Madonnarama Saturday May 7th!

Pointy bras abound! Songs by the queen of pop, performed by your favorite bands.

All proceeds from this event go to support Girls Rock! Rhode Island, whose mission is to help girls and women empower themselves through music! http://girlsrockri.org/

Women who rock!

Thursday, April 14
Allysen Callery	Roots Café- 7 pm
Sharon Van Etten, Lady Lamb and the Beekeeper, St. Claire	Brighton Music Hall- 8 pm
Girlfriends	Middle East- 8 pm
The Black Lips, Vivian Girls	Paradise- 8 pm
Friday, April 15
Aids Wolf, Humanbeast, Chrome Jackson, Microwaves	Machines With Magnets- 9 pm
The Sugar Honey Iced Tea, Silicone Feelings, Green Oedipus	As220- 9 pm
Girls, Guns, and Glory, Moga, The Silks, Pumphouse	Firehouse 13- 9 pm
Kina Grannis, Imaginary Friend	Brighton Music Hall- 8 pm
The Go! Team, DOM	Paradise- 9 pm
Saturday, April 16
Idiot Vehicle, Black Wine, Wet Friend, The Curious Mystery	As220- 9 pm
Bonedust: Fruit of the Ash, Haxen, Taboo	Machines With Magnets- 10 pm
TV on the Radio, Lissy Trullie	House of Blues- 6 pm
The Goddess Show- RI Pride’s 12th annual celebration of women in music	The Met- 1 pm

Free Music Archive

Usually things that are free on the Internet tend to not be that great and/or illegal. With new legislation being passed about the legality of copyright and the web, it’s hard not to break the bank spending money on mp3s. This is where the Free Music Archive becomes incredibly handy. Directed by WMFU, a freeform radio station based in New Jersey, the FMA is fairly self-explanatory. Artists upload selected tracks to the site in order to be legally downloaded by anyone for free- honestly, there’s no trick! So, to get you started, here’s a playlist featuring some rockin’ ladies whose music can be found FOR FREE at www.fma.org.

Sonny and The Sunsets

Suggested track: “I Wanna Do It”

"Girls To The Front"

Be sure to stop by the Knight Memorial Library Wednesday, April 13 at 7 pm for a

reading and discussion of "Girls To The Front" with author Sara Marcus and Lolita Black!

"Sara Marcus’s Girls to the Front is not only a historical rockument of the revolutionary 90s counterculture Riot Grrrl movement, which birthed the DIY feminist punk scene, but also a rousing inspiration for a new generation of empowered rebel girls to strap on guitars and stick it to The Man." - Vanity Fair

More details at the Facebook event.

Women who rock!

Saturday, April 9
Driftwood, Tallahassee, The Woes, Last Good Tooth	Firehouse 13- 7 pm
KT Tunstall	Paradise- 9 pm
Sunday, April 10
Rebecca Gates & the Consortium, Blue Cranes, The Ricecakes	As220- 9 pm
Monday, April 11
Timber Timbre, Snowblink	Brighton Music Hall- 8 pm
Wednesday, April 13
Black Lips, Vivian Girls, Atlantic Thrills	The Met- 8 pm

Girls Rock Summer Day Camp - Registration is OPEN!

The Girls Rock! RI Summer Day Camp is a week-long program for girls ages 11 to 18.

NO PREVIOUS MUSIC EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!

Schedule: July 11th - July 15th
Monday-Thursday
9am-5pm
Friday
9am-3pm (6pm Showcase Concert)

Location:
JamStage, 25 Esten Ave. in Pawtucket, RI less than 5 miles from downtown Providence off of I-95. This facility was created specifically for musicians and we think you will enjoy your rock experience there quite a bit! For more info visit www.jamstage.net.

Registration:
Registration is first come, first served. Go to www.girlsrockri.org/register to apply online. We will mail out notifications to every applicant to inform you of the status of your acceptance. Once registration fills up we will create a wait list of names in the case any spots open up. Girls Rock! RI staff will call you immediately if a spot opens.

Tuition for the week is $300 plus a $10 application fee. To ensure that girls from a range of economic backgrounds are served, we offer reduced tuition to at least half of participants, using a sliding scale based on household income.

CURRICULUM:

Instrument Instruction:
Participants choose one instrument to focus on for the week–drums, bass, guitar, or vocals. All instruction happens in small group lessons and is led by experienced and enthusiastic women musicians.

Workshops:
Throughout the week workshops are held on a variety of topics, from Screenprinting/Making Band Art to Songwriting (it’s not as hard as you might think)! Other topics include: History of Women Who Rock; Zine-making; and Self-Esteem Building.
The camp day is also interspersed with fun stuff, from warm-up games to making buttons with your band name.

Band Practice:
On the first day, everyone forms bands in a way that is fun, not scary. The bands have band practice every day. During band practice, band members work together to write a song, and practice playing as an ensemble. Band coaches help bands with the writing process, facilitate the rehearsals, and answer questions as necessary.

