People's Music Network upcoming events

Boston Chapter - Monthly Gathering & Song Circle (with Bvocal) (11/21/2026)

Sat, 21 Nov 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Dear PMN Boston-area members and friends,

People’s Music Network (PMN)-Boston is joining forces with kindred organizations working for social justice using music.

This month, PMN-Boston will collaborate directly with BVocal for this Saturday gathering -- a collaborative, accessible community sing using short, empowering songs for action and justice. YOU are invited to sing with us!!!

No pre-registration is required and there is no charge to participate, but, for last minute details, please join the PMN-Boston email list by sending a blank email to PMN-Boston+subscribe@groups.io, if you haven’t already joined. You can also sign up for the BVocal mailing list at https://bvocalchorus.org.

The People's Music Network is a community of activists and artists using their vision and talent to promote a just and peaceful world. Join us! We encourage you to bring your own food and drink to this event. For more information on PMN, please go to https://www.peoplesmusic.org/ and/or contact Rebecca at sc-pomerantz@peoplesmusic.org .

PMN Songwriters Peer Feedback Session: "If I had a Song" (Zoom only) (11/23/2026)

Tue, 24 Nov 2026 00:30:00 GMT

*** Registration Deadline: Sunday, Nov. 22, 2026 at 10:00 PM (Eastern).

Workshop Description

Songwriters in People's Music Network strive to write songs that wake people up, challenge the status quo, and reach hearts and minds. We don't believe it takes larger-than-life talent to create powerful songs. Rather, the craft of songwriting involves skill, practice, hard work, and the willingness to listen to how our words and music land with others.

Through our monthly “If I Had a Song” workshops, PMN is building a loving and supportive creative community that provides songwriters with the honest listening we need. Participants present a song-in-progress to like-minded songwriters, and receive constructive feedback. We’d love to have you join us.

BREAKOUT GROUPS: During the session, we'll break into groups of 4-5 songwriters presenting songs-in-progress. Each presenting songwriter gets 15 minutes to share their song and receive peer critique from the group. We'll explore giving and receiving kind, truthful and supportive feedback, while striving to make our songs more effective. One may register for the workshop as a supporting songwriter to listen and give feedback. Breakout groups may have 1-3 supporting songwriters.

LYRIC SHARING: On the day of the workshop, all confirmed registrants will receive an email containing the Zoom link plus a link to a Google Drive folder. Confirmed registrants will receive a separate notification via Google Drive, which gives you the ability to make written comments on other people's lyrics-in-progress. This can be done before, during, or after the session.

Requirements for Participation:

There is no wait list for the session. Every registrant who meets the following requirements will be confirmed to present a song-in-progress for peer critique:

At the time of registration, if you are bringing a song to the group for critique, you must submit a lyric sheet of an original song you are working on. This means 1) you wrote the lyrics and 2) your intention is to get feedback from others to help you do further work on your song to improve it. If you believe your song is finished and do not intend to do further work on the song, it should not be submitted.
The song-in-progress you submit should connect with PMN’s mission of using music as a catalyst for a just and peaceful world.

Eligibility to Participate:

Participants in this workshop must:

be PMN members in good standing*
register using this form
have a computer with functioning video camera and microphone.

* If you are not a PMN member, you may join here: https://www.peoplesmusic.org/join-PMN

Workshop Facilitators:

Marcie Boyd is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, teacher, activist, and longtime PMN member. She lives in Berkeley, CA, where she sings with Occupella and the LaPeña Chorus.
Steve Deasy: Award-winning American-Canadian performing songwriter, producer and arranger; socially conscious in the tradition of Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger with contemporary musicality. www.stevedeasy.com
Eric H. F. Law: Singer/songwriter, visual artist, Episcopal Priest, author of over 10 books on building justice and inclusive communities and founder of the Kaleidoscope Institute for diverse and sustainable communities. https://erichflaw.hearnow.com/
Joanie Calem is a musician, singer/songwriter, storyteller, disability awareness activist, community-builder, cross-cultural worker and teacher. She has been teaching music and performing since 1983. Joanie uses music to break down stereotypes, build community and foster connection.
Barbara Dyskant is a singer, writer of songs both serious and mischievous, and pianist playing many musical styles, who hopes for a better world for all. A longtime PMN member, Barbara enjoys a generous helping of joy and humor in the midst of it all and loves interacting with other songwriters and musicians.
John Closs writes and performs songs that draw on the folk tradition. The songwriters that inspire him include Lynn Miles, Iris Dement, Phil Ochs, and John Prine. He has had the pleasure of playing guitar and singing, both solo and as part of groups, for folks at Labour Day events, concerts, open stages and community celebrations. In 2019, he produced a five song EP of original material titled Horizons.

