[Last week, FMC wrapped up our sixth Artist Activism Camp in New Orleans, where we hung out with a buncha incredible musicians and talked about ways they can work for positive social change in their lives and careers. As always, there was an incredible show to benefit NOLA do-gooders Sweet Home New Orleans. We wanted to give our readers a bit more flavor — mmm, tastes like gumbo! — so we asked our Events Coordinator (and AAC vet), Chhaya Kapadia, to give us a behind-the-scenes report.]

Back from New Orleans trip #6 and I'm happy to report that the city felt more refreshed this time. As I've mentioned in previous posts at my personal site, I was there to hang out with a smart, thoughtful, committed group of musicians to talk about about activism for a few days, after which the artists all put on a fantastic group rock show at One Eyed Jacks.

I know it's easy to forget about New Orleans when it's been nearly five years since Hurricane Katrina and there have been earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, Iran, Pakistan, and China, a tsunami in Southeast Asia — not to mention all the smaller and man-made disasters that don't inspire telethons. But New Orleans belongs to all of us: the music community and America. It's the birthplace of so much American music and we stand to lose a part of what makes us unique if we let it slip away for lack of effort. read more