David LaMotte concert to kick off Season of Peace

Renowned peace and justice artist performing at Springdale Presbyterian Church

by Scott O’Neill | Presbyterian News Service

David LaMotte. (Photo provided)

LOUISVILLE — A veteran of more than 3,000 concerts and 12 full-length CDs of mostly original music, songwriter, guitarist, speaker, and writer David LaMotte will present a concert on Wednesday, September 5 at 7:30 p.m. at Springdale Presbyterian Church in Louisville, Kentucky. The free concert, underwritten and presented by the PC(USA) Compassion, Peace & Justice Ministry and the Mid-Kentucky Presbytery, will kick off the month-long Season of Peace.

BBC radio Belfast described LaMotte as an insightful songwriter with a “sweet voice and dazzling guitar ability.” The Boston Globe wrote that his music “pushes the envelope with challenging lyrics and unusual tunings…that pays homage to the folk tradition.” LaMotte has also presented to the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations and been a keynote speaker for peace conferences in Berlin and the Scottish Parliament. He’s facilitated conversations about race, privilege, and positive change for students at Montreat and recently performed a TEDx talk on what music can teach us about peacemaking.

“David LaMotte is one of the most innovative change-makers I have had the privilege to know,” said Sara Lisherness, director of Compassion, Peace & Justice (CPJ). “His music reflects his core commitments to justice and peace in all aspects of our lives together on this planet.  He will be in Louisville to work with the Compassion, Peace and Justice staff as we explore what it means for the church to be an institution and also a movement for change. We’ll look at the opportunities and challenges and the inherent tensions in working in these realms as we develop our work plans for 2019.”

Concert admission is free, but an offering will be received to benefit Louisville Showing Up for Racial Justice (LSURJ) and the Louisville Bail Project. LSURJ helps white people concerned with racial justice issues connect with other organizations to create a strong, multi-racial voice for racial justice. The Louisville Bail Project provides bail money for non-violent, low-risk individuals so they can continue to work and provide for their families while they await trial, according to the Rev. Dwain Lee, pastor and head of staff at Springdale Presbyterian Church.

“We’re delighted to host this concert. It ties in perfectly with our congregation’s increasing involvement with compassion, peace, and justice work and our commitment to meaningful engagement with the broader community,” said Lee. “For us to host an event that is a presentation of both CPJ and the Mid-Kentucky Presbytery is a way that we can show, in concrete terms, the connectional nature of being Presbyterian.”

LaMotte has also published three books, including two illustrated children’s books. In 2004 he and his wife Deanna founded PEG Partners, a non-profit organization that supports literacy, critical thought, and artistic expression in Guatemala. His latest album, titled The Other Way Around, features musicians from each continent. You can learn more about his music and presentations at www.davidlamotte.com.

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For more information about this event, contact Springdale Presbyterian Church at 502-425-1760 or pastor@springdalechurch.org.

The Peace & Global Witness Offering is received during the Season of Peace.