Conference turris::womannotes-v1

    A source for women's music is Ladyslipper.  They publish a catalogue
    and sell by mail.  I'll give the address to anyone that is interested.
    They have all sorts of things, from classical to rock.
    
    Interestingly, I have recently discovered that there are a number
    of women who wrote symphonies in the 16-1700s, but didn't publish
    because their fathers, husbands, brothers didn't consider it 'proper'
    for them to be writing music.  Some of this is just now being
    performed.
    
    Also, I have heard of, but never gone to a Women's music Festival
    in Lansing Michigan in the summer.  Perhaps someone out there has
    gone and can tell us more.
    
    Kathleen

	    Check out Phranc sometime.

	    Folks who live somewhere between Manchester (NH) and
	Burlington (MA) and Fitchburg (MA) and Haverhill (MA) may
	be able to get in University of Lowell's radio station,
	WJUL (91.5 FM).  On Saturday mornings from 10:00 to 12:00
	there's a show called "Gaiwaves."  Though it is billed as
	a show for gay and lesbian listeners, it's actually more
	of a lesbian-and-anything-remotely-feminist-or-at-least-
	done-by-a-woman-show-with-a-few-tunes-thrown-in-for-the-
	guys (-:).
			<_Jym_>
	P.S.:  My show's on Friday nights at 10:00, but that's
	not relevant to this conference.

    (What's ...or Who's... "Phranc", Jym?)
    
    I feel slightly embarrassed and disloyal to say this, but I've never
    really been able to enjoy "women's music" (the sort of thing that
    Olivia pioneered).  Not sure why, too bluesy or not well enough
    done maybe, I'm a traditional folkie and have the disgusting habit
    of measuring everybody against people like Lal and Norma Waterson.
    
    One singer I do enjoy (I think she's identified with "women's music",
    tho as she's australian I can't be sure) is Judy Small.  Mostly
    she seems to sing other people's compositions (her performance of
    "The IPD" never fails to bring a grin to my face) but she's done
    a couple of her own that are very fine, "If I Ever Sing A Love Song"
    being one of them.
    
    And of course Peggy Seeger's "The Engineer" is vintage feminist:
    wryly funny especially for women engineers, and a real consciousness-
    raiser for everyone.
    
    					=maggie

    My first memories of women's music stem back to 1974.  At that time
    you could hold the albums that were considered "women's music" in
    one hand!   Lavender Jane must have been one of the very first;
    Meg Christian's "I Know You Know" was also one of the pioneering
    albums.  Holly Near's first album (not all consider her early work
    women's music) came out in 1974 or 1975, I believe.  The Deadly
    Nightshade's first album also belongs in this group. 
    
    Most of these albums were only available by mail order.  Can anyone
    else pick up this brief history and elaborate further?
    
    I have always loved the folk oriented women's music performers,
    and my record and tape collection always reflected this!

    WERS, 88.9 FM, out of Emerson College in Boston, has a superfine
    show called "Women in Music" Saturday mornings. It starts at 6 AM,
    which is maybe the reason it hasn't been mentioned earlier :-).
    
    Regards, Chuck Schneider

I went to a Cris Williamson/Teresa Trull/Barbara Higbie/Tret Fure concert
last year to hear Cris Williamson, but came away a big fan of Teresa
Trull.  Her voice and songs are great.  This concert was the first in a long
time where I was so taken with a singer. She's got at least 3 records out.

One of the nice things about "this kind" of music is that the stories that
are told in the songs are not violent, sexist, macho or racist, but are
about people, their struggles and their lives.

The music that these four sing is feminist & lesbian in words,
jazz/folk/rock in style.  Higbie frequently records for Windham Hill, and is
basically a jazz musician, Fure is more of a rocker, and Higbie and
Williamson are folky.  They all record for various labels, including Olivia.
The Harvard Coop has a selection of their music, in the folk, bluegrass and
women's section, and I suppose Wooden Strings in Arlington does, too, but
I haven't gotten there yet.  Dick Pleasants does women's music on "Folk
Heritage" sometimes (WGBH-FM, saturday from noon 'til 5pm).

