The Spring 2017 season at The Sanctuary for Independent Media in Troy kicked off with a spectacular opening the first weekend of April and wound up in early June–with events ranging from music to films to speakers including Salif Keita, Meklit, The Nile Project, “National Bird” w/ filmmaker Sonia Kenneback, “Economic Update” w/ radio host Richard Wolff, “The Prison in Twelve Landscapes” w/ filmmaker Brett Story, “Insane Clown President” w/ journalist Matt Taibbi, Bike Fest, Michael Bisio Accortet, Rahim AlHaj, Freedom Festival w/ Taina Asili y la Bande Rebelde; gallery shows, workshops and more!
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Salif Keita 7 PM SUNDAY, APRIL 2 $40
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear the Golden Voice of Africa in a small listening room—one of the world’s most extraordinary singers, Afropop pioneer—Salif Keita.
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Meklit 7 PM SATURDAY, APRIL 8 $15
Music emanating from “in-between-spaces” imbued with poetry and multiplicity, from the hybrid blues-like sounds of Ethiopian Tizita to jazz, folk songs, hip-hop and art rock.
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The Nile Project 7 PM FRIDAY, APRIL 21 $15
A cross-cultural musical collaboration among artists sharing diverse relationships to world’s longest river—buzzing timbres and ingenious polyrhythms support vocals in six languages.
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“National Bird” 7 PM MONDAY, APRIL 17
W/ FILMMAKER SONIA KENNEBACK & PANEL The story of whistleblowers determined to break the silence around one of the most controversial issues of our time: the “secret” U.S. drone war.
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“The Prison in Twelve Landscapes” 7 PM WEDNESDAY, MAY 10
W/ FILMMAKER BRETT STORY More are imprisoned in the US at this moment than in any other place or time. This film is a cinematic journey through a series of prison landscapes.
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“Economic Update” 7 PM SATURDAY, APRIL 29
W/ RADIO HOST RICHARD WOLFF A hopeful vision of concrete action to transition from the current system’s su ffocating inequality and political corruption to economic democracy.
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Troy Bike Rescue: Bike Fest 5 PM SATURDAY, MAY 13 $20
The 7th annual BikeFest fundraising celebration—a fantastic party and a great way to help Troy Bike Rescue continue its mission of bringing Pedal Power to the People!
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Insane Clown President 7 PM FRIDAY, MAY 12
W/ JOURNALIST MATT TAIBBI Dispatches from the 2016 election providing an eerily prescient take on our democracy’s uncertain future.
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Michael Bisio Accortet 7 PM SATURDAY, MAY 20 $15
Chronicling more than 30 years of acclaimed Troy native bassist Michael Bisio’s life as a composer in song form and otherwise, balancing freedom and
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“Letters From Iraq” 7 PM WEDNESDAY, MAY 24 $15
W/ RAHIM ALHAJ TRIO Iraqi-American virtuoso/composer, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings artist—traveling the world to “give voice to the voiceless.”
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Freedom Festival 3 PM SATURDAY, JUNE 3 FREE! (outdoors at Freedom Square)
W/ TAINA ASILI Y LA BANDE REBELDE Music, food, arts activities and lots more celebrating creative resistance—featuring the band that rocked the Women’s March on Washington!
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