War, Music, and Healing – Talk and Performance

Award Winning author and Vietnam Veteran Doug Bradley will lead the audience on a 40-50 minute exploration of music and the Vietnam war based on his book We Gotta Get Out of This Place: The Soundtrack of the Vietnam War, named the best music book of 2015 by Rolling Stone magazine. Attendees will learn about the vets' stories behind the iconic music they listened to during, and after, the Vietnam War, with opportunities for questions before the break. Following Doug’s presentation, Award Winning songwriter and Iraq War Veteran Jason Moon will perform a one hour concert. Jason will use story and song to explore the way he uses music to help veterans recover from War Trauma. Sharing songs off of his ground-breaking “Trying to Find My Way Home” CD, as well as songs written in collaboration with other veterans, Jason leads the audience through the experience of veterans coming home from war. Q&A with Jason. And Doug too.

Together, Doug and Jason provide audience members with unique insights about music and war, as well as an understanding of how music can be used to help heal the wounds of war. Jason will provide copies of the CDs produced by Warrior Songs free of charge to veterans in attendance. Doug's books and other CDs will be available for purchase.

There is no cover charge for this event.

Jason Moon performs a fundraiser for Warrior Songs

Jason Moon performs story and song in support of Warrior Songs at VFW Stateline Post #8400 Land O' Lakes, WI

Warrior Songs founder Jason Moon is joined by long time friend and lead guitarist Adam Schultz for a night of song and story. All proceeds go to fund the mission of Warrior Songs - using music and the arts to bring healing to US Veterans.

Warrior Songs Fundraiser at The Stolpe Stage, Magnolia House Concert Series Featuring Warrior Songs Founder Jason Moon w/Greg Gilbertson 6:30pm – 10pm 2002 north 59th street Milwaukee, WI 53208

Warrior Songs Fundraiser w/Jason Moon, Jesse Frewerd, and The Mambo Surfers. Proceeds will go to support the creation of "Warrior Songs: BIPOC Veterans in three volumes"

Jason Moon presents a workshop and presentation at The Opioids, Stimulants, and Trauma Summit in Wisconsin

Sexual Trauma (MST) survivors in Scottsdale, Arizona. The retreat culminates with an art show where the veterans will display their healing creations on Saturday, November 23rd from 6:00pm to 8:30pm at the Franciscan Renewal Center located at 5802 E Lincoln Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85253. This event is free and open to the public. 13yo and older is encouraged do to the frank nature of the topics that will be discussed.

The retreat is offered free of charge to 16 Women Veterans who survived Military Sexual Trauma. 8 of the veterans will be local while the other 8 are from across the country. The retreat is facilitated by an experienced all volunteer staff of 5, three are veterans, two who are civilian therapists. Over the course of the 4 day retreat, the veterans explore aspects of their military service and subsequent trauma through a variety of art modalities including writing, painting, drawing, and songwriting. Each session is followed by an educational/instructional mind/body competent to assist in reducing any PSTD symptoms that arise from exploring the trauma. The art show is a key component to the healing power of the retreat as it allows the veteran to communicate the parts of the trauma that they most need to express publicly. Many participants share things they have never told to another person, and feel unburdened afterwards. Audience members from previous art show often state that the experience is one of the most profound and moving experiences of their lives.

Warrior Songs hosted a similar retreat in 2019. A video highlighting the retreat can be found here: https://youtu.be/QuUyS1VNEzs. A full retreat report can be found at this link https://www.warriorsongs.org/retreats. Local staff has been fundraising to cover the cost of the retreat since January 2020. Retreat facilitator and MST Survivor Luz Helena Thompson says, ““I am proud to be part of this retreat. Warrior songs utilizes creative arts as a powerful approach to supporting women veterans through the healing process and recovery from Military Sexual Trauma. I invite you to support the Warrior Songs Creative Arts Retreat by learning more about our programs on the website.”

DAY 1 THEME: 10-Year Anniversary Recognition and Preview of Priorities for the Future The goal of the Summit is to encourage stronger and more connected clinic-to-community responses through knowledge-sharing and dialogue. Day 1 will start with recognition of the 10-Year Anniversary of the first National Summit, hosted by Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Bethesda, and introduce priorities for exploring the next phases of collaborative work among Defense and Veteran Health agencies and their community partners, by focusing on meeting the needs of diverse and historically marginalized Service Members and Veterans of color, women, LGBTQIA, and uniquely abled populations.

Jason Moon performs at 1:30pm

Jason Moon debuts his brand new presentation show - "Healing with Song - 10 years of helping veterans find healing through songwriting" at Saint John's United Church of Christ, Coopersburg, PA 18036

A free will donation will support Jason's trip and continued work with Warrior Songs

“The Last Thing We Ever Do: Warrior Songs Vol. 3” - Official Release Party

After 2 years of dedicated work, Warrior Songs is pleased to announce the release of our third compilation CD “The Last Thing We Ever Do: Warrior Songs Vol. 3”.

This 14 song CD explores the experiences of USA Vietnam War Era Veterans. 19 Vietnam era Veterans gave testimony, which was transformed into song by 21 songwriters. 81 studio musicians came together in 14 different studios across 5 states in two countries – USA and Vietnam. In total, 109 artists, 17 of which were Vietnamese nationals, joined forces to complete the project.

The release party will take place at Turner Hall Ballroom in Milwaukee, WI on Sunday, August 8th, 2021. Doors open at 2pm, show starts at 3pm and goes until 6pm. Cost: Free to Veterans and $10 to Civilians – all attendees receive a complimentary copy of the CD. Several Milwaukee and Wisconsin based veterans service organizations will be present at the event to share information about their work.

