State Radio

As part of the ongoing earthquake-relief efforts in Haiti, State Radio shares a new track with fans, “Roadway Broken.”

The song is about a mother searching for food for her children after the 2010 earthquake, and will be available as a free download on Tuesday, December 20. There are several ways for fans to get the song: 1) tweet about the song, 2) tweet about donating to Haiti, 3) share a message to Facebook about the song and Haiti and/or 4) buy it at Bandcamp for $1. Half of all proceeds will be donated to Stand With Haiti: a Partners In Health service organization to provide health care, clinical and social support and rebuild and reinforce the public health systems in Haiti.

For more information on “Roadway Broken,” visit: http://aktfiles.com/state_radio/splash/
For more information on Stand With Haiti, visit: http://www.standwithhaiti.org/haiti

State Radio will soon be announcing 2012 touring plans, including dates in Europe and the US. In the meantime, bandmember Chad Stokes is prepping for a handful of west coast solo dates and Dispatch’s first jaunt to Europe. See below.

State Radio is set to contribute their rendition of Bob Dylan’s “John Brown” to Chimes Of Freedom: The Songs Of Bob Dylan Honouring 50 Years Of Amnesty International. In honor of Human Rights Day on Saturday, December 10, Amnesty International will premiere Chimes of Freedom on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/amnestyusa). The 4-disc collection – set for release on January 24, 2012, in North America and January 30 internationally – contains 76 newly recorded Bob Dylan songs by more than 80 artists.

Individuals who “Like” Amnesty International USA on Facebook will be able to stream the entire collection for a 24-hour period beginning Saturday at 11 a.m. EST/8 a.m. PST.

Starting October 29th, State Radio will be touring the east coast with special performances from Massachusetts to DC, encouraging social awareness within the local and global communities.

To kick things off, the band and their fans will walk the Northampton streets in costume. That is, before State Radio's Halloween show at the Calvin Theater, band members and hundreds of fans from throughout the Northeast will participate in the 3rd annual Calling All Crows’ Northampton Halloween 5K. This zany, fun run/walk -- in costume through the streets of Downtown Northampton, Massachusetts -- will help Calling All Crows raise funds to support 50 Afghan women with shelter and education for one year. For more information, please visit: http://callingallcrows.org/2011-nh5k/

Last week, State Radio shared a live performance video of their song, “State of Georgia.” The song is written about death row inmate, Troy Davis, set to be executed by the state of Georgia tomorrow, September 21st. Davis has been on death row for 18 years and has received three stays of execution, twice coming within 24 hours of his death, despite a strong claim of innocence that has never been heard in a court of law. Davis was convicted on the basis of witness testimony - 7 of the 9 original witnesses have since recanted or changed their testimony. Watch it above.

Today, State Radio shares a live performance video of their song, “State of Georgia.” The song is written about death row inmate, Troy Davis, set to be executed by the state of Georgia next Wednesday, September 21st. Watch it above.

Davis has been on death row for 18 years and has received three stays of execution, twice coming within 24 hours of his death, despite a strong claim of innocence that has never been heard in a court of law. Davis was convicted on the basis of witness testimony -- seven of the nine original witnesses have since recanted or changed their testimony. In June 2010, an unprecedented evidentiary hearing was held in a federal district court in Savannah, Georgia. At the hearing, Davis presented evidence supporting his innocence claim. However, the standard of proof was “extraordinarily high” given the lack of physical and scientific evidence in his case. The federal judge ruled that Davis did not meet the high standard, despite the fact that doubts about his guilt remains unresolved.

Earlier this year, State Radio hit the road for the “State Of Troy Tour,” a month-long tour to raise awareness. In 2009, lead singer Chad Stokes, wrote a song titled “State Of Georgia,” which was lent to Amnesty International USA for a short, hard-hitting web video about the plight of Davis. Watch it below:

State Radio recently announced that Matt Embree (from Rx Bandits) will be joining the band on their upcoming “State Of Troy Tour,” which kicks off March 10 in Denver at the Odgen Theatre.

In 2009, lead singer Chad Stokes, wrote a song about death row inmate, Troy Davis. The song, titled “State Of Troy,” was lent to Amnesty International USA for a short, hard-hitting web video about the plight of Davis (watch it HERE). Davis has been on death row for 18 years and has received three stays of execution, twice coming within 24 hours of his death, despite a strong claim of innocence that has never been heard in a court of law.

Chad Stokes & Friends sing Dispatch classic "Bang Bang" to close Calling All Crows' 3rd Annual Benefit Show at the House of Blues in Boston. From left to right: Lauren Coleman (Pebaluna), The White Buffalo, Bonnie Paine (Elephant Revival), Chad Stokes (State Radio, Dispatch), Matt Embree (Rx Bandits, Pebaluna), Melaena Cadiz, and Brad Corrigan (Dispatch). (Photo credit: Steve Rosenfield / Ganesh Photography)

Chad Stokes & Friends wrapped up their inaugural acoustic tour on Friday in Boston at Calling All Crows’ 3rd Annual Benefit Show at the House of Blues. Stokes (State Radio, Dispatch) shared the stage with tourmates Matt Embree (Rx Bandits), Lauren Coleman (Pebaluna), Bonnie Paine (Elephant Revival), The White Buffalo, and Melaena Cadiz as well as special guests Brad Corrigan (Dispatch) and Erin Coughlin. Through a check presentation to partner Oxfam America as part of the program on Friday night, Calling All Crows announced that it met its 2010 goal of raising $100,000 to support Sudanese women living in internal displacement (IDP) camps.

