photographer present to document this event in February; if you don't want to be photographed please let us know and we will opt you out!**

***This is an accessible location.*** For those new to the Northrup King Building, it is a huge former seed warehouse, so you may want to take extra time to find us. The following are some navigational tips and rest in the fact that we'll have Good Trouble signs to help you find your way too!  

If you need to use the elevator,

1. Park at northern end
2. The ramp is between dock 8 and 9
3. Enter Door F (between dock 5 and 6)
4. Once inside, the elevator is around the corner to the left (an old industrial one is ahead of you; a modern one is behind you)
5. On the 3rd floor, turn left off the elevator and go straight a ways.
6. When you approach an intersection (where one choice does not include a stairwell), turn left.
7. Studio 331 will be straight ahead.

For non-elevator users (or those who want to use a freight elevator closer to the space: use steps 1-4 above and make the long journey of step 5 on the first floor instead of the 3rd, then jump to 2b below, except elevator will be on your left instead)

1. Enter Door D (just beyond PF Cafe, in the loading dock area)

2A. Climb stairs to 3rd floor OR

2B. Go through stairwell into hallway and turn left. Freight elevator is there. **If you need someone to open and close the heavy freight gates, let us know ahead of time and we'll have someone available to help! When you get off the elevator, turn left.

3. On the 3rd floor, when you arrive at a intersecting hallway, turn left.

4. Studio 331 will be straight ahead.

--
Photo by Mankwe Ndosi: Preparing the Unburdening Ground, Say Their Names Cemetery at George Floyd Square, Minneapolis

Jan 12 + *Feb 16*: Songs in Your Body On This Land @ Northrup King Building

We'd like to welcome People of the Global Majority (Black, Brown, Indigenous, People of Color, and Mixed Race) to these song circles.

When: Friday, January 12, and February 16, 6-8 p.m.
Where: Studio #240***, Northrup King Building, 1500 Jackson St. NE, Minneapolis (map)

Facebook event link


Led by GOOD TROUBLE, Conie Borchardt and Liz Digitale Anderson. We teach songs for joy, courage, grief, hope, and justice in the oral tradition, call and echo. You don't need to "be a singer" or "know what you're doing", you just gotta be willing to breathe and open your mouth and echo back. Maybe even move your hips if you're feeling it

**We will be requesting that folx mask up for the sake of collective community health indoors. Thank you for understanding**

***This is in a new accessible location.*** For those new to the Northrup King Building, it is a huge former seed warehouse, so you may want to take extra time to find us.  Here's some navigational tips:  

If you need to use the elevator, 

1. Park at northern end
2. The ramp is between dock 8 and 9
3. Enter Door F (between dock 5 and 6)
4. Once inside, the elevator is around the corner to the left (an old industrial one is ahead of you; a modern one is behind you)
5. On the 2nd floor, turn left off the elevator and go straight a ways.
6. When you get to a corner, turn left (it's the only way).
7. Then follow the descending room numbers until you get to 240! 

Wanna take the stairs?  There's a few entrances you can pick from.  Floor maps are abundant inside.  If you take the main entrance (with the awning), you can pickup the directions from step 5 once you're on the second floor, i.e., turn left once you get to the main long hallway.  

--

Photo by Mankwe Ndosi: Preparing the Unburdening Ground, Say Their Names Cemetery at George Floyd Square, Minneapolis

Setlist for Dec 1 Songs in Your Body On This Land @ Beautiful Studio

Here are the songs we sang at Songs In Our Bodies On This Land at the Beautiful Studio on Friday night, December 1, 2023 with links to online recordings for your at-home remembering pleasure.

1. Welcome here (Rachael Weasley)
2. Into the River (first line: I wanna lay my bones down in the water) (Chloe Smith/Rising Appalachia)
3. Well Held (Lyndsey Scott)
4. Earth You Hold Us (Lyndsey Scott)
5. Loosen, Loosen (Aly Halpert)
6. Courage, My Friend (anti-Apartheid movement, South Africa)
7. Reworked Nursery Rhymes (ead)
8. The Feelings Song (Heidi Rojas)
9. Oxygen (Wendy Luella Perkins)
10. Love from the Inside Out (Moon Clementson)
11. Linger (traditional American camp song)

Thank you to the crew who sang with us! The right people were there, tenderness, grit, and support were shared. Community was tended. This is part of the dream Liz and Conie are working towards!

It takes more than desire to keep this BIPOC song circle going. Your contributions, energetic, trades, and financial, are welcome and needed! If you missed the big blue-green tip jar in the dark (lol), contributions can be sent through Paypal or Venmo or a check can be mailed to P.O. Box 11791, St. Paul, MN 55111.

The 2024 dates for Songs in Our Bodies On this Land are in the works and not yet ready for publication!  Stay tuned here or signup for the "Soul Songs BIPOC/Mixed Singing Space" list here.

Keep singing and stay warm, hydrated and creative!

