October 12, 2009 India Point Park, Wickenden St, and South Water St

On October 12, 2009, Providence will proudly host thirteen activist street bands from around the world for the second PRONK: HONK Fest Providence. The event will begin at the India Point Pedestrian Bridge at 6:00, then march down Wickenden Street to South Water Street were the bands will play from 7-11:00 pm.

PRONK: HONK Fest Providence will include the Hungry March Band from Brooklyn, Pinettes Brass Band from New Orleans, Brass Messengers from Minneapolis, Rude Mechanical Orchestra from New York City, Black Bear Combo from Chicago, Environmental Encroachment from Chicago, Minor Mishap from Austin, Yellow Hat Band from Seattle, Emperor Norton's Stationary Marching Band from Somerville, What Cheer? Brigade from Providence, Extraordinary Rendition Band from Providence, Pink Puffers Brass Band from Rome, and Banda Roncati from Rome. These brass, reed, percussion, and dance bands, having germinated in the streets of the world's seething metropolises, will bombard Providence after the HONK! Festival of activist street bands in Davis Square, Somerville. People should come to Anti-Columbus Day ready to dance!

Joyous community bands have begun to emerge in every corner of the world from the ashes of modern-day gloom. Blending traditions of second line and klezmer, funk and bollywood, mardi gras and carnival, these bands honk their horns, beat their drums, and wave their flags in the streets to reclaim public space for the purpose of revelry. All over the world, they provide the people's soundtrack for community gardens, public school yards, puppet shows, pride parades, worker rallies, peace marches, and neighborhood fundraisers. At HONK!, 25 of these bands will come together, for one weekend, to delineate a blissful sovereign state in the streets of Somerville. A group of these bands will parade through Providence after HONK! to continue the revolutionary party.

Find out more about HONK! at www.honkfest.org

Questions about site? Contact Lauren Kalman at laurenkalman@gmail.com

image by Lydia Stein

If you have photos to share from PRONK! please email them to extraordinary.rendition.band@gmail.com