Folk Duo Stirs Controversy at Kennedy Center with Bold Protest Performance
In a climate where the arts are increasingly becoming a battleground for political expression, two musicians took a stand in a way that few could have anticipated. On Friday night, the Musical Instrument Museum will host a performance by a duo who recently found themselves at the center of a unique protest.
Earlier this year, President Donald Trump assumed the role of chairman at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., promising significant changes to its programming. His assertion that shows at the venue have been “woke” led to a backlash, with artists like Issa Rae, Rhiannon Giddens, and Lin-Manuel Miranda pulling out of their scheduled performances.
However, banjo player Nora Brown and fiddle player Stephanie Coleman, who regularly perform old-time bluegrass and American folk music, chose a different path. Despite their disagreement with Trump’s policies, they decided not to cancel their appearance at the Kennedy Center.
“Morally, it was the right thing to do to cancel, you know, like it felt very comfortable, very secure,” Brown explained. Yet, she noted that such an action lacked the thrill and defiance she associated with true protest. Instead, they opted to voice their dissent from the stage.
In a bold move, Brown and Coleman prepared large signs and a banner to use during their performance. The duo shared their intentions on Instagram, stating, “We believe the most effective form of protest for us will be expressing disapproval loudly inside the institution where the voices of artists are actively being silenced.”
The musicians described their nervousness as they attempted to smuggle the signs into the venue, fearing they were breaking some unwritten rules. “We came into the Kennedy Center, like, hiding the banners. Like we were behind our instrument cases,” Brown admitted.
Once on stage, the duo set up their protest signs, which carried messages such as “Reinstate queer programming” and “Creativity at the Kennedy Center must not be suppressed.” They performed for nearly an hour, culminating in an audience participatory segment.
Before their final song, Brown invited audience members to join them on stage, saying, “This is a song that I picked up from our friends at Foghorn Stringband. It’s called ‘Reap What You Sow,’ and I think it would be a good sing-along if people are — anybody wanna sing a little bit?” As the crowd joined in, they unfurled a banner declaring, “Art will not submit to your authority, Trump.”
The event concluded with a powerful rendition of “Sow ‘Em on the Mountain,” as audience members clapped and sang along, turning the performance into a memorable act of resistance.
Nora Brown and Stephanie Coleman are set to bring their spirited performance to the Musical Instrument Museum on Friday night.
KJZZ’s The Show transcripts are created on deadline. This text is edited for length and clarity, and may not be in its final form. The authoritative record of KJZZ’s programming is the audio record.
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