A Great Blog

Hummingbird Love Song

2012-04-24T15:35:00.002-07:00

Tagalog

2012-02-08T22:50:00.001-08:00

You're probably thinking: "Tag-a-log... hmmm. This must be a new version of the playground standard, except everyone tries to avoid "It" while running with an armload of firewood logs."

I'd have to say, "Good guess." But you're wrong. Way wrong.

Tagalog ("tuh-GAH-lug") is the official language of the Philippines.

Now you may be thinking: "What does this have to do with JUBILEE?" Good question, and I assure you there is a point.

In fact, two members of JUBILEE, Curtis and Grace Romjue, will be traveling to the Philippines at the end of this month (along with their nearly two-year-old daughter, Harper) as part of a team representing Arts Aftercare.

Even more worthy of the Jubilog, all members of JUBILEE will be performing on Saturday, February 18 at the Fremont Abbey Arts Center as part of a Philippines Send-Off Party, and you are invited!

If you've ever wanted to learn more about Arts Aftercare, or wished you could join forces with us in some capacity, this is your night! Our volunteers will have some truly inspirational stories to share, and we'll give you the opportunity to get plugged in. Or you can just hang out, drink beer, and listen to music. (Plus, JUBILEE's own Steven Wilbur will represent with spoken word! Reason enough to attend.)

Here are the details for the night:

Philippines Send-Off Party!
hosted by Arts Aftercare

Fremont Abbey Arts Center
4272 Fremont Avenue North
Seattle 98103

Musical performances:
Brent Egbert
Nick Bishop
JUBILEE (+ Steven Wilbur, spoken word)
Proto Evangelion

Stories from staff and volunteers.
Opportunities to join the team.

Saturday, February 18
7:00-9:30pm

ALL AGES WELCOME.
Doors open at 6:30.
Appetizers, dessert, beer.
$5-10 suggested donation.

Looking forward to seeing you there, and...
Nagpapasalamat po ako sa inyong napakalaking tulong sa amin. (translate.google.com)

2012

2012-01-05T11:28:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year! We are so grateful for your friendship, love and partnership. Lift your cup with us to a new year of music, and bringing the beauty and healing of the arts to those in need.

Be well, JUBILEE

"The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time." -- Abraham Lincoln

NPR

2011-12-03T15:23:00.000-08:00

"...The National Association of Attorneys General... put the fight against human trafficking at the top of its agenda this year. The president of NAAG, Washington state Attorney General Rob McKenna, says there's a lot of work to be done:

'In our understanding of human trafficking, we are today about where we were with the problem of domestic violence about 40 years ago," he says — "low levels of awareness, low levels of law enforcement response, almost no services for victims.'"

Read the NPR article here.

Christmas Album

2011-11-29T12:36:00.000-08:00

Curtis & Grace produced a new Christmas album with the help of some great friends (including Jonas G, and Jonny Haglund and Steven Wilbur of JUBILEE). It's a great Christmas gift, as you can give music to someone you love, and "beauty and healing through the arts" to survivors of modern slavery through Arts Aftercare. 100% of album sales go to Arts Aftercare.

Listen and buy the album here.

Rendezvous 10pm, Sunday 11/13/11

2011-11-12T16:03:00.000-08:00

An Excellent TED Talk

2011-11-03T01:53:00.000-07:00

Probably the best overview of modern slavery I've ever seen. This is Kevin Bales of Free The Slaves who has given us some of the most helpful statistics we have on human trafficking.

Former slave elected as government official

2011-11-01T16:37:00.000-07:00

"In October 2008, Kutty and his family were rescued from slavery in a rice mill. This week, he was elected as a local government official who will oversee several villages.

Kutty has thrived since his family was rescued from forced labor slavery in a rice mill where his four children were forced to work instead of going to school. When International Justice Mission staff first met him, he had tears in his eyes as he shared about the abusive conditions he endured and fear he had of the owner.

After rescue, Kutty completed IJM’s comprehensive two-year aftercare program. His kids are back in school, and both he and his wife have good jobs to support their family. After choosing to participate in a special Leadership Training sponsored by IJM, he stepped up as a leader among his peers.

Kutty decided to run for office, and this week he won in a landslide victory. “I want to do good for my people and my village,” Kutty proclaimed to IJM staff who gathered to congratulate him." - (from International Justice Mission)

This incredible story illustrates the power and importance of aftercare. We are working hard to bring the beauty and healing of the arts to help in this process through our program Arts Aftercare.

Exciting News!

2011-10-05T21:29:00.000-07:00

We're slated to participate and perform at the 2012 Justice Conference in Portland. We'll be joining some amazing musicians and speakers (Shane Claiborne, John Perkins, Francis Chan, Miroslav Volf, & Walter Brueggemann just to name a few!). Check it out: www.thejusticeconference.com

Tmber!

