iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

Hi y’all!! Headlining Queer Country Friday the 13th this week at Cafe Mustache! Will have Jess on fiddle and Andrew on bass, gonna be a fun time with #queercountrybandwagon opening! #queercountry #chicagohonkytobk

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Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 08/02/2026

Special show in Roger’s Park on Feb 21 @ Jarvis Square Pottery, doors 7pm/show 8, small space so get there early! With Joybird (Jess Baldissero) ❤️🎸 (poster by Jess!)

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Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 01/11/2025

The only Halloweeny thing I do is carve pumpkins. I go in without a plan and use swift broad strokes. That’s mine in the left; I don’t have the patience for detail like my partner does, lol 🎃

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Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

Jazzed about playing at Fitzgerald’s Sidebar on Tuesday with Naomi Ashley and Ryan Burns!! 11/4 6pm!

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Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

My neighborhood this weekend while I was out of town.

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Reposted by Marian Runk

Gregory Pratt @royalpratt.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

Video of the tear gassing at Roscoe and Harding in Avondale via source.

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Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

A couple months ago I started making a new video for an old song (from my first album). I didn’t realize till the context of today that it’s also a bit of a love letter to Chicago and my country. Stay strong out there, loves. youtu.be/82oeWZETG84?...

youtu.be

Marian Runk "Natural Disaster" (official music video)

YouTube video by Marian Runk

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Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 28/09/2025

Playing a special show with @steveslagg.bsky.social and Contorno on Oct 14 and we hope you can make it! Tickets: www.etix.com/ticket/p/725...

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Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

Sweaty but glorious farm set at White Oak Festival in Dodgeville, WI last weekend! #musiciansky #singersongwriter #folkmusic

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Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

July 3 is tomorrow! That’s when I open for Jackson & the Janks at the Hideout! Really looking forward to this; playing new songs with Andrew Wilkins and Graham (bass & trumpet) and my red Harmony Rocket 🎸 #chicagomusic #musiciansky #americanamusic #queercountrymusic #livemusic

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Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 28/06/2025

Love Record Breakers for supporting us local artists! Show on Thursday July 3 at The Hideout is fast approaching!!! #musiciansky #chicagolivemusic #queercountrymusic #recordstore #showposter

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Jacob T. Levy @jacobtlevy.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

I've said it many times before and Andrew Cuomo is making me say it again: we don't have a cancellation problem. We have never had a cancellation problem. To the contrary, we have a problem that "disgrace" is a very temporary embarrassment— an brief entr'acte more than an intermission.

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Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

Happy 1st Birthday to my song “Possibility!” What a year it has been. Sadly this “jaded and jaunty” (thanks @rainbowrodeo.bsky.social ) song remains relevant, as the possibility for a free and equitable society seems lightyears away. Keep fighting. #musiciansky #queercountrymusic #americanamusic

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Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

I’ll be in Forest Park on Wednesday May 28 at Robert’s Westside; would love to see you! Tickets: link.dice.fm/bPSXeyiBGTb?...

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Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 18/05/2025

So thrilled to not only hike through the mountains but also SING MY TUNES at the Porcupine Mountains Music Festival this summer!! This lineup is 🔥 #musiciansky #porcupinemountainsmusicfestival #folksinger #queercountrymusic #musicfestival #puremichigan #upperpenninsula

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Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

Oh hi it’s #bandcampfriday again! Don’t forget to buy music from your favorite indie artists today…on a related note, Mother’s Day is next Sunday! #musiciansky marianrunk.bandcamp.com/merch

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Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Happy 92nd birthday to one of my major musical heroes, Willie Nelson! I played one of my favorite songs of his, “Somebody Pick Up My Pieces,”at my album release show last year. ❤️ #willienelson #musiciansky #queercountrymusic

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Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

Since I was a young person, this Dolly Parton tune has been my favorite song. Seeing some Virginia bluebells in the forest over the weekend got it stuck in my head! “Wildflowers” from the first Trio album. #musiciansky #queercountrymusic #wildflowers #dollyparton