	    [RE .3]:  Phranc is the best new folk talent to come around
	(my opinion).  She sings topical songs, usually about things
	that are a bit off the beaten track:  One of them is based on
	the Catholic Church's "St. Francis" comic book series; she came
	up the idea that the Pope should have his comic book series too,
	in a song called "The Caped Crusader."  Another song, "Liar,
	Liar" (pants on fire, of course), is about the journalist who
	won the Pulitzer Prize for a fabricated story.  She's very good
	and very funny.
	    I find that the quality of "women's music" (as you say, the
	folky stuff pioneered by Olivia (a record label, in case any-
	body's wondering (not Ms. Newton-John))) to be variable.  I'm
	not a big fan of Holly Near, Ronnie Gilbert, Meg Christian, etc.
	Ferron is very good, though, and Cris Williamson has a couple of
	very nice songs (though I find most of her work to be filler
	between the very nice songs).  I've only heard a few Judy Small
	songs, but I've liked them.

	    [RE .6]:  Alas, some of the music is sexist, and homosexist
	(is that a word?).  It's hard to find non-instrumental music
	that is nice to everybody, though Joan Armatrading comes close.

			<_Jym_>

    I can't resist putting in a plug for a friend: Cindy Kallet is
    a folk singer who is both an excellent songwriter and an
    extraordinary guitarist. She's based in Central Massachusetts
    these days (records on Folk Legacy), though she more considers
    Martha' Vineyard her home.
    
    Unlike some of the other songwriters cited herein, her songs
    are not lesbian in orientation nor overtly feminist. But don't
    let that stop you!

    I've heard some of her work and she is indeed good.

    Another very fine woman singer and songwriter is Lui Collins.  She
    performs regularly on the folk circuit; I often hear her at Passim
    in Harvard Square. 
    
    She has 3 albums which can be found in the Green Linnet catalog.
    
    I love her music.  It is technically good, and she is a creative and
    proficient songwriter and guitarist.  Her exciting stage presence
    makes a live performance a joy to attend.
    
    She is married and recently had her second child, and she wove stories
    about her family all through her performance.  At the same time,
    she transcends a lot of the predictable categories of women's music
    (lesbian, straight, feminist...) and sings about the experience of being
    a woman.  For me, she even manages to get at some universal truths!
    
    

    If you get a chance, don't miss seeing/hearing a local talent by
    the name of Tracy Chapman.  She just graduated Tufts University,
    and is already an accomplished singer/songwriter.  Some friends
    of mine went to see her in NY as the opening act for Odetta and
    said as much as they loved Odetta, they could have listened to Tracy
    all night.
    
    She has a rich deep voice, a shy personal style, and sings songs
    about oppression with the rage I thought died in the early 70's.
    
    
    You can often catch a recording or two of hers on WERS (88.9) not
    only on the Women in Music show, but on their regular coffee house
    show from 6-11 every morning (monday-friday...plug, plug).
    
    On finding Women's Music in the area:  Wood 'n Strings in Arlington
    has a good collection, as does New Words Bookstore in Inman Sq,
    Cambridge (they also have a lot of tapes).
    
    ****andrea****
    
        

    I really like Women's Music, or as some people say "Womyn's Music."
    However, I am still searching for the singer who, in my opinion,
    has everything.  My thoughts:
    
    Holly Near-definitely one of the best for words and style.  She
    	also has great stage presence.  However, I'd like her to deal
    	more with women's issues and less with her other political
    	causes.  More love songs would be nice.  (You can tell I'M not
    	"politically correct!")
    
    Meg Christian-also excellent in voice and content.  Her later albums
    	are good for recovering alcoholics.  She is less political than
    	Holly, but deals with racism and sexism.  Wonderful stage presence.
    	She is still on a "sabbatical" last I heard.  Does anyone know
    	more about this?
    
