Doylestown Action League Hosts ‘A Concert for Democracy’ Sunday at Dharma Bums

The Doylestown Action League is hosting ‘A Concert for Democracy’ on Jan. 18 from 3:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. at Dharma Bums restaurant in New Hope.

Lolly Hopwood, the co-founder of the Doylestown Action League, said the concert will feature Bucks County and New Jersey bands performing songs centered around activism. The mission of the league, Hopwood said, is to gather the community to fight for the ideals of democracy, which are under assault and being undermined by the Trump administration.

“What we’re trying to do here at the Action League is to make sure that the people continue to hold the power,” Hopwood said.

The concert will function as a fundraiser for the league to fund sound equipment at rallies, to disseminate information to rallygoers, and to potentially create a website for people to see the most recent events of the league. The concert will be fully run by volunteers, and the league will collect suggested donations.

“We wanted to make the concert open for people even if they cannot contribute,” Hopwood said.

Jesse Ketchel, the main organizer of the concert, said there will be eight musicians playing mostly Americana and folk style music, and five speakers who will talk about various political issues involving democracy.

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“Music helps draw people out and connect people,” Ketchel said. “It’s a very long show, so be prepared to sit back, and enjoy yourself.”

Performers include Baron Tiger, Greg McGarvey’s Dead Painters, Allyssa Leigh, Yuri Gohen, Ed McGrath & Friends, Christina Ward, Honest 2 Betsy & Her Bawdy Broads, Redbird, and Ketchel & Creeksnake. Hopwood, Lindsay Troyer, Tabitha Dell’Angelo, Connor O’Hanlon, Ariel Virk, and Nick Maio are also slated to speak at the event.