American acoustic band Act of Congress tours the Philippines

Masterclass

September 12, 2012, 2:00 PM     CCP MKP Hall, Cultural Center of the Philippines

September 13, 2012, 2:00 PM     Marilao, Bulacan

Performance

September 14, 2012, 7:00 PM     Marilao, Bulacan

September 15, 2012, 6:00 PM     The Podium, Ortigas Center, Pasig

September 15, 2012, 9:00 PM     70s Bistro, Anonas, Quezon City

September 16, 2012, 5:00 PM     Concert at the Park, Rizal Park, Manila

It’s been barely over a week since the closing cocktails of the 6th International Silent Film Festival. The cocktails and the screening of the film Safety Last was presented by the Embassy of the United States of America. And in just a few more days, the Embassy will present yet another offering and this time, it will be closer to my passion which is music. From September 12-16, 2012, American acoustic band Act of Congress will be coming here to the Philippines to stage a series of concerts and masterclasses in Manila and Bulacan.

Act of Congress, composed of Adam Wright, Chris Griffin, Tim Carroll Jr. and Bethany Borg comes from Birmingham, Alabama and according to the group’s biography, they “combine hook laden melodies, compelling songwriting, and intelligent acoustic instrumentation that's rapidly gathering attention throu ghout the country”. It’s not everyday that Filipino audiences get to hear a group such as this and I am particularly interested to see them perform and also see what they have to share during the masterclass.

The group will perform on September 14, 2012, 7:00 PM at Marilao, Bulacan; September 15, 2012, 6:00 PM at The Podium; and on September 16, 2012, 5:00 PM at the Concert at the Park. A special jamming session with Filipino artists Bayang Barrios and Kalayo Band happens on September 15, 2012, 9:00 PM at 70s Bistro. Masterclasses will be conducted on September 12, 2012 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and on September 13, 2012 at Marilao, Bulacan. Both masterclasses will be from 2:00-5:00 PM.

The Philippine stop of Act of Congress is part of their tour for the American Music Abroad program of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Association of American Voices. According to the press kit, the program is “a people-to-people exchange that features a wide variety of American musical genres through international cultural exchange initiatives that will reach more than 40 countries around the world during 2012 and 2013. American Music Abroad builds on Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s vision of smart power diplomacy, which embraces the use of a full range of diplomatic tools – in this case music – to bring people together and foster greater understanding. It also builds on the historic legacy of the Department of State’s Jazz Ambassadors, who first traveled the world in the 1950s to connect with people through music.

Act of Congress

American Music Abroad features a series of month-long, multi-country exchange programs. During the exchange, 10-12 ensembles representing American music will conduct public concerts, interactive performances with local musicians, lecture demonstrations, workshops, and jam sessions with diverse audiences. American Music Abroad activities focus on younger and underserved audiences in approximately 40 countries with little or no access to live American performances. American Music Abroad ensembles will be selected on the basis of artistic quality and commitment to education and cultural engagement through an open competition.”

The Philippine Tour of Act of Congress is jointly implemented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Cultural Exchange Department and the US Embassy Manila and its local partner organizations, the Barasoain Kalinangan Foundation of Bulacan, The Podium, 70s Bistro and the National Parks Development Committee.

For inquiries:

CCP Cultural Exchange Department 832-3674/832-1125 loc.1708-1710