    Alix Dobkin-has a good voice and has a few really fine songs, but
    	I find her too anti-male and also anti-Christian in the sense
    	that she puts down Christianity as a whole, seemingly because
    	she objects to the idea of God being male.  I wonder if maybe
    	she hasn't heard that some people are Christians who don't 
    	believe God is male either.  The songs that are upbeat are great,
    	though, and, especially for lesbians, shouldn't be missed.
    
    Sweet Honey in the Rock-a group of black women who sing women's,
    	Christian, and African-style songs.  They have a good beat and
    	a different style.  It seems they are becoming popular in
    	traditional Christian environments, too, as a friend of mine
    	told me she had seen them on TV on one of these programs lately.
    	This had suprised her since she had known that they also sang
    	lesbian songs.  Each album seems to be different, so you can
    	chose your favorite style by looking at the words on the back
    	cover.
    
    Barbara Higbie-a young up-and-comer.  I believe she is Teresa Trull's
    	lover.  I saw them in concert last year with Chris Williamson
    	and Tret Fure.  Barbara had a good voice, style, and stage 
    	presence.  She has at least one album out with Teresa, maybe more.
    	Does anyone know if she has a solo album out yet?
    
    I was not impressed with Teresa on stage, though I think she has
    a good voice.  Perhaps I just saw her on a bad night.  Chris is
    one that people appear to either really like, or be indifferent
    to.  I would fall into the last class.  She is very talented, but
    her style is not my own.  Tret is rock, rather than folk or soul.
    Those people who enjoy her type of music can comment on her.  I
    do not sing or play the way she does, and cannot comment on how
    talented she may be.
    
    For people who enjoy folk music without words, especially fiddle
    music, I recommend Robin Flower.  In the albums I've heard, she has
    both music with words and music without and much of it has been
    good.
    
    One last thing, as this is already longer than I had intended. 
    I will try and be as accurate on this as my memory allows.
    From what I hear a woman should NOT miss out on the Women's Music
    Festival.  They occur in Michigan, Georgia, and Northern California.
    Many of the women mentioned above come and perform, along with
    comediennes such as Robin Tyler and Kate Clinton.  For four days
    (Thurs-Sunday) the price is about $120 and is on a sliding scale.
    This includes vegetarian food and a place to put a tent, along with
    all the entertainment.  Each woman is required to work for a few
    hours while there, and this can be in any of several different areas.
    This is for WOMEN ONLY.  Children are allowed of both sexes, but
    I believe that boys have to be under 12 years old and are segregated
    to one area of camp.  It is supposed to be a lot of fun and you
    would be able to experience many different styles of performers.

	Carol

    I can attest that the Woman's Music Festival is well worth the time
    and money.  I attended one in Northern California in 1976 and it
    was wonderful!!!  Holly Near, Meg Christianson and many many others
    entertained us for 4 days almost non stop.  The atmosphere was relaxing
    and very spiritual.  
    
    Definitely a Must for all Women!!
    
    Angel

    Response to 33.12 - why Meg Christian is on sabbatical.
    
    Meg is a devotee of Swami Chidvilasananda (a woman) who was appointed
    by Swami Muktananda to be his successor after his death in 1984.
    Meg spends a great deal of her time on tour with Swami Chidvilasananda
    (known as "Gurumayi" to her followers).  The U.S. headquarters of her
    organization is in South Fallsberg, New York, and Meg can often
    be seen at the ashram there when Swami Chidvilasananda is in residence.
    As far as I know, Meg is an ardent devotee, and travels extensively
    and internationally as part of the guru's personal entourage.  
    
    Many of the songs on her recent album "From the Heart" reflect her
    involvement in Siddha Yoga.  The song "Darshan" is referring to
    the practice of darshan.  At the end of the evening programs in
    the ashrams, devotees line up to file up to the front to receive
    the blessings of the guru.  Devotees kneel, or prostrate themselves,
    and the guru gives her blessing by striking the people with peacock
    feathers.
    
    A number of other songs on the album are written to Swami
    Chidvilasananda.  (Meg looks very happy at the ashram, and I hope
    she is getting what she needs from her "sabbatical" from the performing
    and recording circuit!)

