The finale at Gil’s Hootenanny is always the highlight of a joyous
evening. On May 1, 2018, the rafters of Ottawa’s Clark Hall rang with
the sounds of over 300 voices singing “We Shall Not Be Moved,” the
African-American spiritual turned labour anthem. The hootenanny brings
people together to sing songs of protest and hope, belting out their
belief in the power of collective singing for change. Buzzing with
optimism, the audience left for home that night singing and carrying a
message of inspiration to the streets and neighbourhoods of the city.
Gil’s Hootenanny brings folks together to celebrate, share and sing about the stories, struggles and victories of working women and men. When Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) legend Gil Levine died at 85 in 2009, three words in his obituary, “plan a hootenanny”, began an Ottawa tradition that started in 2010 and continues to this day.
The 20 minute video “Voices for Change”, sponsored by Ottawa labour and employment firm Ravenlaw, documents the story of Gil’s Hootenanny and how the event has evolved from an annual May Day event into a catalyst for other contributions to Ottawa’s and Canada’s rich music scene.
Maria Dunn and Maria Hawkins will be the 2019 headliners for the 10th Annual Gil’s Hootenanny, Wednesday, May 1st at 7:30pm at the RA Centre (Clark Hall), 2451 Riverside Drive. Affectionately dubbed “the Marias” by Hootenanny organizers, Dunn and Hawkins will share the stage, alternating songs in a musical conversation that will be intimate & fun with the added element of audience participation – a tradition for this annual sing-along event.
Poster design by Kate Morgan
Inspired by the legacy of Gil Levine (1924-2009), the founding Director of Research at the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Gil’s Hootenannywas first presented in 2010. Gil and his wife Helen, who died in October 2018, hosted hootenannies at their home for decades.
Passionate about preserving the spirit of folk music, twice Juno-nominated Maria Dunnis often compared to Woody Guthrie for her keen social awareness and her melodic, unvarnished songs about the lives of working men and women. Her stint as a volunteer DJ in community radio encouraged Dunn to listen widely to master songwriters, singers and instrumentalists of folk and roots music. Becoming an avid fan of live music, Dunn began writing her own music in the mid-90s, drawing deeply on the folk tradition of storytelling through song to honour the resilience and grace of “ordinary” people, past and present.
Ottawa’s Blues Lady Maria Hawkins is a much-beloved performer in Ottawa, and is well known as the co-creator of “Blues in the Schools”, which garnered the W.C. Handy Blues Award. Hawkins has also earned a United Way Community Builder Award for her work with local charities, the NAC Award for Artistic Excellence, and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal for 25 years of inspiration to Canadian youth. Hawkins’ music is influenced by a deep respect for indigenous peoples and passion for peace and justice, and is informed by many facets of her background, including her black, Mi’kmaq and Acadian ancestry.
Pete Seeger was among Gil and Helen’s favourite troubadours. As 2019 marks the 100th Anniversary of his birth, the Hootenanny will celebrate Pete with a special presentation of his legacy by Steve Richer, folk singer and banjo-playing Professor Emeritus at Carleton University. The Hootenanny Band will open the evening with a selection of new and traditional sing-along music. The Band comprises members of the Elizabeth Riley Band – Carmel Whittle, Jen Gilbert & Patricia Reynolds – with Debbie Rubin and Mark Evenchick.
Helen and Gil’s vision of a better world included bringing people together to celebrate, share and sing about the stories, struggles and victories of working women and men. Gil’s Hootenanny continues that legacy.
Tickets ($10, kids free) are now available online and can be purchased (cash only) at Octopus Books, 116 Third Avenue. For additional information visit Facebook.
“Bread
and Roses” is a feature of the
Gil’s Hootenanny
repertoire. For 2019’s Hootenanny, this historic song will take on
a special significance, as it was a favourite of Helen Levine, who
died at 95 on October 24, 2018. Helen and Gil Levine, for whom the
Hootenanny is named, hosted hootenannies in their home for decades.