Showcase Concert:
At the end of the camp week, camper bands perform their original songs at a showcase concert at a professional venue that is TBD. Last year’s Showcase was held before a packed audience at AS220 in downtown Providence!

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Mailing Address:
Girls Rock! RI
PO Box 3475
Providence, RI 02909
Website: www.girlsrockri.org
Registration questions:
registration@girlsrockri.org

Women who rock!

Thursday, March 31
Alec Redfearn and the Eyesores, Rex, Railbird	As220- 9 pm	http://www.as220.org
The Raveonettes	Paradise- 9 pm	http://www.thedise.com
Friday, April 1
Tom Waits Tribute to benefit Amos House	the 201- 9 pm
Cults	Brighton Music Hall- 9 pm		http://www.brightonmusichall.com
Saturday, April 2
Jessica Lea Mayfield	Brighton Music Hall- 9 pm		http://www.brightonmusichall.com
Gogol Bordello	House of Blues- 6 pm		http://www.houseofblues.com
The Cave Singers, Lia Ices, The Silks	The Met- 9 pm		http://www.themetri.com
Tuesday, April 5
Subhumans, M.D.C., The Midnight Creeps, Weak Teeth	Club Hell- 7 pm		http://www.lupos.com/clubhell.html

Women who rock!

Thursday, March 24
Brown Bird, Tiger Saw, Anniki Dawn	Machines With Magnets- 8 pm	http://machineswithmagnets.com/
Friday, March 25
Wicked Hanging Chads, Bixit, The Telling Tree	As220- 9 pm	http://www.as220.org
Saturday, March 26
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals	Lupo’s- 7 pm	http://www.lupos.com
Tuesday, March 29
An Horse	The Space CT- 7 pm	http://www.thespace.tk
The Joy Formidable	Brighton Music Hall- 8 pm	http://www.brightonmusichall.com
Warpaint	Paradise- 8 pm	http://www.thedise.com

Ladies Rock Camp Update: Day 3

The last day of LRC was too amazing to put to words! The ladies really rocked out at the final showcase and put on a great show after three days of practice. Thank you to all our lady campers and supporters. You rock!

Check out the rest of the pictures from LRC at our Flickr.

Volunteer Spotlight - Jane Hesser

Name: Jane Hesser

Age: 33

Hometown: Buffalo, NY. Home of the Chicken Wing.

What do you do at Girls Rock RI?
I'm a band coach and clinical social worker. I do a relaxation/managing anxiety workshop and also help out with art stuff, sound checks, and whatever else needs doing.

How did you get involved with Girls Rock RI?
My friend Jeanette sent out an e-mail when Girls Rock was forming, asking if anyone was interested in being involved. I thought it was the coolest idea ever, so I showed up at the information session.

How did you get started in music?
My grandmother, who my daughter is named after, was a concert pianist. My mother was classically trained as well. So, music is very important in my family and I began piano lessons at age 4. I took them (kicking and screaming) for years. When I got older, I would write my own songs on the piano, but what I really loved to do was sing and I needed an instrument that was easier to bring places than a piano. So, when I was about 15, I taught myself how to play some chords on the guitar. Then I started writing my own music, playing with other people, and the rest is history.

What was your first rock show and what do you remember most about it?
Milli Vanilli: "The Blame it on the Rain Tour" at the Buffalo Memorial Aud. It was awesome. I got to meet both Milli AND Vanilli, shake their hands and everything. Everything in my life since then has been a come down.

What female musician (dead or alive) would you most like to meet?
Patti Smith, hands down.

What message do you have for all the budding female rockers out there?
Just do it. Making music is an experience so wonderful and unique that it is impossible to describe. It is challenging, like anything worth doing, so if it is something you want to do, make a commitment to yourself and just do it. There is no such thing as a person who can't rock. You're probably rocking right now and just don't know it!

Where can we find you when you are not rocking?
At the playground with my daughter, Sophie May; hoping to get into the studio to make some artwork some time this century; outside somewhere in Vermont; probably either cooking or eating.

What are you listening to these days?
Bob Dylan, Chris Pureka, Tribe Called Quest, Neko Case, Patti Smith, Beta Band, Ani Difranco

From everyone at Girls Rock! RI thank you for all you do! You rock Jane!

Ladies Rock Camp Update: Day 1 & 2

Via Facebook:

Day 1 of Ladies Rock Camp: band formation... check! lessons... check!, lunch performance/songwriting workshop with Roz Raskin and the Ricecakes... check! band practice... check! art/merchandising workshop... check! Get ready for Sunday's performance, because these bands are on FIRE, and it's only the first day!!

Another awesome day at Ladies Rock Camp! Day 2: yoga, lessons, lunch performance by One Two One Tow, band practice, relational aggression workshop! Now we have SONGS! Hope to see you tomorrow at Jamstage at 6pm for the premier performances of Hot Bits, Little Orphan Annihilators, Goodie 2 Shoes, and Zool!!!

