BEMIDJI, Minn. — The Outdoor Programming Center, Hobson Memorial Union, the Hobson Union Programming Board and Students for the Environment at Bemidji State University are hosting a free community bicycle tuneup and ride, followed by a concert by Shannon Murray on Wednesday, Oct. 17.

Beginning at 3 p.m., the OPC will offer a free bike tuneup, and will provide tools and air for tires. Following the tuneup, the OPC will lead a group ride prior to the Murray concert, which will begin at 7 p.m. at the pergola in front of Bridgeman Hall on the BSU campus.

Murray is a folk singer and activist living in Bemidji who is a BSU alum. Her stop in Bemidji is part of a two-month folk music bicycle tour of Minnesota with fellow folk singer Dave Cuomo of Brooklyn, N.Y.

The Bemidji State concert will be the final stop on a 15-community “Respect Yr Mama Bike Tour,” which will have covered 1,200 miles, all pedal-powered, to spread radical, socially-conscious music in interactive ways. Murray’s music also is intended to spread awareness about bicycling as a viable form of transportation.

During her tour stops, Murray encourages and participates in discussions about the connections between capitalism, the consumer culture, global climate change and community; and also explores and links forms of oppression such as war, racism, factory farming and domestic violence with environmental issues and global warming.

Murray will also be doing classroom visits during her tour stop, visiting a First Year Experience class in the morning and meeting with Students for the Environment following the concert.

Last fall, Murray went on a similar bike tour from St. Louis to New Orleans.

For more information, contact T. Todd Masman, director of HMU at (218) 755-3765 or via e-mail.

ON THE WEB
Shannon Murray: http://www.shannonmurray.com
Dave Cuomo: http://www.myspace.com/cuomomusic

FOR YOUR CALENDAR
Oct. 17 — Bemidji State University’s Outdoor Programming Center hosts a free community bike tune-up and ride, beginning at 3 p.m. Concert by folk singer Shannon Murray to follow, 7 p.m. at Bridgeman Hall pergola. Admission: free, open to the public. Information: Hobson Memorial Union, (218) 755-3765.