Which Side?: A Protest Music Teach-Out Marks Sixth Edition with New Voices and Urgent Songs Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at the Burren Back Room in Somerville
Monthly Series Has Become a Gathering Place for Community, Conversation, and Resistance Through Music
(Somerville, MA – November 20, 2025) The 6th edition of Which Side?: A Protest Music Teach-Out returns to the Burren Back Room on Tuesday, December 16, for an evening of music, story, and solidarity. What began as an experiment in combining protest songs, performance, and dialogue has grown into a unique monthly community gathering — a place for artists and audiences to reflect, recharge, and raise their voices together.
Inspired by the book Which Side Are You On?: 20th Century American History in 100 Protest Songs by journalist and author James Sullivan, the series uses the work as a jumping-off point for live music and discussion about how songs have served as voices of resistance, advocacy, and change. Each month, participating musicians perform one song drawn from Sullivan’s book alongside one of their own original or contemporary protest-songs — bridging past struggles and current ones.
The series has featured notable Boston area musicians including Ezra Furman, Naomi Westwater, Joe Gittleman (of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones), Robin Lane, Will Dailey, Chad Stokes (Dispatch), Veronica Robles, Kemp Harris, Ryan Walsh (Hallelujah the Hills), Dave Champagne (Treat Her Right), Thea Hopkins, Laurie Sargent and many more — each bringing their distinct voices to the conversation.
The December gathering will include a fresh lineup of performers including Abbie Barrett, Chris Cote (Upper Crust), Good Trouble Brass Band, Linnea Herzog (Linnea’s Garden), Linda Twiss-Goscia (Roxy and the Crisis) and Paul Willis, each backed by the house band The Paid Protesters — Ed Valauskas (music director), Anthony Kaczynski, Paul Buckley, Mike Oram and Magen Tracy. This month the band will feature Eric Saulnier and Josh Kantor.
Produced by Joyce Linehan, Jon Lupfer, and Sullivan, the 90-minute program combines live performance, commentary, and audience participation, creating a space that’s equal parts concert, teach-in, and community meeting.
“This series started as an experiment, and now it’s become something people – myself included – draw strength from,” said Linehan. “At a time when so many of us are feeling isolated or powerless, Which Side? is an act of joy, creativity, and unity, where we come together, share music, and remember that collective action—and culture—will sustain us.”
“We’ve all been continually amazed at the fire and energy so many of Boston’s best musicians keep bringing to our little series. Every show has had capacity crowds,” said Sullivan. “This is what democracy sounds like.”
Event Details:
- Date & Time: Tuesday, December 16, 8:00 p.m. (doors 7:00 p.m.)
- Location: The Burren Back Room, 247 Elm St, Somerville, MA
- Admission: Pay-what-you-want. Proceeds support the musicians and staff; any additional proceeds will be donated to a nonprofit fighting to protect intellectual freedom.
- Seating Policy: Reservations strongly suggested; tickets will be released at 7:30 p.m. if not claimed. All ages welcome. Lineup subject to change without notice.
Tickets and more information can be found at https://www.whichside.boston/.