Riot folkies Issue #32

This Maine-based collective revives folk music’s revolutionary past

By Andrea Hart
Published: June 1st, 2007 | 12:00am

Aggression backed by ideology isn’t generally associated with mainstream folk, despite the fact that folk is rooted in exactly that. Current folk is sometimes stereotyped as sappy, weak, and boring. Despite this contemporary betrayal, the Riot Folk collective champions the genre’s radical roots.

Officially organized in December 2004, the Riot Folk Collective is an independent record label dedicated to anti-capitalist, non-hierarchical reform. Riot Folk’s eight-member lineup includes Adhamh Roland, Brenna Sahatjian, Evan Greer, Kate Boverman, Ethan Miller, Ryan Harvey, Shannon Murray, and Tom Frampton. Together they serve as each other’s financial, supportive, and creative backbones. These musicians also empower listeners through education. Riotfolk.org, the group’s Web site, interweaves environmentalism, anarchism, pacifism, and activism. Since its formation, Riot Folk has been striving to solidify and expand its liberal community. By hosting educational seminars, performing at college walkouts, and asking fans for veggie oil for tour buses, they’ve blurred the artist-fan divide.

“What’s most important is engaging and inspiring people to take action in their communities right away,” says Riot Folk musician Evan Greer. Greer especially advocates environmental activism. “We’re at war, a war we can’t afford to lose because it’s our Earth,” he says.

Support has allowed for five U.S. and European tours that have included performances with Against Me!, Anti-Flag, and Tom Morello. Behind all the exclamation points and proclamations of anarchy, lies a genuine sense of revolution. The Riot Folk Collective may just re-establish folk music as a revolutionary staple.