Pussy Riot named winners of 2023 Woody Guthrie Prize
completemusicupdate.comPussy Riot have been announced as the winners of this year’s Woody Guthrie Prize. Launched in memory of the American activist folk musician a decade ago, the annual prize recognises artists who “best exemplify Guthrie’s spirit and work by speaking for the less fortunate through music, film, literature, dance or other art forms, and serving as a positive force for social change”.In a statement, Pussy Riot’s Nadya Tolokonnikova says: “It feels fitting to be awarded in the spirit of Woody, I think he would love Pussy Riot’s anti-fascist message.
Usually, when Pussy Riot gets added to lists, it’s not always a good thing, but we are honoured to be on this one”.“We don’t really do folk”, she adds, “but we don’t really do punk either, we simply scream and protest as loud as we can, and hope we can show others they can do the same.
Like Woody said, any fool can make something complicated, our message is clear and simple. Anyone can be Pussy Riot. Riot. Riot.
Resist”.Tolokonnikova and fellow Pussy Riot member Masha Alyokhina will accept the prize at a ceremony at the Woodie Guthrie Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma on 6 May.
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