    The bad news is that the NEW ENGLAND WOMEN'S MUSIC RETREAT (NEWMR)
    has been cancelled this year.  If anyone wants more information
    on the whys, wherefores, etc, please write to me directly.  The
    women who organize it really need some support right now as they
    search for a new place to hold the festivities in '87.  I also have
    info on where to send $$$ if you want to help them out.
    
    I look forward to this even all year, and was so disappointed to
    find it was cancelled.
    
    Sigh.....
    
    ****andrea****

    This is the greatest notesfile I've stumbled on!  Some really good
    local talents can be found in Harvard Square. At passim (Intimate
    and warm) and The Nameless Coffeehouse (Intimate, warm, and free.)
    The Nameless will be celebrating it's 20th season this year.  Should
    be exciting.  The people who perform in this area that i think
    shouldn't be misssed are Betsy Rose (Betsy recently moved to Calf.
    but I'm sure she will be back on occasion. Marica Taylor, Tracy
    Chapman, Fred Small, Bright Morning Star, Girls Night Out, Wendy
    Sobel, Jess Leary, Patti Larkin, Eric Kilburn, Wild Rose.
    It's a community packed with talent (Men and Women) and the Men
    I've mentioned are supportive of the Feminist Movement and of Women's
    music.  I really would like to meet other women who are as "in love
    with music as I am"  I could use some good musical buddies.
    I hope I'll hear from a lot of you.  I want to do my first solo
    performance soon and can use the support and good will of all of
    you who have been scared at one time or another.  Music is a very
    soul bearing, and vulnerable experience and can bring tears to my
    eyes quicker than a lot of other things. I want to Thank all of
    you for this incredible Women's Music column.  I'm so happy to have
    found this.
    
    
    with all my best
    
    Paulette Grout
    
    P.S.  I'm going back to the beginning to introduce myself.  In the
    meantime I'm on DAMSEL::GROUT x273-3563
    

	    The ULowell Women's Center has sponsored women folk artists
	at ULowell.  The public has generally been invited.
	    I don't know what they have planned for this year, but if
	they sponsor these things again, I'll keep you informed.
			<_Jym_>
	(They also have all my feminist books, but that's neither here
	nor there . . .)

We were at FolkTree's Folk Festival at the DeCordova Museum yesterday, and
they announced the fall schedule. Here's the schedule for "The Annual
FolkTree Festival of Women in Music". All shows at the Somerville Theater in
Somerville, MA. $14.50 general admission, $16.50 reserved. Typically, they
have a dozen rows in the front reserved, but it might be worthwhile, because
there aren't many really good chairs in that theater!  The theater is right
on the Red Line (Davis Square stop), and is a neat place for movies or
concerts.

Fri, 24 Oct: Teresa Trull & Barbara Higbie, Odetta, Patty Larkin, 
	     Judy Small (6.30pm & 9.45 pm)
Sat, 25 Oct: Cris Williamson, Phranc, Heather Bishop, Lucie Blue Tremblay, 
	     Shawn Colvin.  (5pm & 9pm)
Sun, 26 Oct: Holly Near, Elizabeth Cotten, Liz Story, Christine Lavin,
	     Tracy Chapman (3pm & 8pm)

The FolkTree phone number is 617/641-1010, and the other usual ticket
outlets are available.  They have full schedules available, season's
tickets, etc.

(By the way, the folk festival was great.  Holly Near, Doc Watson, Greg
Brown, Jesse Winchester, Patty Larkin, Leo Kotke were all wonderful.  The
day was great, too.)
					-- hs

    Just wanted to let those of you who like folk music know that I
    began a new conference on that subject (ESPN::Folk_Music).  I'd be
    delighted if anyone wants to get some discussions on women's music
    going there...
    
    If that's an interests of yours, press select to add it to your
    notebook.
    
    Holly

Cheryl (my SO) went to the Saturday night show.  I wanted to go, but I
 had to work.  I apparently missed a lot.

