Performing on the 4th of July.
It’s always a welcome challenge to put together a program based on a theme, and I’ve done many themed concerts over the years. This year, for July 4th, I really had to think about how I wanted to celebrate the United States and what Independence Day means in 2022, knowing that while I am so grateful to be an American, there is still an incredible struggle to realize the ideals of freedom and equality that this country strives for, for all of its people. So I reach for the classics like America The Beautiful, and Irving Berlin’s God Bless America, and also songs I carry forward from my childhood, like Woody Guthrie’s This Land Is Your Land, Neil Diamond’s Coming To America, and Marlo Thomas’ project Free To Be You And Me. All of these songs empower us to see how similar we are while also celebrating our differences, to lift each other up, and to take care of each other, to work together towards creating a “More Perfect Union.” That’s what living in a country, any country, is about. So however you celebrate, I hope it is with good music. Happy 4th!
West Philly Porchfest 2022:
Avi Wisnia & Friends Porch Concert | RSVP
This weekend, come hang out with Avi Wisnia & Friends as they present an afternoon of free live music for the community. Gather around the West Philly porch on Chester Ave, and enjoy music from singer/songwriter Avi Wisnia and his Philly songwriter friends with lots of special guests throughout the afternoon.
Part of the 2022 West Philly Porchfest, an annual outdoor celebration featuring musicians of all kinds playing free shows on porches throughout the neighborhood. Created by and for West Philadelphia residents, the festival celebrates the community’s broad musical and cultural diversity, an eruption of music and revelry with over 140 porches and 300 musical acts participating throughout the day. Bring friends, bring family, come celebrate community and music with us. More info at www.westphillyporchfest.com
Saturday, June 4, Music starts at 12noon.
4717 Chester Ave, Philadelphia PA
Hosted by Karen, Kirk & Naomi
We made it home to find out that “How Saba Kept Singing” – the documentary about my grandfather’s story of survival and our return to Poland as a family – made the Top 20 Audience Award List at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival where it had its World Premiere. Out of more than 200 featured documentaries at the festival, these were the favorites!
The film premiere of “How Saba Kept Singing” in Toronto was an incredible experience. A beautiful theater, a great audience, a wonderful reception. People were laughing and crying, and applauding.
And then, to be invited up to perform, to perform a new song I wrote that premieres in the film, to perform a song my grandfather composed while a prisoner in Auschwitz, to have my music as a part of this project, to have my music intertwined forever with my grandfather’s,…
it is the honor of my life.
Some early press and reviews for the documentary “How Saba Kept Singing”:
“HOW SABA KEPT SINGING is a towering achievement that moved me both to tears and laughter and, in a perfect world, Avi Wisnia deserves an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.” Read More in Mr. Will Wong reviews.
“How Saba Kept Singing” seeks to understand how Polish Jewish teenager David Wisnia survived nearly three years in Auschwitz. [It] lends a sense of urgency and poignancy to firsthand accounts of how survivors managed to endure and to move on.” Read More in Variety Magazine.
Oh, and Hillary Clinton tweeted about it.
We were speaking to so many warm and wonderful people after the premiere of “How Saba Kept Singing” that we missed our chance to get our picture taken as a family on the red carpet. I think this turned out much better.
Thank you Toronto for the warm welcome. This might be the end of our journey in Canada, but this is just the beginning of the journey for this film. Big congratulations to the director Sara Taksler, and all the people at Retro Report, Hidden Light, Burnt Umber and the Hot Docs Festival – thank you for making this such a memorable and meaningful experience.
For everyone interested in seeing the film who could not attend the premiere in Toronto, there will be a public premiere once the film has a distributor. We really cannot wait for you to see it. Stay tuned!
Read more at www.aviwisnia.com/mypolishwisnia