2011-09-19T22:19:00.000-07:00

Our friend and hero John Escher with Tmber.com ("We hike and make videos to help you find your way") traveled with us to Mt. Rainier for our camping/hiking/skillet-cookin'/video shoot at Grove of the Patriarchs. Check out his blog for some great pics, and soon he'll have up a video of the hike we journeyed together. We had perfect weather for our camp fire on Friday night, and awoke to gentle rain showers and 1,000 year old trees... I can't remember smelling fresher, more delicious air in all my life. And being rain-kissed makes the distance between you and that raw mountain just a little thinner. We'll have the new music video up soon, so stay tuned! Thanks to John for his great video and hiking expertise, and also to our friend Jonas G for his excellent audio support. Thanks for reading.

Baby Tells All!

2011-09-16T06:34:00.000-07:00

Mt. Rainier camping / music video shoot

2011-09-09T13:35:00.000-07:00

We're packing up the bacon, eggs and iron skillet getting ready to head up to Mt. Rainier to wander the alpine meadows, sniff wildflowers, skip river rocks, & sleep under the stars and towering trees. We're also recording a new song/video called "Grove of the Patriarchs" inspired by the 1,000 year old trees along the Ohanapecosh river. Photos and video to come soon! Stay tuned!

TRACTOR TAVERN, Thursday 8/11

2011-08-10T16:12:00.000-07:00

Sweet show tomorrow night at the Tractor Tavern, check it:

Team Up for Nonprofits presents Gigs4Good for PAWS ("people helping animals")

HANDFUL OF LUVIN'
JUBILEE
THE LOCAL STRANGERS

Charge: $15adv/$20dos/$12students ~ Tickets available from Brown Paper Tickets
Buy Tickets

Swiss-army-knife-phone and Twitter

2011-08-05T22:42:00.000-07:00

Now that I have a swiss-army-knife-phone (iPhone 4) so I can take photos of Harper (it's all for the children, right?) I'm starting to wade into the water of Twitter. I've had to figure out my philosophy on tweeting. It's clearly a way to let you all know about concerts etc. but it's also a way to share more of the soil from which our music and abolition work sprouts.

It's taking you around in my pocket; very portable, and personal. So I hope you enjoy some of the photos and small windows into my life and the lives of those in JUBILEE. All in all, the songs I write are a way of panning for gold... attempting to magnify, and further appreciate what is true, good, beautiful. "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." Philippians 4:8

www.twitter.com/livejubilee

Tonight and Tomorrow Night - Grace and Curtis perform duo gigs

2011-08-04T15:44:00.000-07:00

Grace and Curtis are playing duo gigs tonight (Thur. 8/4) and tomorrow night (Fri. 8/5). Tonight's performance is at the Triple Door's Musicquarium, and it's a benefit for Rwanda Partners - a group raising money for school uniforms.

Here's how the night looks:
7:15-8: Purity and the Wolf
8:15-9: Jubilee (Grace & Curtis)
9:15-10 Youth Rescue Mission
10:15-11 Bryan Appleby
11:00 Raffle
11:15 Gabriel Mintz

Tomorrow night join G&C at Miro Tea in Ballard from 7-8:30pm. It's super cozy, they serve crepes and tea.

"Called Out Your Name"

2011-07-27T11:11:00.000-07:00

Brand new song and video!

We're playing the Tractor Tavern on 8/11, come see new music!

514 Rescued in Chennai, India

2011-07-27T09:19:00.000-07:00

Good news friends!

http://www.ijm.org/newsfromthefield/more-than-500-free-from-slavery-in-ijms-largest-operation-ever

In what is recorded as International Justice Mission's largest rescue operation EVER, 514 men, women, and children were rescued from forced labor in a brick kiln. They had experienced 18-hour workdays without adequate food or rest for an undetermined amount of time - accompanied by severe beatings and no payment for their work.

It all started with one man calling his brother from inside the kiln (in secret) and describing his situation. His brother, Boola, took action and local authorities contacted IJM. They worked together to bring restoration to these 514 people, celebrating their humanity and newfound freedom. How beautiful! And it all started with one person crying out.

What's your response to a story like this? What ball could you start rolling with your voice?

http://www.ijm.org/newsfromthefield/more-than-500-free-from-slavery-in-ijms-largest-operation-ever

High Dive concert tonight

2011-06-29T10:09:00.001-07:00

Come join us at the High Dive in Fremont/Seattle tonight. The show starts at 8pm with Smiley Faces, then Knathan Ryan and the Silent K's at 9pm, we close the evening with a set starting at 10pm. Cost $6, 21&up. Aloha.

Arts Aftercare

2011-06-14T14:45:00.001-07:00

We're working hard on our Arts Aftercare program - "Beauty and healing through the Arts." Bringing art and music therapy to survivors recovering from modern slavery. New website launch and much more to come on Arts Aftercare soon! (photo by Jeanne Damoff)

Show tonight!

2011-06-03T06:05:00.000-07:00

Hey all, thanks for listening to some of Jonny and I's musical musings on Wednesday. I'm writing to tell you about the show TONIGHT at 7pm at Christ the King Community Church Bellingham. Luke Stanage, Esoptron, Kye Kye, and your friends from JUBILEE will assemble to do what we like to do - enjoy some of the best in life to do something about the worst. We'll talk about the injustices still going on in the world and jam along the way. Hope to see you there.