Patty Larkin was the MC.  She had played the night before, and mentioned
 the _Boston_Globe_ review she had gotten.  "They said I indulged in
  cheap theatrics!"  She removed her hat.  "This hat cost $25.00.  I
   don't think that's cheap!"

Shawn Colvin was okay (Cheryl tells me).  Lucie Blue Tremblay was very
 very good.  She mentioned having problems with visas (she's from Can-
  ada), the same problems that kept the Bronski Beat from touring the
   United States.  Heather Bishop was "good, but not great."  Then there
    was the intermission.

During intermission, Cheryl and Paul (a friend of ours, who deejays the
 folk show at WJUL) snuck backstage.  They talked to Patty Larkin (who
  is playing at a concert at ULowell to benefit AIDS research or Dignity
   or something - Cheryl and Paul organized it), before she went out on
    stage in an evening gown and an accordion.

Then they talked to Lucie Blue Tremblay, and made plans to interview her
 for the station.  Then they talked to Phranc, who gave them her mana-
  ger's phone number so they could interview *her* for the station.

Then Phranc went out to play, while Cheryl and Paul stood backstage to
 watch.  Cheryl actually stood near the curtain.

When Chris Williamson came on (with Trete Fure), they left the back-
 stage.  They noticed some great seats right up front and sat in them.
  Unfortunately, between Chris Williamson's traditional long stories
   between each song and her new commercial sound, they got bored and
    left.

(Actually, they didn't leave.  They went back up to the balcony where
 the rest of the gang were sitting and made them envious.  Then they
  all giggled and made fun of Chris Williamson until someone sitting
   behind them told them they were being rude.  Then they left.)
    <_Jym_>

	I went to the Friday, Oct 24, Folktree Festival, the
early show. 

	Barbara Higbie was great: joyous and playfull. Likewise
for Judy Small, though she had more of a social message. I had
really come to hear Odetta make the rafters shake, but was
disappointed .  A friend said to me 'Will the real Odetta please
stand up '.

	Maybe she was saving her energy for the second show, or
maybe she felt out of synch with the crowd, but " Good-night
Irene" really didn't do it for me.  *I* felt a generation gap with
the crowd, and had to remind myself this was women in music not
music of the Women's movement.

	Altogether there was alot of varied talent with lots of peaks.
So thanks -hs- for letting us know about it .

Amy

Lucie Blue Tremblay has released a new album!  It's on the Olivia label
 (where else?).  Now I can see - I mean hear - why Cheryl was so enthu-
  siastic.

There are two sides to the record (no kidding!) - a studio side and a
 live side.  The studio side is a tad too overproduced, but the live
  side is astounding!
   <_Jym_>

    Here's one more cudo for Lucie Blue.  She is indeed very good. 
    Anybody who can get a Dayton audience to sing along, much less in
    French is indeed good.  She is having major visa problems, as are
    a lot of out canadian musicians.  There is a defense fund established
    to try and help (contact Olivia records).
    
    Holly Near is vey good, too. They played the same show and it was
    incredible.  It was my SO's first exposure to womens music since
    the early, rather boring, days of Olivia.  Needless to say, we're
    going to find some more, soon.
    
    For you folkies out there, try Peggy Seeger's stuff.  The Different
    therefore Equal ( think I got the title right) album is good.  Also
    you might listen to Reel World String Band.  It a different perspecitve
    on womens music.
    
    The Michigan Festival is wonderful.  I just got this years pictures
    back (had some trouble locating someone reliable to print them).
    Yes, all (well most anyway) the rumors are true, especially the
    ones about COLD showers.  Maybe we could arrange a group excursion
    next august.
   

    Someone whom I've recently heard for the first time, and am wild
    about is Leslie Fish.
    
    She does a mixture of Kipling's poetry set to her music, writes
    her own stuff, which is similar to Kipling's style, with a definite
    feminist viewpoint.
    
    Elizabeth

    I just bought the Michigan Live '85 double record album set.  I
    would recommend it.  It's got jazz and folk, a good diverse set
    of "women's music".  I think it's so good that I'm lending it
    to friends that haven't yet discovered women's music, including
    men.
    
