Atmosphere, Lupe Fiasco Sign Up To "Take Labor Day Back"

Do you celebrate Labor Day? Of course you do, even if you don't necessarily know of its origins. So what better way to celebrate your day off than to see other people working in order to celebrate your right to a day off now and again? If you don't already have plans on Sept. 1st, then head on to Harriott Island Regional Park to watch local hip-hop heroes Atmosphere, Chicago-rapper Lupe Fiasco, Billy Bragg, Tom Tom Morello, Steve Earle, and Allison Moorer take back Labor Day. From whom, exactly, I'm not sure, but the fact that the concert is taking place at the foot of the Republican National Convention should provide a big enough hint.

As for the details of the concert itself, we'll leave that to the good folks at Rhymesayers to fill you in on the rest of the details:

The Take Back Labor Day Festival, sponsored by SEIU, will include a concert, a You Tube station, a children's area, and a large audience-participation art project. Joining the performers will be SEIU leaders Andy Stern and Anna Burger and other special guests.

The festival will both celebrate workers' achievements and promote a New Vision for the 21st Century that includes:

-Affordable, quality healthcare for everyone;
-Wages that can support families;
-Freedom to join unions without intimidation;
-Retirement security.

Tickets for the event, which will take place on Sept. 1 from noon to 7 p.m, can be bought through Ticketmaster or Fifth Element. That's right, a pro-union concert is being sponsored by Ticketmaster. As Bart Simpson would say, the ironing is delicious.

"Take Back Labor Day" is on Sept. 1st.

(Jonathan Graef)