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, guided discussions, listening assignments, and song-mapping activities. No prior songwriting or instrumental experience is required, and the workshop includes options for participants who do not play an instrument.
The workshop also offers an optional group outing to an open mic and the opportunity to contribute work to a class compilation. Sessions will consider the history and purpose of protest songs, approaches to arts activism, personal artistic purpose, and lyric-writing techniques.
When: Saturdays, November 21 through December 19, 2026
Showtimes: November 21, November 28, December 5, December 12, and December 19, from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
Run time: Five sessions, each lasting 90 minutes
Tickets: $125 for all five sessions when paid in advance, which guarantees a spot. Individual sessions may be paid for at the door at $30 per session.
Instructor: Erin Frisby
Instructor background: Erin Frisby is a veteran of the DC music scene who grew up singing Appalachian and Ozark folk music, studied opera, and has toured the United States performing original songs. Their work has received recognition from Washington City Paper, Sound Opinions, No Depression, Country Queer, RockMommy, Alt Q Radio, and LA Taco. Frisby currently fronts the rock band Ammonite, has created music and songwriting programs for schools and cultural institutions, and completed an intensive 15-week program in arts activism and community arts through The Sanctuaries DC. They are also a co-founder of This Could Go Boom!, a grassroots nonprofit supporting women, nonbinary, and gender-expansive voices in music.
What participants do: Participants complete at least one original song, receive weekly exercises and assignments, join guided discussions and shareouts, and receive listening assignments with a playlist. They may also attend a group open-mic outing and opt into the class compilation.
Topics: Protest songs and their social function, arts-activism strategies, personal artistic purpose, lyric techniques, and song mapping.
Experience level: No previous songwriting or instrumental experience is necessary.
Venue: Rhizome DC