    Some of the artists on the record: Ferron, Holly Near, Teresa Trull
    (sp?).  There are about two dozen different women recorded on it.

    A couple other Michigan performers of note:
    
    Reel World Srting band (blue grass, etc) and Maxine Feldman (humor
    and folk).  Maxine's *Closet Sale* album has *Amazon* on it.
    
    Another good bluegrass performer is Karen McKay from WVa.
    

The FolkTree schedule for Winter/Spring '87 just arrived.  There are (at
least) 2 concerts relevant to this note.  They're both at the Somerville
Theatre, Davis Square, Somerville, right at the Davis Square stop on the Red
Line. Call 641-1010 for more information.

	14 February (take your sweetie to a concert)
	Holly Near, Teresa Trull (and her band), Linda Tillery (and her band)
	5pm & 9pm, $14.50,  all seats reserved.

	4 April
	Cris Willimason (with Tret Fure) and Greg Brown
	6pm & 9.30pm, $14.50, all seats reserved

For those interested, the rest of the schedule is Greg Brown/Jesse
Winchester/The Red Clay Ramblers on 31 Jan, 5 & 9pm, $13.50; Battlefield
Band/New Grass Revival on 15 Mar, 3pm and 7.30 pm, $13.50; Nanci
Griffith/Jerry Jeff Walker on 11 April, 6 & 9.30pm, $14.50).
       

    Has anyone heard of Judy Sill or know what she is doing these
    days?  Her biggest tune was Jesus Was A Capricorn.  One of
    my favorites was The Kiss.  The Jesus tune was actually made
    popular by someone else (don't remember who).  Anyway, she
    is a very talented person who not only wrote and performed
    her own material but also arranged, conducted and produced.
    She has a very introspective quality to her music that tugs
    at the heart.  I don't know if her first two releases are 
    still available but they are worth checking out.
    
    =ken

    Willie Tyson is very good.  She's from Texas and her music has a
    country sound to it.  I'm not real fond of country music but her
    lyrics are good and most songs reveal a great sense of humor. 
    
    The title song on her Debutante album is great!  The premise is that
    her daughter and her heifer cow each end up at the wrong function;
    the cow goes to the debutante ball and the daughter to the cattle
    auction, and nobody notices a mistake has been made!  She's written
    all the songs on this album but 1.  She sings Peggy Seeger's 'I'm
    gonna be an Engineer'.
    
    Someone else I'd recommend is John Mcclutheon (I think I spelled
    that wrong.)  He sings/plays bluegrass/folk songs.  He plays 
    beautiful hammer dulcimer music.  I'd recommend must of his stuff,
    even though it's not all women oriented.
    
    One of my favorites is 'One Thin Swimsuit Between the Beauty Queen
    and then Porna Star'.  Another one he's done (but not recorded yet)
    is a song on sexual harassment in the work place. Funny song that
    makes a good point.   
    
    I've seen John Mcclutcheon many times at the Winfield Bluegrass
    Festival in Kansas.  The festival is family oriented, very
    relaxing and uplifting.  It's always on the 3rd weekend in September
    for 4 days.  If you want more info on it, let me know.
    
    A place to get women's music in Colorado Springs is  Chapter I/
    Copies II.  They've recently moved to downtown, on Bijou. 
                                                              

This isn't what I ususally think of as women's music, but I think many
people who like traditional women's music would like it. This is a new album
by Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton and Emmy Lou Harris. I don't know what label
it's on, I just heard it on the radio (Folk Heritage, WGBH Boston.) The
songs are what I'd call modern folk, but true to the folk tradition. The
backup players are uniformly excellent, the instrumentation is mostly
traditional acoustic folk instrumentation. The focus is on the women's
singing and songwriting. The story I heard is that Dolly, Emmy Lou and Linda
decided to work together out of admiration and respect for each other's
work. The vocal harmonies were done live (as opposed to overdubbed) and the
respect and knowledge they have of each other's styles and abilities shows
through clearly in the way the vocal lines work together. I don't generally
go for women's music or folk music in a big way, but I'm planning to get
this album.

