Register 44 Seats Remaining

Oh Freedom! Songs of the Civil Rights Movement

Join award-winning Illinois folksinger Chris Vallillo, for a performance of pivotal songs from the music that inspired and sustained the civil rights movement.

The Civil Rights Movement has been described as one of the greatest singing movements that this country has experienced. From “We Shall Overcome” to “This Little Light of Mine,” music played a vital role as an inspirational rallying point and as a way to spread the message of equality and justice.

From the Freedom Riders to the jails of Montgomery Alabama and Parchman Prison all the way to Washington, DC, old and new songs of the era spoke of the yearning for equal rights: the struggle and the determination to win freedom. Music engaged and energized the movement locally and nationally, becoming the backbone of the nonviolent civil disobedience movement led by Dr. King and others.

The show is performed on multiple instruments (acoustic and electric guitars, dobro, steel guitar, and Mandolin plus vocals) and includes historically accurate first-person accounts of the music and how it impacted the Civil Rights Movement.

Presented in partnership with Illinois Humanities, a statewide nonprofit organization that activates the humanities through free public programs, grants, and educational opportunities that spark conversation, foster reflection, build community, and strengthen civic engagement for everyone in Illinois.

Upcoming Events