Love, Liz and Conie, a.k.a. Good Trouble

Setlist for Nov 3 Songs in Our Bodies On this Land @ Beautiful Studio

Here are the songs we sang at Songs In Our Bodies On This Land at the Beautiful Studio on Friday night, November 3, 2023 with links to online recordings for your at-home remembering pleasure.

1. Communal Shruti improvisation
2. We Shall Come Together Singing (Maggie Wheeler)
3. Don’t numb to this (Abigail Bengson)
4. Love from the Inside Out (Moon Clemetson)
5. The Cure for the Pain (text inspired by Rumi; tune: Yam)
6. Spirit of Peace (Words: Rev. Otto Zing & Neil Douglas Klotz/Music: traditional)
7. Bridging Hearts (Lisa Littlebird)
8. Heenay, Heenay, matov, matov (Words from psalm 133; tune: Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi; movements by Tasnim Hermila Fernandez)
9. In Hope, In Prayer (Batya Levine)

* Not recorded.  

Thank you to the crew who sang with us! The right people were there, tenderness, grit, and support were shared. Community was tended. This is part of the dream Liz and Conie are working towards!

It takes more than desire to keep this BIPOC song circle going. Your contributions, energetic, trades, and financial, are welcome and needed! If you missed the big blue-green tip jar in the dark (lol), contributions can be sent through Paypal or Venmo or a check can be mailed to P.O. Box 11791, St. Paul, MN 55111.

The next Songs in Our Bodies On this Land will be Friday, December 1, again at the Beautiful Studio in the Dow Building on University Ave in St. Paul. You can park in the lot behind the building or on the street.  Enter the building on Hampden.

Keep singing and stay warm, hydrated and creative!

Love, Liz and Conie, a.k.a. Good Trouble

Nov 3, *Dec 1*: WINTER: Songs In Your Body, On This Land: BIPOC + Mixed Race Song Circles

We'd like to welcome People of the Global Majority (Black, Brown, Indigenous, People of Color, and Mixed Race) to these song circles.

When:  Friday, November 3rd, and Friday December 1st, 6-8 p.m.

Where: Beautiful Studio #214***, 2242 University Ave West, St Paul

Facebook event link

Led by GOOD TROUBLE, Conie Borchardt and Liz Digitale Anderson. We teach songs for joy, courage, grief, hope, and justice in the oral tradition, call and echo. You don't need to "be a singer" or "know what you're doing", you just gotta be willing to breathe and open your mouth and echo back. Maybe even move your hips if you're feeling it

**We will be requesting that folx mask up for the sake of collective community health indoors. Thank you for understanding**

***We are trying a new location to see how it works for our community; this studio is on the second floor -- if you have access needs/cannot do stairs, please please DM us so we can figure out how best to accommodate you!***

Photo by Mankwe Ndosi: Preparing the Unburdening Ground, Say Their Names Cemetery at George Floyd Square, Minneapolis

Setlist for Oct 6 Songs In Our Bodies On This Land @ Hidden Falls

Here are the songs we sang at Songs In Our Bodies On This Land at Hidden Falls on Friday night, October 6, 2023 with links to online recordings for your at-home remembering pleasure.

1. Welcome to the table/zoom call/fire! (clb)
2. I did not come here alone (The Peace Poets)
3. Armor (Ahlay Blakely)
4. The Water Song (Dorene Day) - sung by Peng
5. Water (Lyndsey Scott) 
6. Risk More for Love (words: Casper ter Kuile; music: Liz Digitale Anderson)
7. Redemption Song (Bob Marley) - led by Shari
8. The Cure for the Pain (text inspired by Rumi; tune: Yam)
9. The Way Knows the Way (Lyndsey Scott) - bandcamp version
10. Put Your Roots Down (Molly Hartwell)
11. This fire (Lawrence Cole)
12. Healing is Possible (Orion Johnstone)
13. When I rise (text: Wendell Berry; Music; Wendy Tuck) - led by Megan
14. We shall be known (Karisha Longaker/MaMuse) - teaching tracks from The Bird Sings
15. Hymn for the Russian Earth (Yuri Zaritsky and Eugene Friesen) - with Dances of Universal Peace dance

Thank you to the crew who sang with us! The right people were there, tenderness, grit, and support were shared. Community was tended. This is part of the dream Liz and Conie are working towards!

It takes more than desire to keep this BIPOC song circle going. Your contributions, energetic, trades, and financial, are welcome and needed! If you missed the big blue-green tip jar in the dark (lol), contributions can be sent through Paypal or Venmo or a check can be mailed to P.O. Box 11791, St. Paul, MN 55111.

We don't know when the next Songs in Our Bodies On this Land will be, but we're scheming and inviting you into that process.  Reach out!  Let us know if you have opinions for days/times of the week and/or location, inside or outside!

Keep singing and stay warm, hydrated and creative!

