Reclaiming the Right to Rock: Black Experiences in Rock Music

On November 13th and 14th, the Archives of African American Music and Culture (AAAMC) will be hosting a two-day conference on Black rock on the Indiana University-Bloomington campus. The conference and related activities are open to local and regional musicians, scholars, students, and the general public for a nominal fee.

Reclaiming the Right to Rock: Black Experiences in Rock Music will bring together Black rock musicians from different generations and regions with music critics and scholars to discuss the socio-political history, musical developments, and the future of Black rock. The main component of the conference will be three panels, each exploring one of the following topics:

1. The conceptualization and origins of Black rock;
2. The politics of Black rock;
3. The face of Black rock in the 21st century.

The core panelists will be those artists considered to be innovators and practitioners of Black rock in the United States, including representatives from the East and West coasts such as Linda Tillery, Ike Willis, Tamar-kali, and Netic. The conference also celebrates the upcoming 25th anniversary of the Black Rock Coalition, which was founded to create "a united atmosphere conducive to the maximum development, exposure, [and] acceptance of Black alternative music."

In conjunction with the conference, the AAAMC has also collaborated with a number of units and organizations at Indiana University to arrange a series of film screenings, concerts, and workshops, including screenings of James Spooner's films White Lies, Black Sheep and Afro-Punk (the latter will be followed by a Q&A with the director.) These events will be hosted on the Bloomington campus during the conference weekend and throughout the Fall semester.

For additional information on events, times, locations, pricing, registration, and a full list of sponsors, visit the official conference website at the link provided.

Admission: $10-$45: See official conference website for details on registration costs and registration forms
Email: aaamc [at] indiana.edu
Website: http://www.indiana.edu/~aaamc/br/brconf_2009.html

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