Cultural Manifesto

This week on Cultural Manifesto listen to an interview with Stewart Copeland, best known as the co-founder and drummer of the legendary British rock band The Police. Copeland will bring his “Police Deranged for Orchestra" tour to the Palladium in central Indiana on October 19th. Also, celebrate Halloween with the Indianapolis hip-hop producer Harry Otaku. He’ll share tracks for his horror-themed rap album “It Tape”.

This week on Cultural Manifesto, hear interviews with Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone of the legendary British rock band The Zombies - they'll be performing at the Brown County Music Center on October 19. Along with the Beatles and Rolling Stones, The Zombies were among the first wave of British Invasion bands to hit America during the 1960s. The Zombies were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019, and their music continues to attract new generations of fans. We'll discuss The Zombies' classic 1968 album "Odessey and Oracle" and their latest recording, "Different Game."

This week on Cultural Manifesto Kyle Long talks with Bill Medley and Bucky Heard of the legendary R&B duo The Righteous Brothers. They are performing in Central Indiana this week. Medley will share his memories of touring with The Beatles and recording with Phil Spector. Kyle also speaks with the Indianapolis composer/instrument builder Rob Funkhouser and the clarinetist/composer Eric Salazar. They’ll tell us about their collaborative new release, “Study in Place Live.”

Last week in Broad Ripple, a mural depicting the late Indianapolis DJ and photojournalist Mpozi Tolbert was painted over. The mural’s erasure provoked widespread outrage in the community. The artist and musician Mike Graves joins Kyle Long to discuss Mpozi’s history in Indianapolis. Graves was a close friend and colleague of Mpozi. In 2016, Graves painted his own mural of Mpozi in Fountain Square in collaboration with artist Justin Cooper. We also look back at Farm Aid 2023 which happened last week in Noblesville, Indiana. The all-day music festival featured performances by iconic American musicians, from Willie Nelson to Neil Young. The event also celebrated the work of Indiana farmers, including Lauren McCalister of Ellettsville and Denise Greer Jamerson of Princeton. Hear their stories this week on Cultural Manifesto.

This week on Cultural Manifesto hear a preview of Indy Jazz Fest and Bloomington’s Lotus World and Music Arts Festival. We’ll share interviews with Indy Jazz Fest performers Stanley Clarke and Sheila E. Plus words and music from Lotus Festival artists, including Sonny Singh, RAM, and La Perla.

This week on Cultural Manifesto listen to an interview with the 20x Grammy-winning guitarist Pat Metheny — he’ll be performing at this year’s Indy Jazz Fest. Metheny will discuss his connections to Indiana and his long relationship with the music of Wes Montgomery.

This week on Cultural Manifesto listen to an interview with Andrés Salguero and Christina Sanabria of 123 Andrés - a Latin Grammy-winning duo who create bilingual music for children and families. The music of 123 Andrés incorporates rhythms from across North and South America, and features collaborations with legendary Latin music performers including Rubén Blades, and Gilberto Santa Rosa. Also, listen to the latest edition of Rebel Music with Karla López Owens, an ongoing series exploring the relationship between music and activism. Karla’s guest will be the activist and writer Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez. Prisca is the founder of the online platform Latina Rebels, and the author of the 2021 book "For Brown Girls with Sharp Edges and Tender Hearts: A Love Letter to Women of Color”. Prisca will be giving a free talk at the Madam Walker Legacy Center on September 12, as part of the IUPUI Chancellor’s Diversity Speaker Series.

Rebel Music with Karla López Owens is an ongoing series on Cultural Manifesto exploring the relationship between music and activism. On this episode, Karla’s guest is the activist and writer Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez. Prisca is the founder of the online platform Latina Rebels, and the author of the 2021 book "For Brown Girls with Sharp Edges and Tender Hearts: A Love Letter to Women of Color”. Prisca will be giving a free talk at the Madam Walker Legacy Center on September 12, as part of the IUPUI Chancellor’s Diversity Speaker Series. In this conversation, Prisca discusses some of the life experiences that shaped her writing, and shares music that inspired her along the way."

Listen to the latest edition of Finding Etheridge with Mat Davis, a new series exploring the people and places connected to the Indianapolis poet Etheridge Knight. Mat’s guest is poet Elizabeth Gordon McKim, Etheridge Knight’s partner and companion during the final years of his life. McKim lives in Lynn, Massachusetts. She recently visited Indianapolis for the unveiling of a new Etheridge Knight mural on Massachusetts Avenue. During the 1980s, Knight and McKim lived together on Mass Ave at the Barton Tower housing project. McKim will discuss her connection to Etheridge Knight, and her latest book “Elizabetheridge: A Memoir in Poetry”.