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Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

I think I’m working on an electric EP? It didn’t make the most sense for me to bring this Harmony Rocket (🎸) home a couple weeks ago, but it has brought creative joy back into my life and I’m just running with that. #musiciansky #americanamusic #queercountrymusic #indiemusician #newmusic

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Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

Chicago- what are you doing Friday night? Really excited about this one, opening for Shannon McNally at Judson & Moore, 8pm 🎸

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Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

Busy weekend hanging out with my new Harmony Rocket 🎸 #musiciansky #indiemusic #vintageguitar

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Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

Spent the weekend trying out hollow-body electrics 🎸 and writing (and drawing,with my new brush pen) postcards to voters. Postcardstovoters.org if you wanna join (writing for WI Supreme Court and the 2 congressional special elections)

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Rep. Zooey Zephyr @zoandbehold.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

The tide is shifting. Republicans are beginning to recognize that the attacks on trans people need to stop. They do nothing but demean people & distract from the work government should be focused on—improving the lives of all who call this country home. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

theguardian.com

‘Stop these crazy bills’: Republicans join Democrats to defeat anti-trans legislation in Montana

One bill would remove trans children from their parents, and the other would ban drag shows and Pride marches

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Erin Reed @erininthemorning.com · 06/03/2025

Rep. Zooey Zephyr - My Wife - just gave an incredible speech against a drag ban in Montana. It was so strong that a Republican rose to speak passionately against the bill, chastising the sponsor. The drag ban dies in Montana, flips 10+ Republican votes! This is the power of representation.

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Rainbow Rodeo Magazine @rainbowrodeo.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

@priyajsridhar.bsky.social has some words of advice and a playlist of courage for getting through tough times (Featuring music by @idiotwitchamelia.bsky.social, D'Orjay the Singing Shaman, @raeisla.bsky.social, Luisa Lopez, @emchy.bsky.social and @marianrunk.bsky.social!) rainbowrodeomag.com/...

A black-and-red photo of a white femme person hugging a body-sized plushie and looking out to the camera.

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Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

I remain obsessed with the sky this time of year.

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Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

Support @rainbowrodeo.bsky.social they are so great at supporting queer indie artists!! ❤️

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Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

Trying something new - Monday check-in 💫

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Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

"My favorite shade of blue is the sky at 6:15pm on March 1" Since yesterday was that day, I released a video I made for "Black and White Cookie," the last song on my album Two Wires and a Spark. Full video is on my website! Marianrunk.com #musiciansky #folkmusic #indiemusic

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Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

@folk-alliance.bsky.social in Montréal was so special. Here I am playing a showcase hosted by Wild Hunt Records— Kyle created such a warm and beautiful space for us! Warm and beautiful also perfectly describes FAI❤️ #musiciansky #queercountrymusic #americanamusician #folkmusic #folk2025 #folkmusician

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Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

Oh hi I’m in Montréal! If you’re at @folk-alliance.bsky.social please say hi, I’d love to make friends :-)

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Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

Saw a muskrat diving for & eating clams and then leaving the empty shells along edge of the ice (none of that is visible here though sorry).

Partially frozen river flanked by trees on a snowy day

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Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

Valentine’s Day activities include writing postcards for the Supreme Court election in WI…but first I have to draw the cards! Buttons by Jane Diaz jewelry 🔥 (janediaz.com)

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Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

Happy Valentine’s Day! Let’s fight this shit together and love each other along the way.

