March 9th and 10th, 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
In honor of Women’s History Month, join us for two evenings of music performed by some of the area’s most inspiring female artists! Each night will also feature a non-profit organization that serves women in the area, with the designated organization receiving 25% of the night’s donations and artists receiving 50% of donations.
Friday March 9th:
$15-20 donation
LINEUP:
- Chelsea McBee
- Huda Asfour
- SolRose
- Nistha Raj
- Tamika “Love” Jones
- Young Women’s Drumming Empowerment Project (YWDEP)
CHELSEA MCBEE is a singer/songwriter/banjo player from the Eastern Panhandle of WV. McBee grew up singing harmonies with her family on road trips and has been performing with her banjo since 2005. She looks to the traditional tunes of old-time music as inspiration for her own writing style but also incorporates modern folk, country and blues when writing as well as choosing covers to play. She has released three albums and is currently working on putting together her upcoming touring schedule with her band Chelsea McBee and The Random Assortment which includes banjo, mandolin, upright bass and haunting harmonies performed by her mother and sister. For this performance, she will be joined by Teresa McBee and Melody Massimino.
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HUDA ASFOUR is a Palestinian oud and kanoun player, born in 1982 in Lebanon and raised in Tunisia and Gaza. She has performed in Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt, and the D.C. metropolitan area. Huda reflects her journey as a Palestinian in her music while exploring different genres and styles. About her music, she says: “My fascination with waves goes beyond my love for music. It is a fascination with the sea, the resonance of strings, the cyclic nature of life and more recently electrical waves in one of the most impressive pumps on earth, the heart. This space is to share some of my interests, being an engineer and a musician, I find my inspiration in the lab, in nature and in monitoring the finest movements around me. I write, play music and enjoy this journey on earth.”
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SOLROSE is an acoustic folk duo comprised of Justice Rose & Dappho the Flow-er hailing from the Washington, D.C area. Brought together by their love of music, this duo delivers tunes everybody can relate to. Intricate lyrics, soulful harmonies and melodic instrumentation is just the foundation of an amazing performance waiting to be seen. Dappho is on the bass and Justice strums the acoustic, together producing an eclectic, unique sound. With influences ranging from the Rolling Stones & Me’Shell N’Degeocello, to Michael Jackson and The Police, SolRose creates melodic magic. SolRose has performed at [SAPPHO] Lyrics & Lace Open Mic, Hard Rock Live @ The Loft, Phase 1 Open Mic, Release Monday’s at Axum Lounge, and The Revival.
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NISTHA RAJ, born and raised in the US, is a performer/educator of North Indian (Hindustani) Classical Violin. She received a B.A. in music with honors from the University of Houston in 2003. In 2005, Nistha was solely awarded a scholarship from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations to undergo rigorous, intensive formal training in Hindustani violin at the Gandharva Maha Vidyalaya in India. Although acclaimed and professionally rounded, she still receives training from learned masters of Indian Classical music. She has performed in many cultural festivals in DC and is the recipient of multiple grants from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Recently, Nistha has recorded with DC Rock band, the NRIs, and performed with local jazz trio The Fourth Stream and Grammy-Nominated Hip Hop artist Christlyez Bacon. Nistha feels a deep affinity for Indian classical music and her lifelong pursuit is to discover the unending beauty within it.
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Born and raised in Washington, DC, singer/songwriter TAMIKA “LOVE” JONES turned to music as an escape from the harsh realities of drugs and violence that surrounded her. From then on, she began singing everywhere she went: singing in various gospel and jazz choirs in school, around the city and even directing her very own gospel ensemble at School Without Walls High School. Eventually, Tamika caught the attention of Grammy-nominated producer and Bad Boy Hit Man Chucky Thompson, also a DC native. Chucky worked with Tamika for several years mentoring her on songwriting, recording and the music business, inviting her to work on projects with acclaimed artists like Faith Evans, Mya, Lil’ Kim, Tanya Blount, and Grammy-winning songwriter Denise Rich.
