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THEcRoWDATLADYFESTMIDWESTcHIcAGo,SCoNGRESSTHEATREINAUGUST200I LADYFESTS CONTENTS 45 A BRIEF HISTORY AND FUTURE OF LADYFEST '" LADYFEST EAST (2001) "' 46 LADYFEST GLASGOW (2001) "' 47 ESSAY 48-53 LADYFEST MIDWEST CHICAGO (2001) PHOTO "' MIDWEST CHICAGO: FEATURED MUSICIANS AT LADYFEST RAINBOW SUGAR ... 54 THE NEED ... 54 LORAXX... 55 PUERTO MUERTO ... 55 ELLEN ROSNER ... 56 44 erhaps a few Midwest Chicago was the mama that we might words -- an e-mail of 2001,s not otherwise have Ladyfests, featuring the __ opportunity to try and message, even about 100 music I think acts that drew that the attitude is all it takes to some 4,000 and belief per_ people. meates the inspire an entire With festivals. lt,s catch_ a few exceptions, the ing. festival. Bratmobile's Allison And it's time. I know I,m sick majority of Ladyfest organizers __ Wolfe sent an of corporatized festivals e_mail to a group in every location __ and of women don,t have events marketed that said, "Let,s have a professional to my demo_ experience in orga_ graphic, festival of ladies ... a Ladyfest.,, and that I actually can,t nizing major events. lnstead, ihe The rest is herstory. even really afford. Look at the focus of Ladyfest is "We started on teamwork growth of the Ladyfest based and the D.l.y. learning anti_ on an experi_ globilization/capitalism idea thatAllison Wolfe and ence. move_ Corin Tucker had," said ment ... puting on a Ladyfest falls Tobi Vail, Although the five Ladyfests one of the organizers to into the type of direct of the Oly date have been action Ladyfest, successful and encouraged by that which took place in the raised thousands movement. summer of dollars for It's creating your own of 2000 in Olympia, chadty, there are media.,, Washington" definite chal_ AMY SCHROEDER lenges in. the organizational "ln late 199g, the Experience process. Music project LADYFESTS 2OO2 interviewed a "One of bunch the challenges was of us for a riot grrl retro_ getting people spective. part to stay involved LADYFEST of that included a through the ARTZONA (not yet roundtable tough times,,, said confirmed) discussion with Molly Ladyfest East Neuman, organizer Erin Tentative date: Sharon Cheslow, Siodmak. "Money not yet available Allison also was a e-mail: [email protected] Wolfe, Erin Smith, Corin huge issue." Tucker, and myself. lt was mod_ Through it all, a core group of LADYFESTATLANTA erated by Candace pederson, women stuck formerly together for Tentative date: not yet of K Records. During Ladyfest East, available that roundtable which drew at something hap_ least 600 peope. pened LADYFEST By recounting the history "l got BAYAREA chills a few times,,, Tentative of what we had done, we all date: not yet available Siodmak said. "The feeling of seemed to realize that e-mail: guitargrl@earthlink. net something community was incredible. needed to be happening alont Ladyfest renewed my those lines faith that LADYFEST FRANCE today. For me, there is hope for Ladyfest a strong and Tentative date: not yet came out ofthe spark of supportive communi{ available that realization.,' of women -- and not only women The but all LADYFEST LANSING, Olympia Ladyfest was a independent artists and MICHIGAN :1Tess, drawing approximatety activists." 2,000 people Tentative date: April -- mainly women __ White 2002 from . Ladyfest Otympia e-mail: around the world to experi_ inspired four more fests in 2001, ladyfest_lansing ence a week of music, activism @yahoo. com this year's fests have inspired and D.l.y" workshops, spoken even more Ladyfests tor 2002. At word, and visual art. LADYFEST LONDON, print time, eight are Attendees slated to take ENGLAND in other cities were place next year. so Tentative date: inspired by the punk_fueled Teresa summe r 2002 Carmody, one of the e-mail: fest that they decided to organize Olympia ladyfesfl ondon@hot_ Ladyfest organizers, mail.com their own for the following year. said she Four wasn't surprised that Ladyfests took place in groups of women in other cities LADYFEST 2001 first in Bloomington, organized PHILLY lndiana; to host their own Tentative date; then Glasgow, Scofland; Ladyfests. summe r 2002 Chicago; and New york e-mail: City. "Though i OiOn't Each realize there amyh irsheybar@yahoo. of the four Ladyfests would be so com developed many and in such their own flavors. places as Lansing, Glasgow's Michigan,,, LADYFEST D.C, emphasized an inti_ she said. "part of our original Tentative mate atmosphere with about date: August 2002 200 goal was to provide opportunities e-ma il : ladyfestdc20 attendees, while Ladyfest for 02@hot_ ourselves to learn something mail.com 4.5 THE TROUBLE DOLLS AT LADYFEST EAST IN NEW YORK CITY LADYFEST EAST 2OO7,IN NEW YORK CITY BY KAT LONG SEPTEMBER 6-9, 2OO1 righteous rock falling somewhere doing