Writing The Resistance with Erin Frisby
Writing the Resistance with Erin Frisby is a five-session songwriting workshop about using music to confront injustice and speak truth to power. Participants will develop at least one original song through writing exercises, prompts, listening assignments, guided discussions, and shareouts. No prior songwriting or instrumental experience is required, and participants may join a group outing to an open mic and contribute to a class compilation if they choose.
Led by DC musician and arts educator Erin Frisby, the workshop examines protest-song traditions, arts-activism strategies, personal artistic purpose, lyric techniques, and song mapping. Frisby is a veteran of the DC music scene who grew up singing Appalachian and Ozark folk music, studied opera, toured nationally with original music, and currently fronts the rock band Ammonite. Their work has been recognized by Washington City Paper, Sound Opinions, No Depression, RockMommy, Alt Q Radio, and LA Taco. Frisby has created and presented music and songwriting programs for Chicago Public Schools, The Luce Center, The Millennium Stage, the Hirshhorn Gallery Talks, and Folger Shakespeare Library. They also completed an intensive 15-week arts-activism and community-arts program through The Sanctuaries DC and co-founded This Could Go Boom!, a grassroots nonprofit supporting women, nonbinary, and gender-expansive voices in music.
When: Saturdays, November 21 through December 19, 2026
Showtimes: 1:30–3:00 p.m. each session
Venue: Rhizome DC
Tickets: $125 when paid in advance for all five sessions, or $30 per session at the door. Advance registration guarantees a spot.
Workshop content: The sessions cover what protest songs are and what they can do, tactics in arts activism, discovering a personal calling, lyric-writing techniques, and song mapping.
Participant activities: Attendees receive weekly songwriting exercises, prompts, assignments, listening assignments, and a playlist; take part in guided discussions and shareouts; complete at least one original song; and may participate in an open-mic outing and the class compilation.
Instructor: Erin Frisby
Experience level: No previous songwriting or instrumental experience is necessary, with alternatives available for participants who do not play an instrument.