Love, Liz and Conie, a.k.a. Good Trouble

Setlist for Sept 15 Songs In Our Bodies On This Land @ Hidden Falls

Here are the songs we sang at Songs In Our Bodies On This Land at Hidden Falls on Friday night, September 15, 2023, in no particular order.  (If you remember others, please let us know ... Conie wasn't tracking very well)

• I did not come here alone (The Peace Poets)
• River Flows** (Earth Practice Music)
• Armor (Ahlay Blakely)
• Put Your Roots Down (Molly Hartwell)
• Every step toward joy (words: Andre Henry; music: Liz Digitale Anderson)
• Welcome to the table/zoom call/fire! (clb)
• Move On (Karly Loveling) - led by Olivia
• Redemption Song (Bob Marley) - led by Shari
• Shruti improvisation*

* This was not recorded.

** This song isn't online yet. We'll let you know when they are! (Or let us know if you find it first!)

Thank you to the crew who sang with us! The right people were there, tenderness and support were shared. Community was tended. This is part of the dream Liz and Conie are working towards!

It takes more than desire to keep this BIPOC song circle going. Your contributions, energetic, trades, and financial, are welcome and needed! If you missed the big blue-green tip jar by the door, contributions can be sent through Paypal or Venmo or a check can be mailed to P.O. Box 11791, St. Paul, MN 55111.

The next Songs in Our Bodies On this Land is Friday, October 6 down by the Misi-ziibi River at Hidden Falls Park. Bring friends!  We're scheming about what happens after this. Let us know if you have opinions for days/times of the week and/or location, inside or outside!

Keep singing and stay cool, hydrated and creative!

Love, Liz and Conie, a.k.a. Good Trouble

Sept 15 & *Oct 6*: Songs in Our Bodies, On this Land - TC BIPOC + Mixed Race Version

We'd like to welcome People of the Global Majority (Black, Brown, Indigenous, People of Color, and Mixed Race) to these song circles outdoors at Hidden Falls Park.

September 15th and October 6th.
We'll gather at 6 pm to picnic and start singing at 7 pm.

Led by GOOD TROUBLE, Conie Borchardt and Liz Digitale Anderson, mixed race song leaders. (Pictured here with Ihotu Ali, where we create Soul Song)

We teach songs for joy, courage, grief, hope, and justice in the oral tradition, call and echo. You don't need to "be a singer" or "know what you're doing", you just gotta be willing to breathe and open your mouth and echo back. Maybe even move your hips if you're feeling it

***If you come all the way down the drive and park in the end of the parking lot by the river, we'll be under the trees there nearish to the picnic tables. Maybe we'll go down and say hello to the river and put our feet in if we feel the need.****

Photo by Mankwe Ndosi: Preparing the Unburdening Ground, Say Their Names Cemetery at George Floyd Square, Minneapolis

Setlist for Jul 3 Song Circle for Change

Here are the songs we sang at the Song Circle for Change: Healing & Liberation at CTUL on Monday night, July 3, 2023:

1. I did not come here alone (The Peace Poets)
2. Ready (Alexandra "Ahlay" Blakely)
3. It's Over Now (Kirk Franklin) - led by SooJin
4. Carrying Water (Samara Jade)
5. improvisation* based on andrienne maree brown's IG post on "despite devastation, creativity"
6. Stop outsourcing your self-worth** (Liz Digitale Anderson, based on a quote by Logan Ury on the We Can Do Hard Things podcast)
7. The journey to the center of my soul (Samara Jade)
8. We were made for these times (Clarissa Pinkola Estes/Linda Noonan)
9. Oh, I’m free, free, free (Melanie DeMore) 

* This was not recorded.

** Liz and Sarah don't have these songs online yet. We'll let you know when they are!

Here are bonus links to other things we talked about:

• Abigail Bengson, of the musical songwriting & theater making duo The Bengsons, with andrienne maree brown on the podcast, How to Survive the End of the World talking about the "flowsongs" that come through them.  
• Other Bengsons songs we would recommend:  
• The (abbreviated) Keep Going Song with hand dance by Sarah Goeke & Travis Staton-Marrero (Conie's first introduction), 
• the full length The Keep Going Song, 
• Hope Comes
• Highly recommend following The Bengsons on IG@thebengsons or supporting their Patreon if cash is not an issue.  

Thank you to the crew who sang with us!

Setlist from April 3 Song Circle for Change

Here are the songs we sang at the Song Circle for Change: Healing & Liberation at CTUL on Monday night, April 3, 2023:

1. Shruti vocal grounding improvisation
2. Welcome to the table/zoom call (clb)
3. I did not come here alone (The Peace Poets)
4. Every step toward joy (words: Andre Henry; music: Liz Digitale Anderson)
5. We get there together (Or never get there at all) (Josh Blaine)
6. She gives me life (Alexa Sunshine Rose) - led by Shannon
7. We Shall Come Together Singing (Maggie Wheeler) - led by Lauren
8. The grandmothers song (Sheffy Oren Bach) - led by Lauren
9. One Body (Ahlay Blakely)
10. A chinese nursery rhyme/play song* - led by Peng
11. Up Above My Head (African american spiritual) - led by Megan

* no known recording.  If you find one, please let us know in the comments below!  

Thank you to the crew who sang with us!  The right people were there, tenderness and support were shared.  Community was tended.  This is part of the dream Liz and Conie are working towards!  

Big gratitude to CTUL for hosting us!