2016 bread and roses. Photo by Jake Morrison
Helen’s
daughter, Tamara Levine, explained that her mother understood the
power of collective singing within social and political movements.
Coming out of the successful 1912 textile strike by immigrant women
workers in Lawrence, Massachusetts, the message in “Bread
and Roses” resonated with
Helen, a long time feminist with a wide interest in social justice.
“Bread and Roses”,
an anthem of both the women’s and the labour movements, demands not
only fair wages for women (bread), but also dignity, respect,
education and culture (roses).
Tamara
attributes her mother’s love of “Bread
and Roses” to the “simple
yet strong image of the bread for survival and roses for beauty”
that illustrates Helen’s belief in ‘the personal is political’.
The song also speaks to her commitment to the advancement of equality
for women in all aspects of society.
The 2019
Hootenanny will take place on Wednesday, May 1st
at 7:30pm in Clark Hall at the RA Centre, 2451 Riverside Drive.
Staffed by UNIFOR members, the RA Centre is accessible, has loads of
parking and is well serviced by OC Transpo.
Tickets are
$10; kids are free.
Helen and Gil on Helen’s bench at Dow’s Lake, circa 2005
When Gil Levine died at 85 in 2009, three words in his obituary, “… plan a hootenanny”, were the beginning of Gil’s Hootenanny, an Ottawa tradition now into its 13th year and getting stronger.
Helen and Gil Levine
Held each
year on May Day, this annual celebration of the collective power of
song to change the world was inspired by Gil, the founding Director
of Research at the Canadian Union
of Public Employees (CUPE), a
great lover of folk music and a staunch supporter of folk musicians.
Helen Levine, who died at 95 in October 2018, also considered herself
an “old folkie”. Helen and Gil showed their love of folk music in
many ways, including hosting annual hootenannies and May Day
celebrations at their home for decades.
When Gil Levine died at 85 in 2009, three words in his obituary, “… plan a hootenanny”, started an Ottawa tradition that is now into its 9th year and getting stronger.
Held each year on May Day, this annual celebration of the collective power of song was inspired by Gil, who was the founding Director of Research at the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and a great lover of folk music and supporter of folk musicians. Gil demonstrated his love of folk music in many ways, including hosting annual hootenannies at home for decades. Continue reading →
Inspired by the legacy of Gil Levine, Wednesday, May 1st, 2019 will mark the 10th anniversary for Ottawa’s Gil’s Hootenanny, the annual community sing-along celebrating the stories, struggles and victories of working people.
Gil Levine spent his life working for social justice and was the founding Director of Research at the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). A great lover of folk music and an enthusiastic supporter of folk musicians, Gil believed in the collective power of song to bring people together to speak up and sing out for change.
When Gil Levine died at 85 in 2009, three words in his obituary, “… plan a hootenanny’, started an Ottawa tradition that is now into its 8th year and getting stronger.
Held each year on May Day, this annual celebration of the collective power of song was inspired by Gil, who was the founding Director of Research at the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and a great lover of folk music and supporter of folk musicians. Gil demonstrated his love of folk music in many ways, including hosting annual hootenannies at home for decades. Continue reading →
Please join us for Gil’s Hootenanny, an evening of “Songs of Protest, Songs of Hope,” hosted in Ottawa by the Spirit of Rasputin’s.
Every year since his death in 2009, Ottawa’s folk community has honoured the memory Gil Levine, a a local activist, staunch trade unionist, lover of folk music, hootenannies and May Day.
Gil’s Hootenanny will take place on Wednesday, May 1st at 7:30pm at the Glebe Community Centre, 175 Third Ave.
This year, Kristine St-Pierre, Mighty Popo, Three Little Birds, the Shout Sister choir, Maria Dunn, and Terry Tufts will bring us together in song. The Hootenanny is hosted by the Spirit of Rasputin’s Arts Society and is sponsored by CUPE and PSAC National Capital Region. All funds raised once the artists and expenses are paid will go to Spirit of Rasputin’s programming throughout the year.