Founded by Stokes and tour manager Sybil Gallagher, Calling All Crows is a service organization that works to mobilize musicians and fans to empower women around the world. The donation will be used to offer grants, vocational training, and small-business loans — as well as assets like donkeys, donkey carts, seeds, and plows — to help many of those affected by the conflict in Darfur earn a dignified living.

"In my travels for Oxfam, I've seen first-hand how the initiatives Calling All Crows support are meaningful and can transform women's lives,” said Liz Lucas, Oxfam America’s Humanitarian Press Officer. “We are grateful for Calling All Crows and State Radio's support, and for the support of their members and fans."

 
Brad Corrigan (Dispatch), Erin Coughlin (Simmer Kane) join lineup featuring
Chad Stokes (State Radio, Dispatch), Bonnie Paine (Elephant Revival),
The White Buffalo, Matt Embree (Rx Bandits) and Lauren Coleman (Pebaluna)

Chad Stokes’ former Dispatch bandmate Brad Corrigan is among the latest artist additions to Calling All Crows’ 3rd Annual Benefit Show on December 10th to commemorate Human Rights Day at the House of Blues in Boston. Also joining the lineup is singer/songwriter Erin Coughlin, who collaborated with Stokes on State Radio’s 2004 acoustic EP Simmer Kane.

A limited number of tickets to the show remain and are available now via Ticketmaster and without ticketing fees at the Orpheum Theater Box Office.

Corrigan and Coughlin join an all-star lineup of acoustic musicians that kicked off the Chad Stokes & Friends Tour on Wednesday night at Lincoln Hall in Chicago, making stops in Toronto, Buffalo, Burlington, D.C., and Philadelphia before the finale in Boston. Previously announced artists include siblings Matt Embree of Rx Bandits and Lauren Coleman of Pebaluna as well as Stokes’ independent Ruff Shod Records labelmates Bonnie Paine of Elephant Revival and The White Buffalo.

Musicians State Radio, Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers, and Among Criminals champion fun run/walk benefitting Oxfam’s work to empower women in Darfur

Hundreds of music fans, human rights activists, and local runners – many in costume – hit the streets of Downtown Northampton this past Saturday, October 30th for Calling All Crows’ 2nd annual Northampton Halloween 5K. $25,318 has been raised to date through the event, including nearly $2,000 in walkup donations at race registration. Online fundraising remains open until Saturday, November 6th with proceeds to benefit Oxfam America’s work on the ground in Darfur to provide job training for women.

The 2nd annual Northampton Halloween 5K was organized by Calling All Crows, a service organization aimed at mobilizing musicians and their fans to empower women around the world. Calling All Crows was founded in 2008 by tour manager Sybil Gallagher and musician Chad Stokes, whose band State Radio played the Iron Horse Music Hall on Thursday and then headlined the Calvin Theater on Friday.

“It was great to be back in Noho for Round 2,” said Stokes. “After last year’s race raised $16,000 to help end violence against Sudanese women, local groups like the Belchertown High School Humanities Club and Smith STAND answered the call to make this year’s race even bigger and better. On top of being such an important cause to Sybil and me, the costumes and spirit that fans brought to the event were a blast, too!”

Over 250 music fans, human rights activists, and local runners – many in costume – will hit the streets of Downtown Northampton this Saturday, October 30th forCalling All Crows’ 2nd annual Northampton Halloween 5K. Proceeds from the charity run/walk will support Oxfam’s humanitarian work in Darfur to provide job training for Sudanese women. Nearly $20,000 has been raised to date and participants can still register for a $20 entry fee on Saturday beginning at noon in the courtyard next to the John E. Gare Parking Garage (85 Hampton Avenue).

The 2nd annual Northampton Halloween 5K is organized by Calling All Crows, a service organization aimed at mobilizing musicians and their fans to empower women around the world. Calling All Crows was founded in 2008 by tour manager Sybil Gallagher and musician Chad Stokes, whose band State Radio plays a sold out show at the Iron Horse Music Hall on Thursday and then headlines the Calvin Theater on Friday.

“We’re psyched to be back in Noho for Round 2,” says Stokes. “After last year’s race raised $16,000 to help end violence against Sudanese women, local groups like the Belchertown High School Humanities Club and Smith STAND have answered the call to make this year’s even bigger and better. On top of being such an important cause to Sybil and me, the costumes and spirit of the event is a blast, too!”

In December 2008, Chad Stokes (State Radio, Dispatch) & Sybil Gallagher launched Calling All Crows, a service organization dedicated to mobilizing musicians and their fans to empower women around the world. Nearly two years later, Calling All Crows has far exceeded Sybil and Chad's expectations, boasting over 8,000 hours of service by fans and close to $175,000 raised in support of Sudanese women.

After several sold out acoustic benefit shows, Chad Stokes & Friends are taking to the road, starting December 1st in Chicago, IL at Lincoln Hall and concluding with a benefit concert at the House of Blues on December 10th that will serve as the centerpiece of Calling All Crows' 3rd Annual Benefit Weekend.