And the brass will crash, and the trumpets bray, and they’ll cut a dash at HONK! Festival 2012. – Photo by Joseph Gresser

By Cathleen Twardzik

From October 4 to October 8, HONK! Festival 2012, which is the seventh annual festival of “socio-political activist street bands/variety of styles,” will take place in Somerville.

At least 34 activist street bands, all of whom hail from Somerville to Italy, will participate.

Among other bands, the festival will feature Dirty Water Brass Band of Somerville, the Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band of Somerville, and the Young Fellaz Brass Band of New Orleans, LA.

Almost all of the events are free, open to anyone whom is interested in attending, and will take place rain or shine, in or near Davis Square or Harvard Square. Events, for which tickets are required, are extremely affordable.

There will be outdoor concerts, an enormous parade, smaller processions and affordably priced indoor concerts, as well as symposiums in Somerville and Cambridge.

The festival’s 2012 schedule will include a plethora of activities, which is listed at http://honkfest.org/schedule.

“The festival was started seven years ago [in Davis Square] by some members of a local Somerville-based ‘activist street band’ called the Second Line Social Aid & Pleasure Society Brass Band,” said Ken Field, Member of the HONK! Organizing Committee, Saxophonist, Composer, Member of the Second Line Social Aid & Pleasure Society, Brass Band and Member and Leader of several additional bands.

“There was an interest in bringing together other similar bands, [all of whom] play primarily for social and political change, so 12 bands from around the country came to Boston to participate in the first HONK! Festival,” said Field.

Since it was established, HONK! has expanded. At present, “spin-off” HONK! Festivals in Austin, TX, Seattle, WA, Providence, RI and New York, NY, as well as additional cities, exist.

Prior to the festival, you may catch The Inside-Outside Gallery, which will occur 24 hours per day, from now through HONK! Festival weekend, at CVS Pharmacy in Davis Square. It will highlight the work of Ben Greenberg, Photographer, Mark Dannenhauer, Photographer and Jesse Edsell-Vetter, Photographer.

Additionally, on September 10 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m., the HONK! Volunteers and Parade Meeting was held at the Somerville Public Library, west branch.

On September 19 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. the HONK! Flatbread Pizza Benefit took place at Flatbread Company at 45 Day St. in Somerville. The restaurant donated part of the price of each pizza pie which was purchased that day to the HONK! Festival.

“I’m very psyched about the kick-off concert at Johnny D’s that I’m helping to organize [on] October 5 from 7:30 p.m. to [1 a.m.],” Field said.

Tickets for that kick-off event cost $12 for general admission, and are available at the door.  If you would like additional information, call (617) 776-2004, or visit www.johnnyds.com.

The Lantern Parade, which will be held on October 5 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. around Davis Square, will be of interest to children. Youngsters will also be delighted at HONK! in the Neighborhoods, which will showcase Somerville High School musicians in Union Square on October 5 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Based on last year’s festival, Field expects “thousands and thousands” of attendees at HONK! 2012.

The public is encouraged to suggest activities for future years’ festivals by sending any ideas to contact@honkfest.org.

For information about many of the events, interested individuals may call (617) 383-HONK (or 4665) or send an email to contact@honkfest.org.