Posts

What does BoomShake mean to you?

Image
Meet some of our participants!     "BoomShake has given me and my family such a sense of community over the last several years. From taking classes to taking to the streets, my child and I have been so utterly enriched by our experiences with BoomShake. The music we make is medicine for our community--both a cultural homecoming and the opportunity to reate something new, something vibrant, full of justice and love." -Lauren Wheeler  

How do you a power a movement?

Image
 Join us to the #PowerTheMovement   Beloved family,   As our community takes to the streets to stop an unjust war, BoomShake is closing out another year of providing a heartbeat for our movements.    In 2023, BoomShake: Organized the second annual Mo’ Roots Festival , a cross-cultural arts festival celebrating the legacy of BoomShake musical director Monica Hastings Smith.  Taught youth ages 4-14 to drum, chant, and speak up for their beliefs through school residencies and community workshops. (Then we brought them out on the streets to make noise for Youth Climate Strikes and the Oakland teachers’ strike! ). Performed and taught on the streets alongside communities in struggle, from Sonoma County indigenous farmworkers’ pickets to the San Francisco Trans March. Brought rhythm and spirit to dozens of Bay Area actions against the bombing and occupation of Gaza in the past two months. As we move forward into the new year, we are committed to carrying on our work and build

Mo' Roots Fest 2023

Image
Mo’ Roots Fest 2023     ‘Dynamic, Daring, Delightful Dandelion’ Celebrating the Life, Love, & Legacy of Monica Hastings-Smith June 10, 2023 1 - 6PM Liberation Park, Oakland, CA BoomShake Music, in partnership with the Black Cultural Zone, as part of Oakland Juneteenth Liberation Month invites you to a community arts & culture gathering sparked by the seeds, roots, and branches of artist, teacher, mother, and friend Monica Hastings-Smith aka Mo’ Clearly, who transitioned to the ancestor realm in June 2021. This year’s theme ‘Dynamic, Daring, Delightful Dandelion’ is inspired by ‘The Dandelion Song’, which was co-created by Mo’ and her 4/5 year-old forest school music students in 2018. The song celebrates the beauty, richness, and resilience of the Dandelion. Although many in society view them as weeds to kill and get rid of, Dandelions have many medicinal and healing benefits and are experts of survival.

Drum in the Streets for May Day! Womxn/Trans/GNC Folks| Spring 2023

Image
  BoomShake's Street Drumming for womxn, trans and gender non-conforming folks will chant, sing, & drum in support of International Worker's Day and YOU CAN JOIN US ! Enroll in our Spring session and through weekly classes, learn new skills/rhythms, and share our collective experiences via drumming, play/movement and song. Holding values of social justice, creative expression and skill-building, this workshop is open to all levels of player from never-drummed to proficient drummer. We aim to create a welcoming space where womxn, trans and gender non-confirming people can be loud, active, and inspiring participants of culture while building friendships and support systems for the movement. Spring 2023 registration is open to Black, Indigenous and other People of color w/ priority space for Black/African and Indigenous folk. Mondays 3/6 to 5/1 6:00-8:00pm Outdoor Oakland Location TBA May Day March: May 1 Sliding Scale: $0- $350* PARTICIPATION & ACCESS INFO ACC

BoomShake Percussion Workshop for Black & Brown Youth 2023

Image
  Join dynamic percussionists Cadence Myles and Pedro Rosales for a 6-week intensive youth drumming workshop!   6 Sundays | Feb 19- March 26 | 2pm - 3:15pm | Outdoor location in Fruitvale Oakland Free/Donation based | Ages 6-14 Join dynamic percussionists Cadence Myles and Pedro Rosales for a 6-week intensive youth drumming workshop. Learn drumstick and cajón technique, performance styles and repertoire from Afro-Diaspora traditions, and how to incorporate song, chants, and movement into musical performance. Centering Black & Brown youth ages 6-14 who are interested in serious musical & cultural study. The workshop is free/donation-based, but participants MUST be registered in advance . Questions? Please reach out via: boomshakemusic@gmail.com

To more magic in 2023. Become a monthly sustainer today!

Image
  Brooke Anderson Photography   Beloved community, As we close out this year, we wanted to take a moment to thank you for supporting BoomShake’s work.  Because of your continued support, we have been able to foster continued moments of healing, grieving, joy, resistance, rhythm, and magic through gatherings, workshops, school programs, and supporting those on the front lines. We are looking forward to another year of carrying on Aunty Monica’s legacy by bringing rhythm and culture to our movements and communities!  As always, we are a shoestring operation, and we depend on our community to sustain this work. Please sign up as a monthly sustainer or make a one-time donation to help us keep growing and building in 2023! Community donations (no amount is too small!) make a huge difference in sustaining our work.  With love, BoomShake

Drum in the Streets for May Day! Womxn/Trans/GNC Folks| Spring 2023

Image
  "When workers' rights are under attack, what do we do?" BoomShake's Street Drumming for womxn, trans and gender non-conforming folks will chant, sing, & drum in support of International Worker's Day and YOU CAN JOIN US! Register Here! Enroll in our Spring session and through weekly classes, learn new skills/rhythms, and share our collective experiences via drumming, play/movement and song. Holding values of social justice, creative expression and skill-building, this workshop is open to all levels of player from never-drummed to proficient drummer. We aim to create a welcoming space where womxn, trans and gender non-confirming people can be loud, active, and inspiring participants of culture while building friendships and support systems for the movement. Spring 2023 registration is open to Black, Indigenous and other People of color w/ priority space for Black/African and Indigenous folk. Mondays 3/6 to 5/1 6:00-8:00pm Outdoor Oakland Location