Don’t miss the special pre-release of “July Night” and “Closer Still,” two singles which have been released from the upcoming album, Closer Still: The Music of Mrs. Palmer’s Honey as performed by the Honey House Band. The singles are a sneak preview in advance of the full album release in November 2021. (A “taste of honey,” if you will). To download or stream “July Night” and “Closer Still,” visit:

Bandcamp  -or-   Spotify

The original blues/jazz music featured on the album was inspired by – and will accompany – Mrs. Palmer’s Honey, a radio play produced by Bread and Roses Missouri. The production is slated to debut in the fall of 2021, in partnership with St. Louis Public Radio. Colin McLaughlin composed the original soundtrack as Musical Director, and performs in the play; Kathryn Bentley directs the play; and Joan Suarez is the producer. Playwright Cassandra Medley based the play on the 1946 novel by St. Louisan Fannie Cook. This compelling and relevant story depicts how race, class, and workers’ rights intersected during World War II in the historic Ville Neighborhood.

We invite you to support the production of Mrs. Palmer’s Honey through the Joan Suarez Director’s Fund.

There are many ways to support all the work we do at the intersection of art and activism including the Worker’s Theater and Youth Initiative. 

Here’s more about the talented people who created the art and music for
Closer Still: The Music of Mrs. Palmer’s Honey

Bharat Ajari created “Honey,” the official artwork representing Mrs. Palmer’s Honey, the play and the album cover. See more of the artist’s work @bharatajari on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Colin McLaughlin is a writer, musician, actor, and social worker, who has worked with Bread & Roses for many years. He was the collective writing facilitator for the Workers’ Opera, alongside director Kathi Bentley and the incredible cast. In 2019, Colin’s original play Jailbird, produced by Bread and Roses, premiered at the Missouri History Museum.

Mac Inglis recorded and mixed the music the music at AudioScribe Studios in Pittsburgh, PA.

Members of the The Honey House Band include:

Kelsey Robinson is a Brooklyn-born theater artist, vocalist, musician, and multi/media artist (Talking with Ghosts About Freedom). She is the featured vocalist on July Night, and is the Soundscape Designer for Mrs. Palmer’s Honey.  

Bryce Rabideau has established himself as a foremost mandolinist and guitarist in the realms of jazz and progressive folk music (Buffalo Rose).   He also acted as the band director, and the musical arranger.

Jason Rafalak is a music therapist and musician who plays acoustic and electric bass, guitar and mandolin, and has played bass on over 50 different recording projects ranging from jazz to folk to hip-hop.

George Heid III is an award winning drummer, percussionist, and composer whose diverse musical passions range from jazz and classical to world and electronic genres.

Lucas Bowman is a Pittsburgh based performer, composer, teacher, and pianist who has toured nationally with the rock n’ soul group, The Commonheart. 

J.D. Chaisson is a Pittsburgh-based trumpet player who has toured nationally and teaches trumpet performance at Duquesne University.