As St. Paul becomes the political locus of our national conversation next week with the onset of the Republican National Convention, a slew of musicians and acts are turning out in force to protest the Republican policies that have dominated our government over the past eight years.

What follows is a video preview of the major acts that will be appearing next week at one of the following three events:

The SEIU “Take Back Labor Day” event on Harriett Island, Monday, Sept. 1.

The “Ripple Effect Day Festival,” taking place on the front steps and lawn of the State Capitol, Tuesday, Sept. 2.

And the “Call and Answer Block Party” happening outside the Black Dog Café and Wine Bar in St. Paul, Aug. 31 and Sept. 2.

Every one of the video clips is a live performance. I tried to balance the virtues of sound quality and political relevance in my selections. Happy listening.

Steve Earle:

“Rich Man’s War” (above)

“Jerusalem”

“Condi Condi”

“F the CC”

Mos Def

“Freestyle”

“Umi Says”

Tom Morello

“Until the End”

“Union Song”

Atmosphere

"Party for the Fight to Write”

"God Loves Ugly"

Allison Moorer

“A Change is Gonna Come” (above)

Steve Earle and Allison Moorer

“City of Immigrants”

Billy Bragg

“Waiting for the Great Leap Forward”

“All You Fascists”

Pharcyde

“Knew U”

Michael Franti and Spearhead

“The Future”

“Sometimes/Rock the Nation”

Dead Prez

“That’s War”

Anti-Flag

“911 For Peace”

Matisyahu

“King without a Crown”

Boots Riley with The Coup: “5 Million Ways to Kill A CEO”