MAY 29th (Sunday) - LADIES FIRST SHOWCASE @ NW FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL
Luzviminda Carpenter
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 15, 2011
For More Information:
Ladies First Collective Coordinating Committee
2012 WILL MARK A DECADE OF LADIES FIRST PROGRAMS IN SEATTLE
JOIN US FOR A 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY KICK OFF at NWFOLKLIFE!
SUNDAY MAY 29, 2011
4:00pm-7:00pm
@the Vera Project Stage
during the 40th Anniversary of the Northwest Folklife Festival
HOSTED by Militant Child
featuring
the Legendary FELICIA LOUD
DJ B-Girl
w/ EMCEES BeLoved1 / SistaHailstorm /
the EP Pre-Release of JULIE C’s “SLIDING SCALE”
Folk, Funk, and Punk BANDS:
DreamCake / CristinaOrbe / NightTraiN
Along withVibrant POETS:
VerbalOasis / ImaniSims / JusMoni / Gigi / LuzvimindaUzuri / Mikeya
SEATTLE, WA: As Ladies First enters its 10th Anniversary, we celebrate the 100s of great female artists--bands, poets, rockers, rappers/emcees and more--who have graced the Ladies First stage. The Ladies First Collective Coordinating Committee (composed of the project's founder and past program coordinators) invite the community to gather around art and to collectively create with us at this special kick-off party Sunday, May 29, 2011 from 4:00pm-7:00pm at the Vera Project Stage at the Northwest Folklife Festival! This set featuring intergenerational forces will highlight the eclectic musical and verbal community and a breadth of styles from some of the extraordinary talents in the Ladies First family with musical performances by Felicia Loud, DJ B-Girl, BeLoved1, SistaHailstorm, Julie C., DreamCake, Cristina Orbe, and NightTraiN and poetry by LuzvimindaUzuri, Gigi, Imani Sims, JusMoni, Verbal Oasis and Mikeya. This dynamic performance will be hosted by Militant Child.
Over the last decade, the monthly Ladies First all ages artist showcase and open mic events have provided opportunity for women/female identifying to be center stage, hone their skills, and share their knowledge and experiences. Showcases include new and seasoned performers, featuring local and national talent; and have served as a supportive home to such upcoming Seattle Stars as: THEESatisfaction, Invincible, Skim, DJ B-Girl, Crista Bell, Canary Sing, El Dia & Rogue Pinay of 1st Quarter Storm, JusMoni, Kandi Cole, Miki Vale, Sirens Echo, Reagan Jackson, Meklit Hadero, GoodSistaBadSista, Desdamona, DJ Miss Broadway, Malkia Cyril, Akua, Chelsey, Siren’s Echo, NightTraiN, Cristina Orbe, Julie C, Sistahailstorm, Beloved1, Felicia Loud, Laura "Piece" Kelley, Kylea of Beyond Reality, Imani Sims, Mikeya, DJ Luying, Marita Isabel, Militant Child, Verbal Oasis, DJ Sweet Elite, onesevennine, and more.
The mission of Ladies First is to offer a safe, sacred place for women/female identifying (straight, queer, trans, gender non-confirming, and two-spirit) to share their poetry, music and art. Born from the anti-rape and social justices philosophies of CARA (Communities Against Rape and Abuse), Ladies First has encouraged building contexts, on and off stage, to address issues such as patriarchal oppression, internalized sexism, state violence, domestic violence and sexual violence. In a supportive, community environment Ladies First has created a platform which empowers marginalized voices and individual struggles--a space to utilize artistic expression in affirming ourselves, our values, our identities, and to positively change the way we view our bodies and our safety. The Ladies First showcase events are known for the welcoming, encouraging, joy having experience; inviting all into this safe space, regardless of gender, to celebrate the voices on stage.
For questions about Ladies First and the Ladies First Collective: LadiesFirstC...@gmail.com
For more information about NW Folklife Festival & scheduling (poets will be in between musical performances):
http://nwfolklifefestival2011.sched.org/list/type/music+performance/Ladies+First%3A+10th+Anniversary