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Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

Here’s a little snippet of a love song for Valentine’s week. Someone surprised me by requesting this tune, “Happy,” at a show recently— it’s from my first album, A Few Feet From the Ground. ❤️🙃❤️ #indiemusician #singersongwriter #chicagosingersongwriter #americanamusician #folkmusic #musiciansky

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Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 01/02/2025

There’s a critical WI Supreme Court election coming up. My love language is local/regional electoral politics. If you also want to do something useful, check out postcardstovoters.org

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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez @aoc.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

I honestly believe our most powerful position in a toxic time that feeds on cynicism, apathy,& despair is to genuinely care and act for a better world. Cynicism is our enemy. We should check it, incl. on the left. It’s not intellectually superior. It’s the virus they’re trying to infect us with. NO

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Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

It’s raining in Chicago. Maybe it’s snowing where you are. I think it’s a good day to listen to my new single, “New Year” and feel the precipitation and maybe also your feelings. Full song: ffm.to/marian-runk-... #musiciansky #queercountry #queercountrymusic #indiemusician #americanamusic #folkmusic

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Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

I’ll be at @folk-alliance.bsky.social in Montréal in a few weeks ! If you’re there too, come say hi at one of my showcases on Wedns, Thurs, or Saturday night! I’d love to hang out. 🎶 #musiciansky #folk2025 #folkmusician #folkmusic #singersongwriter #queercountry

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Rebecca Solnit @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

Hi that was a coup last night in case no one mentioned that to you. The executive branch seized the power of the purse the Constitution gave to Congress, which is a pretty authoritarian / illegal consolidation of powers move. Time to go yell at your reps, the media, etc.

Hey friends! We're seeing a lot of terrible things. We're not able to cover all of them, but we felt this latest one is a really big deal and needs much more awareness.

Our summary is this: It's an administrative coup. Trump has ordered tens of billions (maybe up to $3 trillion) of budget halted indefinitely in a blatantly illegal move. He's claiming power to halt and potentially redirect funding that's already been authorized by Congress — a classic authoritarian move.

Here's what we know. And we're doing our best to catch up with this story, because it's moving fast.

There's a memo from Matthew Vaeth, the acting head of the Office of Management and Budget. (That's the same government entity who set-up the DEI "snitch" line, that's now been spammed by tens of thousands of our fellow residents.)

In typical Trump-style, the memo gets its facts wrong. It claims in FY2024 the US government spent $10 trillion (actually it was $6.8 trillion). It says money should be used for the administration's priorities — "The use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve." (Again, it's very fact deficient.)

The memo says a pause will begin at 5pm on January 28th where, "Federal agencies must temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by the executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal."

Anyone promised federal grants might have their money at risk, even states. This is Congressional directed spending and Trump is ordering people to not do it. This funding includes universities for education and research programs, nonprofits, local and tribal governments, disaster relief aid, e…

So what can we do?

It's been a lot. And the shock approach of this administration is to overwhelm us with nonsense and a state of paralysis. We continue to believe the best thing is to stay grounded and keep yourself sane amidst insanity.

At this juncture, three actions we suggest that make sense to us:

1) Urge media to cover this story properly

This is not "possibly illegal" — it's "patently illegal." You can read notes on that here.

It's not "temporary" — it's "indefinite." There's no timetable for ending it.

It's not just a memo — it's an administrative coup.

2) Urge your Representatives to act like this is a big deal

If you know us, this isn't a knee-jerk action we suggest. We think this is a strategic because it's Congress that's being violated — their power is being directly undermined.

3) Continue to support ACLU and Democracy Forward

These groups have been preparing litigation for some time. Unless Trump revokes this, this will certainly make its way through the courts. Our read is even the biased courts will have trouble swallowing this — so it may end up being shut down.

Keep breathing. “Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again," Nelson Mandela.

Warmly,

- Choose Democracy

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Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

Reminder about my new single! Chill introspective tune with winter vibes 🎶 ❄️ #musicsky #indiemusician #indiemusic #americanusic #queercountry #queercountrymusic

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Marian Runk @marianrunk.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

Who wore it best? Bassist extraordinaire Andrew Wilkins borrowed my blazer for Jonas Friddle’s album release show at Evanston SPACE exactly 1 week after I wore it on the same stage 🙃. @davidslammy.bsky.social captured both shows!

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