everything from mastering NEW YORK CITY in between. Spoken word junkies our benefit CD to handing out had slammin'Spit East, divine fliers at schools." Members of the y now, the recipe for Penny Arcade, and mildly porno- Trouble Dolls, One and Twenty, Ladyfest is familiar: throw graphic Gynomite to choose from. and other local bands pitched in about 60 bands, 30 films, That was the beauty of Ladyfest between tours and gigs. and workshops on everything East - a wide variety of styles in The only problem: you could from self-defense to drums music and messages, outfits and only be in one place at a time. lf together--and stand back. orientations. you caught the theremin-flavored Ladyfest East might have been lo- The performances were held in queercore of Crowns on 45, you fi compared to its sisters in legendary -- read: tiny, sweaty, missed the set by Doria Roberts; Olympia or Chicago, but the mis- and grimy -- downtown venues. if you bought a ticket for the sion was the same: tear shit up, Need to find a show? Just follow screening of "Live Nude Girls," grrl style. the groups of tattooed grrls with you had to skip the workshop on Like its name, Ladyfest East the free issues of Bust magazine guitar instruction. Those of us with featured (mostly) East Coast sticking out of their patch-covered day jobs had to bail on the work- bands. The headliners ranged in army bags. shops, but the late-night entertain- style from the bike-positive metal "lt was the best of times, it was ment more than made up for that. of the Haggard to the girly candy- the worst of times," is how one As previous Ladyfesters know, punk of the Hissyfits, with the organizer of the grass-roots effort sisters have to do it for them- pussy power of Bitch and Animal, put it. "We had about 10 ambi- selves. The feminine fury has tribal child Ari Up, and BETTY's tious ladies at any given time been unleashed! LADYFEST SCOTLAND BYAMY BELL AUGUST 12-14,2001 Kat for services to grrlkind. Red Hot Secret opened the second night, their bel- fter the fantastic accomplishment of ligerent thrash-punk setting the venue alight. Ladyfest Olympia, 2001 saw the baton Electrelane enchanted despite being lyric-less, breaking passed across the Atlantic. Ladyfest their lengthy debut "Rock lt to the Moon" into bite-size, Scotland in wet, windy Glasgow was the Farfisa-fueled chunks to help it go down. And the short product of a year's hard work from 17 but sweet Bangs' set went down a storm; encores were volunteers who managed to organize workshops,,grt only after half the audience appeared as backing exhibitions, bands, and performance poetry into 72 dancers and Sarah Utter blasted out some Black hours. Sabbath. Participants came from Europe and the United To say there was a party atmosphere on the final States, eager to join night would be an understate- forces at this proudly ment; even without Beth Ditto feminist event. The per- of the Gossip stripping in the formers and attendees name of fat-positivism, their created a warm, entirely storming Deep South punk- inclusive atmosphere, blues alone would have getting even the most ensured a rapturous recep- reserved to talk about tion. And Bratmobile were the first time they got absolutely adored, throwing in their periods. sharp new(ish) songs like As for bands, disco "Gimme Brains" with a frantic terrorists Bis and ex- "Panik," and keeping all the Babe ln Toyland Kat ladies, women, and girls Bjelland's Katastrophy delighted. Wife trod the floorboards It goes without saying on the opening night. Bis Ladyfest Scotland was a played a strong, tight resounding success for co- set, including catchy ordinators and attendees crowd screamalongs alike - now could someone "Starbright Boy" and be so kind as to organize "Kandy Pop." Ladyfest Barbados for next Katastrophy Wife yeal please? were the big draw, peo- ple flocking to venerate HEATHER HELLSKISS AT LADYFEST SCOTLAND PORTRAITS FROM LADYFEST MIDWEST CHICAGO BY NICOLE RADJA -/ THE NEED STORY BY MARISA KULA. PHOTO BY ELEANA WHITESELL T h" Need has been called many things in its five- I year existence -- including a "satanic Disney car- toon" and, courtesy of the unflappable Rolling Sfone, RAINBOW SUGAR "militant lesbian" -- but never, ever dull. The Olympia- based threesome reside in a Sfar Wars via eueer STORY BY LAUREL ROHDE. PHOTO BY NICOLE RADJA Nation parallel universe where artists do things like write rock operas with Nomy Lamm (see The Transfused), hen I introduced myself over the phone to Cindy where genre-bending is the only way of life (see any and Wonderful, the charismatic lead rapper of the all music by the Need), and where Ladyfest is like a Denver-based group Rainbow Sugal she replied in a Vulcan mind meld (see Ladyfest 2000 and Ladyfest confused, groggy voice: "l thought you were my mom Midwest Chicago).