Thursday Dec. 22: CJAM’s 2nd Annual Joe Strummer Day confronts poverty with 24-hours of programming

CJAM’s 2nd Annual Joe Strummer Day will confront poverty in Windsor-Detroit on Dec. 22 with 24 hours of musicology, journalism, criticisms and solutions.

Starting at midnight on the 9th anniversary of Strummer’s death, CJAM will again dedicate 24-hours to the cause, and that’s where our great programmers come in. All regular programming will be pre-empted while our musicologists, activists, and journalists work together to get that world to listen to Windsor-Detroit poverty issues. Terrestrially, the broadcast can be heard at CJAM 99.1 FM in Windsor-Detroit. Worldwide, CJAM will get that world to listen at www.cjam.ca

“This is now our mission every Dec. 22 — to get that world to listen to Windsor-Detroit poverty issues,” says Program Director Vernon Smith. “We marry that mission with the music of Joe Strummer because so much of his songbook examines the connection between poverty and oppression.”

The overnight portions of Joe Strummer Day will largely feature the songbook, with daylight casting a harsh light on one of the most depressed regions in North America – Windsor-Detroit. Meanwhile, Chris Crossroads of Deliverance and a line-up of area musicians will host a fundraiser for the Windsor Youth Centre at Phog Lounge.

As for the broadcast, the schedule is as follows.

Midnight to 1 am: Vernon Smith (host of The Jazz Hacienda) launches Joe Strummer Day with rarities from his own, private Clash stash.

1 to 3 am: Dave Konstantino (host of Revolution Rock and multi-instrumentalist of The Hypnotics) unearths rarefied Clash and Strummer recordings – amazing takes from the library of CJAM’s chief garage archeologist.

3 to 5 am: Joe McGregor (The Best Show Ever) looks at artists so influenced by Joe Strummer that they dared to cover him.

5 to 6 am: Vernon Smith Presents: The Clash Live at the Lochem Festival in Holland, May 20, 1982.

6 to 8 am: Chris Crossroads Presents: Joe Strummer Live at St. Anne’s Warehouse, NYC, April 2, 2002.

8 to 9 am: CAM Wells, host of Handi-Link, investigates the relationships between poverty and disability in terms of how those who are disadvantaged might not be able to access health services, and how disabilities get worse as a result of poverty factors such as malnutrition.

9 to 10:30 am: Poverty, Human Rights, Civil disobedience — Chris Crossroads examines contemporary sociopolitical events on the world scene and brings them back to the streets of Windsor-Detroit in an exploration of the subjects revealed by Strummer in his songs. With a backdrop of sonic fury, Crossroads takes us on an in-your-face ride though humanity’s darkest places. Then he looks for solutions.

10:30 to Noon: Crossroads joins Clara Musca, host of the Washing Machine, for the music of Joe Strummer and the Clash, along with a discussion on Strummer’s life and his work confronting poverty issues.

Noon to 12:30: Ankur Kumar (Voices of a Generation) airs a Joe Strummer biographical special – examining the ex-Clash frontman’s social activism roots.

12:30 to 1 pm: Big JD (of U Talkin 2 Me) speaking to Tamara Kowalska of the Windsor Youth Centre about tonight’s Joe Strummer Day benefit at Phog Lounge, while also speaking about the youth served by the centre.

1 to 3 pm: Dave Konstantino leads a panel discussion picking apart the Clash epic, Sandinista! Other panelists will include Martin Deck, Vernon Smith, and Mike Konstantino.

3:00 to 4 pm: Sarah Morris (Pardon My French), examines Joe Strummer’s global influences.

4 to 4:30 pm: Urban Gardening, Detroit style, with Willy Wilson (The Motor City is Burning), who joins his neighbours for a report on how they turned an abandoned lot into a mini-food farm.

4:30 – 5 pm: Steve Fields (Research Matters) interviews Dr. Debra Hernandez Jozefowicz of the University of Windsor’s School Social Work to discuss the alarming rate of teens ending up on the streets of Detroit after leaving foster homes.

5 to 6 pm: Paul Chislett and Jonathon Liedtke report from the frontlines of Occupy Windsor — offering insights on how the action succeeded and where it must go from here.

6 to 7 pm: Milk and Vodka hosts Meghan Mills and Nicole Beuglet examine specific women’s issues related to poverty, looking at the gender construction of women and how this relates to the possibilities for employment. They will discuss how women are affected by systemic policies, such as health care, maternity leave, and social security — addressing how poverty overwhelmingly affects women of colour, immigrants and, aboriginal women.

7 to 8 pm: Theresa Leslie (We Surrender) pays tribute to Joe Strummer by treating CJAM listeners to an hour of artists that influenced The Clash, The Pogues and The Mescaleros… so much in fact… that the bands covered them. An hour of the original tracks that Joe Strummer and the guys loved so much, they had to put their own spin on them, along with a few of Theresa’s favourite Clash covers recorded by Canadian bands.

8 to 8:30 pm: American Frank host examines the culture of corruption revolving around Detroit poverty.

8:30 to 9 pm: All in a Day’s Work host Ian Clough looks at the plight of laid-off manufacturing workers as they become the new poor.

9 to 10:30 pm: Greg and Kenny from The Trip look at Strummer’s more esoteric sides and outtakes.

10:30 to Midnight: Martin Deck, host of Wake the Town, continues his exploration of the reggae heritage of The Clash. Last year, Deck offered a highly structured history of the Clash’s attempts at reggae. This year, Deck will be looking at something much looser, with more emphasis on reggae elements in a wider variety of Clash originals. He will address the ongoing influence of the Clash on reggae and reggaefied rock by incorporating many more reggae & dub versions of Clash songs by the likes of Dr. Israel, Germany’s Dub Spencer & Trance Hill, and Canada’s own Dubmatix.

Midnight to 1 am: CJAM’s Music Director Murad Erzinclioglu closes out Joe Strummer Day by picking apart The Clash bootleg, Street Rats.