The line includes 10 of the 14 acts that wrote and recorded songs for the CD, including: Lisa Johnson Vets on Frets Jake Froelke Kyle Rightly Larry Reed w/Frogwater Pauline Pisano w/BriGette McCoy Jeff Mitchell Aaron Baer and Paul Wisneski Jason Moon The Mambo Surfers Watermelon Slim Elvis Thao

Proceeds will help fund Warrior Songs future work

Our good friend Patricia Clason has helped us invite several groups to table. These groups include, Center for Veterans Issues, Vetsnet, Dry Hooch, Feast of Crispian, Veterans For Peace, and Vietnam Veterans Against the War.

Vietnam Veteran and Blues Legend Watermelon Slim is in Milwaukee supporting the release of "The Last Thing We Ever Do: Warrior Songs Vol. 3". Slim has a song on this CD. Stop by Linemman's for a rare intimate performance with a living blues legend.

Blues legend and Vietnam Veteran Watermelon Slim (2021 Blues Music Awards - Acoustic Blues Album ‘Traveling Man’, 2020 Blues Music Awards – Album of the Year ‘Church of the Blues’) is joined by Milwaukee Blues Musician Rich Travis and Warrior Songs founder Jason Moon.
Suggested donation of $5 at the door.

Warrior Songs Blues Bash Join us at Funks Pub on Friday August 6th for a night of blues music in support of Warrior Songs.

Blues legend and Vietnam Veteran Watermelon Slim (2021 Blues Music Awards - Acoustic Blues Album ‘Traveling Man’, 2020 Blues Music Awards – Album of the Year ‘Church of the Blues’) is joined by Madison blues rockers The MadTown Mannish Boys for a night of blues.

Warrior Songs founder and 2016 105.5 Triple M songwriting champion Jason Moon will open the show. All proceeds go to benefit the non-profit Warrior Songs – bringing healing to veterans through music and the creative arts.

Watermelon Slim is in Wisconsin in support of his song "Trying My Best to Get Back Home" off of the CD "The Last Thing We Ever Do: Warrior Songs Vol. 3" - 14 songs from the first hand testimony of USA Vietnam era Veterans.

WSv3 - www.warriorsongs.org/wsv3

Watermelon Slim - https://watermelonslim.com/

Madtown Mannish Boys - https://madtownmannishboys.com/

The concert and panel discussion are free and suitable for all ages.

5:15 – 6 pm : Concert at the top of State Street. Open to the public, bring your own seating.

6:30 – 8:00 pm : Panel Discussion with the musicians. Please register in advance on Eventbrite due to limited seating at the museum.

REGISTER HERE https://www.eventbrite.com/e/generations-healing-and-the-music-of-war-vietnam-to-today-tickets-160057076023

Live music is back and the Wisconsin Veterans Museum will host a free, outdoor concert at the top of State Street to preview the release of the album, The Last Thing We Ever Do (bring your own seating) followed by a public panel discussion (free; register in advance on Eventbrite) with the musicians. The album is a collection of songs based on first–hand testimony of Vietnam veterans about their experiences. The panel will explore their creative process and the healing that art activities can bring about.

Inspired by first-hand testimony, Vietnam-era veterans and professional songwriters created the songs and studio musicians gave them voice resulting in the 14-song album, The Last Thing We Ever Do.  The origins of the project begin with Vietnam vets sharing their experiences at retreats like Warrior Songs where veterans heal through the creative arts, personal conversations, and interviews. Topics range from combat and the draft to reintegration and moral injury.

Panelist:

Jason Moon, founder and executive director of Warrior Songs; Yvette Pino, Iraq war veteran and curator of veteran art for the Museum; Doug Bradley, Madison Vietnam veteran and co-author of We Gotta Get Out of This Place: The Soundtrack of the Vietnam War; Jake Froelke, songwriter and musician. He and Bradley collaborated on “Look Out Sam,” one of the songs on the album which emphasizes the significance of music to troops in Vietnam. The Last Thing We Ever Do is produced by Wisconsin native and Iraq vet Jason Moon of Warrior Songs, a Madison-based nonprofit which brings hope and healing to veterans through music and the creative arts. Warrior’s second volume, Women at War, was awarded album of the year by the Wisconsin Area Music Industry in 2019.

*Copies of The Last Thing We Ever Do will be provided free to veterans who attend the event.

The program is presented by the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Foundation with the support of Madison’s Central Business Improvement District.

https://wisvetsmuseum.com/wisvetsevent/generations-healing-and-the-music-of-war-vietnam-to-today-a-discussion-and-pre-program-concert/

Jason Moon performs a show for the R&R house. Featuring the song he wrote previously that day at a songwriting workshop.

Saturday – 07/31/2021 2pm to 6pm Bos Meadery 849 E Washington Ave, Madison, WI 53703

Jason Moon and Friend’s – a fundraiser for Warrior Songs. A fun filled night of story and song in support of the non-profit Warrior Songs. Featuring Jason Moon, Bone Holler, Mark Lint’s Dry Folk, Matt DeBlass, Chris Wellner, Kyle Rightley, Kris Sheehan, Lisa Johnson

$5 recommended donation.

Songwriter Jason Moon with his 8 year old daughter Penny Moon joins songwriter Mike Bleck his 11 year old son Jaxzen Bleck or a night of story and song. This is the first time Mike has hosted live music at his AirBnB. This is a fundraiser for Warrior Songs.

Then proceeds of this event will help fund the non-profit Warrior Songs

Saturday – 07/24/2021 6pm -9pm The New Moon Café 401 N Main St, Oshkosh, WI 54901

Jason Moon and Friend’s – a fundraiser for Warrior Songs. A fun filled night of story and song in support of the non-profit Warrior Songs. Featuring Jason Moon with his 8 year old daughter Penny June Moon, Aaron Baer and Paul Wiskeski, and TBA.

$5 recommended donation.