Overview
Beau Dixon presents Freedom 2.0: Black Music That Shaped The Dream Of America, an exciting and intimate show exploring the triumphant sounds of blues, gospel, reggae, soul and jazz and African American music’s influence on Western civilization during the Freedom Movement and civil rights era. Narrated through song and text, you will hear the works of musicians, poets and activists such as Martin Luther King Jr., Stevie Wonder, James Baldwin, Harry Belafonte, Langston Hughes, Duke Ellington, Maya Angelou and many others. Join us as we celebrate the history of Black music presented by some of Canada’s most talented singers and musicians. Originally presented by the Stratford Festival.
Oh Freedom
Love’s In Need Of Love Today
Oh Happy Day
Move On Up A Little Higher
Strange Fruit
Mississippi Goddamn
People Get Ready
John Henry
I’m A Black Man In A White World
Freedom Day
To Be Young, Gifted and Black
Love Train
About Beau Dixon
A multi-talented artist, Beau Dixon previously took the reigns as the curator, director, music director, singer, keyboardist and harmonica player for Stratford Festival’s production of Freedom: Spirit and Legacy of Black Music in 2021 as well as his most recent production of Freedom 2.0: Black Music That Shaped the Dream of America. Elsewhere, he has performed with Crow’s Theatre, Coal Mine Theatre, Neptune Theatre, Tarragon Theatre, Soulpepper Theatre, Alberta Theatre Projects and Canadian Stage and has appeared on television productions with CBC, Discovery, Amazon, Paramount and HBO. As a playwright, Dixon’s works have garnered Dora Mavor Moore and Calgary Theatre Critic’s Awards, while as a musician he has toured, written, produced and performed for both live shows and studio recordings. He founded his recording studio, Sound Kitchen, in 2000 and held a Dora Award nomination for his composition and sound design work with the Shaw Festival and Praxis Theatre.
Dixon co-founded the educationally focused Firebrand Theatre in 2010 and served as the musical director for Sheridan College and Lakefield College School. Check out his solo albums Detroit Folk and From Here to East City on iTunes and other streaming platforms.
Access Info
The Toronto Music Garden is a wheelchair accessible park. Summer Music In The Garden concerts include 8 reserved spots for accessible seating on a first come, first served basis. As these performances take place in a park, they are inherently relaxed performances by nature.
Dates & Times
July 9
4pm
60 mins
Venue
Wheelchair accessible
Outdoors
Between Lower Spadina and Dan Leckie Way