FACILITATORS EXPLAIN THIS PROCESS

Watch our 3 minute video explaining how members of the People's Music Network are building a community of peers who are writing songs for social change:

NYC Chapter - First Friday Gathering (12/04/2026)

Fri, 04 Dec 2026 23:00:00 GMT

The New York City Chapter of PMN invites you to our monthly First Friday gatherings. Please join us!

Come to express yourself! Meet, make and bring friends! Conspire and inspire with other activists, artists and concerned citizens. This is a free event! There is no charge to participate!

For more information and to confirm this event (the location may change, for example), please contact Joel Landy at either joellandy@gmail.com or (TEXT) 917-279-3141.

Finding The Next Steering Committee. Volunteers Needed! (12/07/2026)

Tue, 08 Dec 2026 00:00:00 GMT

The next PMN Steering Committee elections will take place towards the end of the January 2027 Gathering (ending 1/31/27).

If you are interested in serving on the Steering Committee, please send an email expressing your interest to the Chair, Chris Owens, at chair@peoplesmusic.org.

If you are interested in helping to review Steering Committee candidates as part of the Nominating Group, please send an email to the Chair.

The group will have four (4) short virtual meetings between now and the January Gathering: 11/10/26, 12/10/26, 1/12/27 and 1/24/27. You can participate in the group even if you cannot attend some or all of the meetings.

Steering Committee membership is important and a great contribution to PMN. For details regarding the Steering Committee, please visit https://www.peoplesmusic.org/Steering-Committee-and-Staff .

There are 15 SC seats, of which four are currently vacant and five are up for re-election.

Please review this document: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iu3BPk0TWM0XILeufB3luGZMaj44e4Nt/view?usp=sharing

Finding The Next Steering Committee. Volunteers Needed! (01/12/2027)

Wed, 13 Jan 2027 00:00:00 GMT

The next PMN Steering Committee elections will take place towards the end of the January 2027 Gathering (ending 1/31/27).

If you are interested in serving on the Steering Committee, please send an email expressing your interest to the Chair, Chris Owens, at chair@peoplesmusic.org.

If you are interested in helping to review Steering Committee candidates as part of the Nominating Group, please send an email to the Chair.

Steering Committee membership is important and a great contribution to PMN. For details regarding the Steering Committee, please visit https://www.peoplesmusic.org/Steering-Committee-and-Staff .

There are 15 SC seats, of which four are currently vacant and five are up for re-election.

Please review this document: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iu3BPk0TWM0XILeufB3luGZMaj44e4Nt/view?usp=sharing

Finding The Next Steering Committee. Volunteers Needed! (01/24/2027)

Mon, 25 Jan 2027 00:00:00 GMT

The next PMN Steering Committee elections will take place towards the end of the January 2027 Gathering (ending 1/31/27).

If you are interested in serving on the Steering Committee, please send an email expressing your interest to the Chair, Chris Owens, at chair@peoplesmusic.org.

If you are interested in helping to review Steering Committee candidates as part of the Nominating Group, please send an email to the Chair.

Steering Committee membership is important and a great contribution to PMN. For details regarding the Steering Committee, please visit https://www.peoplesmusic.org/Steering-Committee-and-Staff .

There are 15 SC seats, of which four are currently vacant and five are up for re-election.

Please review this document: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iu3BPk0TWM0XILeufB3luGZMaj44e4Nt/view?usp=sharing