The Gram Partisans are a Vancouver (BC, Canada) based roots folk group
whose music combines our collective respect for many diverse musical
traditions with our beliefs in hope, integrity, justice and a long
memory. We play mostly original songs that tell stories of courage,
trust, imagination, and solidarity. We seek to challenge your views of
what music rooted in social justice can sound and feel like. Follow us
on Facebook ~ Contact the Gram
Partisans by email.
The current line-up of the Gram Partisans is: William (Bill) Hood -
vocals and guitar Georgina Arntzen -
vocals and mandolin Jack MacDermot - fiddle
and vocals Alan Zisman - accordion
and piano Michel Drouin - bass and
vocals
News: 2023:
The Gram Partisans will be the feature act at the long-running Beats of Broadway coffee house: Friday Apr 28, 7.30 pm 800 East Broadway (Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House) - info: 605-874-1256
2022:
Welcome
new Gram Partisans bass player - Michel Drouin
The Gram Partisans performed on Nov 25 as the feature set at Unplugged
at the Crossroads Hospice Coffeehouse,
Mabbett Hall, Port Coquitlam Community Centre, 2150 Wilson Avenue, Port
Coquitlam.
September 19, 2021,
2 pm: The
Gram Partisans played a set outdoors at Vancouver's MacLean Park, opening for The Hot Mammas and The Tumbleweeds.
Much of the set can
be viewed here as part of the 2021
Virtual Accordion Noir Festival
July 5, 2021:
Vancouver's The
Gram Partisans recorded Empty
Pairs of Shoes,
words and music by William Hood. The Gram Partisans are William Hood
(vocals, guitar), Georgina Arntzen (vocals, mandolin), Jack MacDermot
(fiddle), Alan Zisman (accordion). The song was written following the
rediscovery of 215 unmarked graves of indigenous children on the site
of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia,
and the creation of a memorial by Haida artist Tamara Bell. More
information: https://thetyee.ca/News/2021/06/02/Shoes-Activists-Create-Symbol-of-Mourning-Residential-Schools/
May 2, 2021: The
Gram
Partisans
recorded Bill Hood original Anne
Feeney - Union Made, a tribute to
political folk singer Anne
Feeney, who died Feb 3 2021.
June
19: The Gram Partisans played outside at Vancouver's MacLean
Park
April 9: Cancelled - House Concert in Support of Unist'ot'en Legal Fund
- The Gram Partisans & The Re:Sisters sing in Solidarity
2019: May 7:
Anti-pipeline benefit at St James Hall (W 10th & Trutch) March 10:
Clinton Park Celebration - 2nd Ave and Slocan
March 9: Fundraiser - Taking a Stand to Protect the Land - Sutikalh
& Ulluisc at Notional Space, 1523 E Pender
2017:
October 6: 6-11 pm: Pre-Hallowe’en Party: featuring Geoff Berner
&
The Gram Partisans - fundraiser for Jean Swansen's campaign for
Vancouver City Council - Selecter's Records, 8 E. Pender
July 4th: Feature act at the Jericho Folk Club
June 29: Opener for Albuquerque's Eileen & the In-Betweens at
Spartacus Books
June 10: Just Voices:Union Made concert at the Russian Hall
May 29:, Fundraiser for Ulluilsc and Sutikalh, Grandview Calvary
Baptist Church, 1803 E 1st Ave, Vancouver
March 16: Celebration of 10 years of the Vancouver Squeezebox Circle,
at Spartacus Books.
February 18: Cleansing the Waters, a benefit house concert in support
of the First Nations, the Musgamagw Dzawada'enuxw, on western Vancouver
Island who are opposing the fish farms in their territory.
2016:
Oct 2:
Opening act
for Toronto punk-poet Rob Moir - Spartacus Books
April 23: Workers' Celebration: Gram Partisans, Left Coast Labour
Chorus, Cosmic Wink, Fraser Union, Re-Sisters, and more. WISE Hall
April 13: Feature act at Heartwood Community Cafe
January 28: Resistance Cabaret III - a fundraiser for the Madii'Lii
anti-pipeline First Nations encampment - Cafe Deux Soleils
July 23: Fundraiser for Voice for the Voiceless action camp, Spartacus
Books
June 12: Anti-Capitalist Music Show - a fundraiser for the Vancouver
IWW - Toast Collective
January 21: Opened for David Rovics - a fund-raiser for the Unist'ot'en
Action Camp, Spartacus Books. Partisans and Rovics sets are online.
2014:
- Video of the Gram
Partisans
performing These Schools Are Your Schools
at Vancouver's Chief Maquinna Elementary picket line, September 16
2014, the day the tentative settlement was announced. Thanks to Dora
Kwok for filming and posting online.
- BC Teachers' Picket Line Songs-
Two songs written by Gram Partisan member Bill Hood for the 2014 BC
teachers' strike. Recorded by Simon Kendall (Thanks Simon!) All
proceeds from these recordings donated to the union strike
fund.
- Video clips
of the Gram Partisans playing on teacher picket lines, June 2014
(including at the VESTA study session at the Orpheum, June 16) and at
the June 10 teacher rally.
Gram Partisan
founder, vocalist,
and guitar player Bob Rosen died November 22, 2011. Read his obituary
and leave a comment and watch video of his memorial.
The Gram Partisan's
2011
recording, You Will Not
Stand Alone,
can be listened to online and purchased
as a (on sale for
$10) digital download. To purchase a physical CD ($15 + $2 postage),
email the band.
More:
Former members (and still Partisans
in our hearts):
- Bob Rosen - guitar and vocals (2004-2011)
- Steve Quattrocchi - mandolin and banjo (2008)
- Ted McNenny - lead guitar and dobro (through Fall 2007)
- Wahl - mandolin (through Fall 2006)
- Annie Bailey - bass (through Winter 2008)
- Peter Bazovsky - violin (2010- 2012)
- Phil Wallace - bass (2011 - Fall 2014)
- David Anderson - bass (various times through 2018)
- Caitlan Read - fiddle (2014-2018)
- Joni Miller - bass (2018-2019)
- Tom Arntzen - bass (2021)
-
photo by Eric Wong
--
Sketch by Jim Easton
from Feb 25 2013
performance at Marche Bakery
May 7:
Anti-pipeline benefit at St James Hall (W 10th & Trutch) 
Oct 2:
Opening act
for Toronto punk-poet Rob Moir - Spartacus Books
