ANova Brazil, a percussion band from …well…Brazil were the first band to kick off the Honk Festival at Statue Park in Davis Sq on Saturday. They were one of 7 different street bands playing concurrently at different locations within a 3 block radius of this corner of Somerville. This was the 13th annual festival, which started here in Somerville, but has now spread not only around the country, but indeed the world. The concept is simple, activist street bands bringing joyous music to issues of social justice. Politics does play a big role in the event. At the opening ceremony, Lance Davis, an Alderman from the city of Somerville, drove home this point. LD act This weekend, the city of Somerville has joined Cambridge and other communities in officially changing the name of the Holiday weekend to Indigenous Peoples Day. In Somerville the idea for the change was sparked by a group of 6th graders from East Somerville Community School. They also addressed the opening ceremony. 6th graders Of course it is the bands that are the real joy of the day. This year they came from across the continent, with some bands as far away as Van Couver and San Francisco. Also Quebec and Brazil to add more international flavor. The Forward Marching Band has been attending for several years. They are from Madison WI. FMB Rouble Rouser song Music under…. Rockin’ Charlie Barkin’ is with the Forward Marching Band Rockin C interview Music back up Aaron is a Freshman student at Boston University. He’s only been in the Boston area for a little over a month. I asked him about his impressions of Honk. Aaron interview Stan Orts interview That was Stan Orts, formely of Revolution Books in Harvard Sq. He was handing out literature for Bob Avakian of the Revolutionary Communist Party. Unlawful Assembly band A band that made their first appearance at Honk was Unlawful Assembly from Minnasota. Band up Samishka interview Band up Elaine interview That was Elaine a Somerville resident who lives near Davis Sq. Leftist Marching Band This is the Leftist Marching Band, from Portsmith, NH, playing right in the middle of Elm street, which was closed to vehicle traffic. The rest of the streets through Davis Sq were open though, and the Somerville Police did a heck of a job keeping traffic flowing and people safe. Reporting from Davis Sq. I am Chuck Rosina