Women who rock!

This weekend...

Wednesday, March 16 Diamond Doves, The Can’t Nots, Recore As220- 9 pm http://www.as220.org JJ Grey, Shannon McNally Paradise, Boston- 7 pm http://www.thedise.com Thursday, March 17 Atlantic/Electric, The Few, Battleships Cometh Great Scott, Boston- 9 pm http://www.greatscottboston.com/ Saturday, March 19 Crystal Castles House of Blues Boston- 8 pm http://www.houseofblues.com/venues/ clubvenues/boston/ Sunday, March 20 Ladies Rock Camp Final Showcase JamStage- 6 pm http://www.girlsrockri.org

Volunteer Spotlight - Melanie Fuest

Name: Melanie Fuest

Age: 35

Hometown: Attica, NY. But I have lived in Providence for a loooong time.

What do you do at Girls Rock RI? I was the first volunteer co-ordinator, but I am awful with computers and e-mails. So now I am primarily a drum instructor at the Girls and Ladies rock camps. I also volunteer and teach with our after school program, Girls Get Loud. Also try to help out in many small ways....whatever I can do.

How did you get involved with Girls Rock RI? Hilary Jones had this idea of starting a rock camp here for a long time and when she was ready to begin getting it off the ground she gave me a call. We have been friends since she had moved here and talked alot about the philosophies behind something like this project. I immediately said, "yes!!!!". It was, and still really is, exciting to be involved with such a special group of women. And it just keeps growing!

How did you get started in music? I had played clarinet and sang in chorus when I was younger, but I didn't start playing "rock" music until I was about 27 or 28. I had met Hilary when she moved here and she decided she wanted to start a band. I was appointed as the drummer. It didn't matter that I had never picked up a drumstick or had ever once in my life entertained the idea of doing something like that. I just said, "Ok.". We went out and bought a drum set and she taught me the AC/DC beat. The rest is history.

What was your first rock show and what do you remember most about it? The Violent Femmes at Providence Performing Arts Center. I went with a group of my friends. We were 15 at the time. I just remember there was so much energy. People dancing in the aisles of this beautiful theater. The band was amazing! They are still one of my favorites to this day.

What female musician (dead or alive) would you most like to meet? That is so hard! I would have to say Tori Amos. I have had a crush on her spirit and music since I was a teenager. A close second would be Lorretta Lynn. Such a no nonsense strong woman who was so vulnerable in her songs. Amazing.

What message do you have for all the budding female rockers out there? You have a voice!!!! Fear is fleeting so don't let it stop you from finding yours. Playing music has been an experience that has changed me in so many positive and wonderful ways.

Where can we find you when you are not rocking? Getting my butt kicked in Scrabble, watching TV series for way too many hours in a row, eating fattening food with friends, seeing local bands play, and obsessively reading books about vampires, zombies, and supernatural phenomenon.

What are you listening to these days? Beirut, Devotchka, Jose Gonzalez, Uke of Spaces, The Hollies, Townes Van Zant, and of course B-101(I only have an am/fm radio in my car)!

From everyone at Girls Rock! RI... You Rock Melanie! Thank you for everything you do.

Women who rock!

This weekend... Thursday, March 10
ACCO, Taina Asili Y La Banda Rebelde	As220- 8:30 pm	http://www.as220.org
Friday, March 11
Humanbeast, holy sheet, Rhythm & Blues Motherfuckers, Tinsel Teeth	Artisan Café- 9 pm
The Ex, Liturgy	Brighton Music Hall- 8 pm	http://www.brightonmusichall.com/
Saturday, March 12
Llama Tsunami, Big Sun Sky Machine	As220- 9 pm	http://www.as220.org
Freezepop, Death of the Cool, Big Digits, Cinnamon Fuzz	Brighton Music Hall- 8 pm	http://www.brightonmusichall.com
Sunday, March 13
3D Mystery, Crunk Witch, Green Oedipus	As220- 9 pm	http://www.as220.org

"Our History is Our Strength"

Since 1981, the month of March has been deemed “Women’s History Month”. Each year, the National Women’s History project decides on a unifying theme, with this years being “Our History is Our Strength”. They go on to explain the theme by stating, “Our shared history unites families, communities, and nations. Although women’s history is intertwined with the history shared with men, several factors - social, religious, economic, and biological - have worked to create a unique sphere of women's history.”

We could endlessly argue about how far women have come over the past century, or even since the 80s, as well as what has set us back. It seems most important, though, to remember the women who make these changes whether behind the force of government change, or behind a guitar and a thundering amp. There’s no arguing here- these women rock! So, take a few moments to enjoy the reverb of femininity and the playlist to our Women’s History Month.

The Velvet Underground & Nico- Femme Fatale