SOMERVILLE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The stage is set for Calling All Crows’ 17th Annual Benefit Weekend (ABW) at Somerville Theatre on Friday, April 4.
Chadwick Stokes and Sybil Gallagher cofounded Calling All Crows, a non-profit using music as an avenue to promote social change. Stokes said one of their main focuses has been bringing awareness to sexual violence in the music industry towards women.
“We’re in a crazy time. We’re in a critical time and we need to resist in every way we can, and I think the arts are a big part of that,” said Stokes.
He credited his wife with the non-profit's continuous growth.
“It’s hard to keep anything going for a really long time. Sybil is really the everything for this. She really oversees things, and we have such a great team of people who [do] all the behind the scenes work to keep a non-profit like this alive,” said Stokes.
Reproductive rights have also been a major focus for the group, especially in the wake of Roe v. Wade being overturned. ABW will feature a performance of Stokes’ rock opera “1972,” which is set in the year before the U.S. Supreme Court decided on Roe v. Wade.
“It’s about a young woman running from an abusive relationship in 1972. She’s newly pregnant and jumps freight trains to simultaneously escape her boyfriend, and she’s looking to obtain an illegal abortion,” said Stokes. “It’s kind of about her journey and her adventure, and her meeting that world head on with the cards stacked against her.”
Aside from the music and mingling, Calling All Crows will give out service awards. Sen. Elizabeth Warren has won an award in the past, and Stokes said Sen. Ed Markey will be one of the recipients this year.
“We give out an award every year called the Lauzie Award,” said Stokes. “It’s for people who are public servants and people who have really dedicated their lives, and he definitely has. He’s been so wonderful for this state, so we’re really excited to honor him,” said Stokes.
The festivities kick off at 5:00 p.m. on Friday with a VIP reception with food, drinks and an acoustic set from Stokes. Then, they will head to Somerville Theatre for the performance of “1972” at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase online.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Drew Moholland (@DrewWBZ) reports.