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Featured organization: Young Women’s Drumming Empowerment Project
The YOUNG WOMEN’S DRUMMING EMPOWERMENT PROJECT gives rise to young women’s self-esteem, self-expression and positive development through drumming, poetry, movement, song and performance. YWDEP has been mentoring young women since 2005, using the West African djembe drum as a tool for their empowerment. YWDEP runs an annual 12-week summer program; 2 12-week drum school programs each school year, and performs at a variety of venues 20-30 times a year.
Today our performers include leader Rakhel Yisrael; YWDEP mentors Anovia Craven, Renee Panagos and Chivonnie Gius-Meekins; and DC young women Nia Adams, Iman Adams, Sadae Quinn, Hailey Bowman, and Micah Carter.
Saturday, March 10th:
$15-20 donation
LINEUP:
- Nila Kay
- Flo Anito
- Sarah Fridrich
- G.U.T.S.
- The CooLots
NILA KAY is a singer/songwriter and guitarist based in the DC area. She was born in DC and raised in northern Virginia. After taking a guitar class in high school, she stuck with it and wound up working for a year at Dan’s Chelsea Guitars in NYC, where she developed a love and desire to play and own vintage guitars that she could never possibly afford (of which she has 2). Not long after moving back to NoVA Nila began playing guitar with local hip-hop band Urban Minds (one of D.C.’s first live hip-hop bands) and shorly after that began her songwriting career. Currently preparing for the release of her debut album, Nila continues to perform locally and nationally. She also plays lead and rhythm guitar in the backing bands for several rising independant artists and also plays with The Players, backing band for DC’s annual J Dilla Tribute/Fundraiser event.
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Classically trained in piano, voice, and cello, FLO ANITO majored in Music at Wesleyan University and has since made Washington, DC her home. Her music video for her original song “Uh Oh” won the Grand Prize on OurStage.com. The same song was one of 5 finalists in a Cosmo Radio contest, winning her an interview and airplay on Sirius Radio. After a live audition, she was selected for the Artist Roster at Strathmore Music Hall – she will play her first show there in 2012. Flo was also the only local musician selected to play the Virgin Mobile FreeFest at Merriweather Post Pavilion, where she joined an impressive bill: Weezer, Blink 182, the Bravery, and Franz Ferdinand. She was selected for a CMJ showcase in NYC, a GAP campaign in Charlottesville, and a feature video on the website for the National Association of Broadcasting. She has played for the Secretary of the Interior, performed at the National Press Club, and sung the National Anthem at a Washington Freedom game.
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Pianist, singer, composer/songwriter SARAH FRIDRICH is an enthusiastic fan of kindred artists such as Amanda Palmer, Regina Spektor, Joni Mitchell, Ben Folds, and Fiona Apple; as well as a passionate disciple of gritty, heartfelt songwriters such as Lucinda Williams, Tom Waits, and Patty Griffin. Her own song “Anvil” was recently recognized as a finalist in the 2011 MASC, “Open” category. Currently, she tours with & fronts her own indiepop band. You can listen to her 2011 CD “You Call That Brave” on iTunes, Facebook, Reverbnation, or Bandcamp. And, you can read about the making of the album on her band’s offical site.
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Tiik, Tina & August are G.U.T.S. (Give Us The Strength), a 3 piece all-female power alternative punkish-rock band. Formed in Washington DC in 2009, G.U.T.S. has played venues and festival all along the east coast from Washington DC to New York and Connecticut. In 2011 they released their debut album, “It Takes G.U.T.S.” They play their songs of love & politics with power, passion and humor.
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The COOLOTS are an all female rock-and-soul band hailing from the DC area. A melting pot of different styles and talents, the CooLots come together to create feelings never experienced before. Their creations embody sincerity, musicality, and funk, with influences including N.E.R.D, Me’Shell N’ Degeocello,Stained, Eyrikah Badu, Kanye West, and System of A Down. Only one phrase fits… “Champions in the building.”
Featured organization: The DC Rape Crisis Center
The DC Rape Crisis Center is dedicated to creating a world free of sexual violence. The Center works for social change through community outreach, education, and legal and public policy initiatives. It helps survivors and their families heal from the aftermath of sexual violence through crisis intervention, counseling and advocacy. Committed to the belief that all forms of oppression are linked, the Center values accessibility, cultural diversity and the empowerment of women and children.
