On Friday, August 5, an unusual collection of people mingled on the patio of Global Gallery in Clintonville, an area north of Columbus. Belly dancers, musicians, friends, and fans all gathered to enjoy Anarchist Café, an anarcho-socialist sing-along of protest songs from 1885 to 2004.
Angela Hay `25, English major, created the event after discovering a collection of songbooks published by the Industrial Workers of the World (known as Wobblies) in the early 1900s.
“The Wobblies used group singing in their protests to create a feeling of togetherness and a shared vision,” Hay explained. “I wanted that for myself, a way to process my frustration and sadness about the current political climate within the container of community.”
Hay was already studying the 1923 edition of the Little Red Songbook when she attended a protest in June 2025. Her experience that day inspired her to bring the 100-year-old activist songs to life.
“The energy at the protest was electric, and you could tell that people felt like it was important to be there,” Hay said. “But aside from holding a sign and trying to get cars to honk, there wasn’t much to do. I kept wishing everyone there knew the Wobblies’ songs so we could be singing our hearts out.”
Hay took a show that was already booked for her band La Belle Musette and repurposed the date for the Anarchist Café. She began organizing sheet music and gathered a group of friends who committed to rehearse every week. The line-up included two accordions, one guitar, and two vocalists.
As they delved into the songs, the scope of the project began to shift.
“It started with a song called ‘Rebel Girl’ that was written by labor activist Joe Hill in 1915,” Hay said. “Of course, that reminded me of ‘Rebel Girl’ by Riot Grrrl band Bikini Kill from 1993. These songs were separated by almost 80 years, but they definitely belonged together.”
The final hourlong set spanned 119 years. The oldest song was “Come, Comrades, Come,” a drinking song by English socialist activist William Morris from 1885. The newest was “Your Next Bold Move” by feminist folksinger Ani DiFranco from 2004.
On the evening of the event, the Sacred Shimmy Studio belly dancers opened the show, wearing the anarchist colors of red and black. Hay is also the owner of the studio and the director of the performance troupe. For their finale, the dancers chose “Devil in the Mirror” by Virgin X, a song they’ve incorporated in shows this year to help process their anger.
To help the audience get into the experience, Hay created songbook zines and distributed them to the crowd.
Spoken word poet Joanna Schroeder acted as emcee for the show, offering commentary and history. To encourage singing, she led the group in a rousing rendition of “Happy Labor Day, Dear Workers” sung to the tune of “Happy Birthday.”
“Joanna was truly the glue that made the whole idea stick together,” Hay said. “The band had worked hard on the music, but Joanna was the bridge that translated it to the audience.”
Throughout the event, the audience response was strong. They shouted along to songs by the Dead Kennedys and Oi Polloi, raised their glasses when prompted, and bantered with the emcee. Their participation surpassed Hay’s hopes for the evening.
“Not going to lie, asking strangers to sing together was a real gamble, especially to 100-year-old songs they don’t know,” Hay said. “The level at which people were willing to participate seemed to mirror the level of anxiety and rage they feel about how our country is changing.”
Members of the audience expressed similar sentiments.
"Going to the Anarchist Cafe was a powerful experience,” said Pickerington resident Hirono Noma. “With everything happening now, I have fears and reservations about speaking out as an immigrant, but being in a space full of people who share the same thoughts and aren't afraid to raise their voices made me feel less alone. Hearing others sing along together gave me a real sense of hope for the future."
"During these turbulent political times, it's hard not to feel alone,” Sacred Shimmy fan dancer Julie Eberhart said. “Gathering to sing with friends and like-minded strangers gave me a great sense of community."
"It was a great outlet for releasing frustration and rage with the current administration and the ongoing misogyny, bigotry, and racism,” Sacred Shimmy sword dancer Jenny Maro said. “Singing out in a group was cathartic and unifying."
After the show, audience members were anxious to know when the next event would be, but Hay has not rushed to schedule another one just yet.
“The songs were much harder than I expected, and I’d like to get better at accordion before I take on anything else,” Hay said. “But Joanna has a whole list of other anti-fascist events she’d like to organize. We’ll probably be back in the studio again soon!”