Happy June First Everybody!

2011-06-01T12:54:00.000-07:00

Chennai and The Exciting Past

2011-05-14T15:34:00.000-07:00

1. In a recent partnership of IJM with local authorities, over 500 men, women, and children have been rescued from a brick kiln where they had been held in a form of slavery called bonded labor.

Bonded labor refers to a system where an individual advances a family the US equivalent of a couple hundred dollars (frequently the amount is much less than this). That owner then holds the family in their bonded service until they are able to 'pay off' the debt. Oftentimes, even after decades, they will never declare the debt paid, keeping the family in their service - slavery under the guise of good business.

Here's the article: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-29/chennai/29486830_1_revenue-officials-kiln-labourers

We're ecstatic to celebrate one of the largest rescue operations in IJM's history.

2. Also, you may remember from our recent West Coast tour that we had the privilege of taking part in the Freedom Summit this year. Well, friends, THE AUDIO RECORDINGS ARE ONLINE FOR FREE, with even some video! Check out the link here: http://freedom-summit.org/2011/watch/ . Fifty points to the first person who spots Curtis' breakout session.

Spilling Hope Release

2011-04-23T00:31:00.001-07:00

Thank you to everyone who came out to the Fremont Abbey and supported us with Karin Stevens Dance last weekend in a creative push to raise awareness and funds to end human trafficking. We left encouraged and thankful for the community effort.

Hey all. What's cooler than your water bill? Don't worry, I'll tell you. Digging wells so people in other parts of the world don't have to walk miles a day to acquire water that isn't even that great! And you know who's doing that?

This radical group from Bethany Church has done just that for the last two years, raising over $330,000 to build new wells with Living Water. Well friends, this year, they've set their sights on going even further to bless people all across Uganda.

As if the 75% water of you wasn't already a wave of excitement, they've invited us to contribute to a compilation album (!!!) as part of their challenge to live simply for the benefit of others. It all begins tomorrow on Easter Sunday.

As you might imagine, we are deeply honored to be included. Also on the album are Doug Burr and some of my ridiculously talented friends, Seryn, who I was blessed to know in my Denton, TX college days.

Here's their challenge: can you change your lifestyle to live on $1 less per day? $2? What can you share from your resources to give someone else a gift like clean water? Check this group out. Spilling Hope has done great things to care for others in our world and want to do more.

Hey Seattle! Dance Concert on April 15-16th!

2011-03-15T12:03:00.000-07:00

We've been collaborating with the lovely Karin Stevens and Seattle Against Slavery to present Seattle with a couple beautiful evenings! If you're in the area or know of anyone who might be the least bit interested in dance, point them in our direction!

From the SAS website: "On April 15 & 16, 2011, 7:30 pm, with a press-preview mini performance April 8, 5:30pm, karin stevens dance (ksd), will present a concert of contemporary dance and live music with the Seattle band, JUBILEE, at the ksd resident space, The Fremont Abbey Arts Center, 4272 Fremont Avenue North. Performances will take place in the Great Hall of this beautifully restored historic building. The concert will raise awareness of the local fight against human trafficking with the help of partnering organization Seattle Against Slavery. This ksd season concert will present a body of new work to two classic JUBILEE songs and five from their recently released album, To See you Well. Spoken word artists Laura Wright, Nikkita Oliver, Christian St. Jaques, and Tony Rivisto are also performing. A cocktail hour will follow the performance with all the artists and volunteers from Seattle Against Slavery available for a meet and greet."

April 15th & 16th // 7:30pm // Fremont Abbey //

$18 pre-sale // Purchase tickets here

Four Easy Ways To Know You're Wearing Makeup

2011-02-27T21:59:00.000-08:00

Yesterday JUBILEE was privileged to dance, sit, holler, and skateboard in front of the generous lenses of Andi Dean. She's helping us with a photo campaign that puts an image to the justice restoration we hope to see in our day (as a gift to us, ya'll). Our time with her this weekend was one piece of that delicious pie.

It had been a while since I was a satyr in my high school's production of Midsummer Night's Dream and worn any kind of makeup (thanks Pacquiao!). For anyone like me who doesn't go under the brush often, here's a few ways to know you've got some extra help in the mug department.

1. You look well rested. Hey, where did those shiners go? It's amazing what a little makeup will do for lack of sleep. Coffee might give your brain a boost, but you won't hide it without a little base (did I say that right?).
2. You feel guilty scratching your face. Someone else offers their time and expertise smoothing out those edges. That's their art. Would you go make your own version of your friend's painting? What if that painting is on your face?
3. You want to throw a party with cake and hummus and all your friends, especially that one girl you think is awesome. "Are you wearing base?" "Yeah, only 'cause we had this photo shoot." Who knows when you'll have professional make up done again? Gotta make it count.
4. It hurts to wash your face. In the eyes. Any tips on that?