MacDougal Street Rent Party

Carrying It On Into the 21st Century!

We are MacDougal Street Rent Party -- Joel Landy, Eric Levine, Anne Price, Steve Suffet, and sometimes Gina Tlamsa. When we perform in the New England states, Sandy Pliskin will sometimes substitute for Eric Levine. We are an eclectic crew who among us have logged more than 150 years experience on the folk music scene. Individually, in pairs, in trios, or all together we have performed in bars, clubs, coffee houses, schools, churches, camps, parks, retreats, county fairs, at demonstrations and rallies, on radio and television, aboard sloops and schooners, at festivals, even in jails. Our music encompasses ballads, blues, ragtime, Gospel songs, Freedom songs, union songs, prison work songs, cowboy, old time country, Celtic, singer-songwriter material, in fact a little bit of everything from many great traditions.

Our performances are done in the round robin style of the legendary hootenannies that featured performers like Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Sis Cunningham, and Leadbelly. Like them, we take turns leading songs and backing each other up vocally and on a variety of instruments.

But our aim is not to live in the musical past. Rather it is to take the spirit the great folk musicians we love and honor, keep it alive, and carry it forward. Many of our songs focus on the struggles of today -- against war, discrimination, and poverty, and for decent and affordable housing, education, and health care. Other songs we sing are reflective, or rousing, or humorous, or sentimental, or just plain fun. Most of our songs invite audience participation. So when you come to hear MacDougal Street Rent Party, come prepared to sing along, clap, holler, and shout.

You might even get up and dance!

For information or booking, please contact Steve Suffet:
E-mail: Suffet@att.net
Phone: 718-786-1533

Photo credits: Takako Nagumo.

Top photo left to right: Eric, Anne, Joel, Steve.

Middle photo left to right: Eric, Gina, Anne, Joel, Steve.

Bottom photo left to right: Joel, Anne, Sandy.

We are proud to be members of the People's Music Network
for Songs of Freedom and Struggle.

Paul Robeson once said, "The artist must elect to fight for freedom or slavery."
We have made our choice!

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