Bands for the Banned: Music and Story in Concert

Last Thursday in downtown Minneapolis, nearly 200 music enthusiasts and book lovers lined up outside of the First Avenue/7th St Entry doors, eager to find shelter from the December chill. Inside the venue, Lerner staff greeted concertgoers with glow sticks (because it’s a party) and event postcards with information about groups that support libraries and schools subjected to book challenges and bans. Conversations sprouted, and soon the space once filled with strangers became a room for community. It was time to rally for the right to read.

The idea for the Bands for the Banned benefit concert, which was held on December 5, 2024, started nearly a year ago, when Julia Eubanks, lead singer and guitarist for Creeping Charlie, toured the Lerner Publishing Group offices. She shared how important reading was to her and how books influenced her music. Lerner’s marketing team recounted the dramatic rise in book bans and challenges, and how we worked to support school and public librarians facing book bans. Could these passions for books and music come together? The concept of #BandsfortheBanned was born.

Leo Lerner, Special Sales Associate, and Karlyn Coleman, Classroom Marketing Manager, began brainstorming a way to connect with the Minneapolis community and educate the general public on how pervasive and dangerous these book bans actually are. What better way to spread the news than through rock and roll? Music and books share the inherent idea that one needs freedom of expression to create and consume all art. While the music industry might appear impervious, songs can be just as vulnerable as books when it comes to censorship.

Staunch in the belief that we are stronger together, Lerner Publishing Group sought to combine story and song. Leo, who plays bass in a number of Minneapolis bands as well, worked with bookers at the First Avenue/7th St Entry venue to find a possible concert date. And he found four local Minneapolis bands who agreed to share their time and talent for the cause. Proceeds from the event could then be given to groups that help schools and libraries fight book challenges and bans in their area. Lerner partnered with three key organizations for the Bands for the Banned event: EveryLibrary’s Fight for the First anti-censorship campaign; We Are Stronger Than Censorship, which targets areas where censorship is strong and donates inclusive books through regional partners, including the Florida Freedom to Read Project, Texas Freedom to Read Project, and Wisconsin Freedom to Read Project; and the American Library Association’s Unite Against Book Bans initiative.

The Bands

The four bands who donated their time and talents included Yonder, Chutes, Dad Bod, and WBS. Each took the stage in turn, infusing the atmosphere with their own unique energy. The photographs below, taken by the brilliant Mae Saunders, take you straight into the experience.

Set from Yonder

Set from Chutes

Set from Dad Bod

Set from WBS

The Message

Leo Lerner kicked off the night, introducing how the event came together. Between sets, Patrick Sweeney, cofounder and digital director of EveryLibrary, and Sam Helmick, Iowa City public librarian and ALA president-elect, shared information about book bans/challenges, as well as inspiration for continuing the fight for the freedom to read.

Sweeny talked about the escalation in book bans and the threats being made to librarians, authors, publishers, and even people who have Little Free Libraries. “It’s a very scary time for librarians who are out there just trying to help children read,” he said. He urged concert goers to look to the legislation. As of November 28, 2024, there were 128 bills introduced in 29 states designed to restrict people’s access to books and deny them the right to read. He pointed out that, “It’s really up to people like us to take action on this….Please stand up for librarians.”

Patrick Sweeny, cofounder and digital director of EveryLibrary

Photo credit: Mae Saunders

Helmick highlighted the resources available to librarians and readers through the ALA’s Unite Against Book Bans initiative. They also shared words of hope, saying, “This is so good for our minds and our hearts. . . We can fight censorship together. We have incredible music wherever we go, as we do. And together, we’re going to win.”

Adam Lerner, Publisher and CEO, attended the event and watched as the crowd cheered on the speakers. He says, “It was heartening to see a lot of young energy in the room and how committed musicians and music fans are to reading.”

During the event, everyone had the opportunity to donate to EveryLibrary, We Are Stronger than Censorship, and ALA’s Unite Against Book Bans. Even if you couldn’t make it to the concert, you can still support librarians, teachers, and readers of all ages. Scan the QR codes to donate!

After a night of good music and good company, the bands, music lovers, and readers stepped out into the cold and went their separate ways. But because we came together and because we know we are not alone, we are ready to continue the fight for the freedom to read!

Thank you to all of the bands, speakers, First Avenue/7th St Entry staff, EveryLibrary, ALA’s Unite Against Book Bans, and We Are Stronger than Censorship for making this event a reality!