Don.

    Want your money to support something that you support? At a recent
    concert at the Somerville Theater, Holly Near said that her record
    label, Redwood Records, is looking for investors. Apparently, they
    want to borrow money from people for specific projects. They claim to
    never have missed a payment. I don't remember what interest rate
    they're offering, but it's at least as good as the Digital Credit
    Union offers.
    
    If you're interested, write them a letter. The address is on the back
    of all of their records.

    THE 12TH MICHIGAN MUSIC FESTIVLE IS IN FULL SWING. AUG 13,14,15,16
    THIS YEAR.THE ACTUAL LOCATION IS HART MICHIGAN. THE PRICE THIS YEAR
    IS 100-125 DOLLARS ON A SLIDING SCALE INTENSIVE WORKSHOPS ARE
    AVAILIABLE ON WED. AT AN ADDITIONAL FEE. IF YOUR THINKING OF A FESTIVLE
    THIS IS THE GRANDMOTHER OF THEM ALL. NIGHT STAGE THIS YEAR - REEL
    WORLD STRING BAND,RONNIE GILBERT,LILLIAN ALLEN BAND,TRACY CHAPMAN,HOLLY
    NEAR,HEATHER BISHOP,TRET FURE,JASMINE,MAXINE HOWARD,PHRANC,ROBIN
    FLOWER,CAROLYN BRANDY-ALONG WITH DAY STAGE AND ACOUSTIC STAGE. IF
    ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS THIS IS MY 8TH FESTIVAL AND WILL NEVER
    MISS ONE.

    I have this record, and personally it's the best overall record
    I have ever listened to.- I've always been a fan of Linda Ronstadt's
    anyway. If you appreciate great 3 part harmony you'll listen to
    this record over and over!! 

    Does anyone have any information on the West Coast Womyn's Music
    Festival?  I would like to attend, but all I know is that it is
    over Labor Day weekend.
    
                     Carol

    Here's something from the Ms. magazine I received in the mail
    yesterday.  I couldn't think of a better topic in which to place it.
    
    Get fired up!  After taking a year off to rest and reevaluate, the
    annual womanfest, Sisterfire, is back.  From June 27 to 28, women
    from all over the world will gather in the Washington, DC area to
    celebrate Sisterfire's fifth anniversary with an explosion of music,
    poetry, dance, theater, and crafts.  Artists to be in attendance
    include Alice Walker, Sweet Honey In The Rock, Holly Near, Norma
    Helena Gadea, Tracy Chapman, Odetta, and many more.  Five performance
    areas, including a children's performance area and a stage for the
    cultural and artistic expression of deaf women, and more than 100
    crafts displays, will sprawl across the 11-acre site.  Tickets are
    $19 for one-day attendance ($22 at the gate) and $30 for a two-day
    pass ($35 at the gate).  For more information, contact Roadwork,
    Box MS, 1475 Harvard Street NW, Washington, DC 10009. (202)-234-9308.

    Sounds great, anyone interested in going?
        
    	-Ellen

    Gaah, sounds fantastic, I'd love to go, but I promised one of my
    friends I'd march with him in San Francisco that weekend (Gay Pride
    march).
    
    Boo-hoo.  Gay pride is a good cause, but Sisterfire sounds a lot
    nearer to my heart...
    
    Lee

I just happen to have some information lying around, this seems like the
right place to post this:

August 12-16 (Wed-Sun) 12th Michigan Womyn's Music Festival:
An outdoor gathering of Womyn with Camping, Concerts, Crafts, Workshops,
Film, Videos and FUN!!! For brochure & ticket info send SASE to: WWMTC, Box
22, Walhala, MI 49458.   Festival location: Hart, Michigan.

Sept. 4-7 (Fri-Mon) NEWMR!! 7th Annual New England Women's Music Retreat!
URI (University of Rhode Island), West Greenwich, RI. Call (203) 523-1268
for info, or write: NEWMR, P.O. Box 217, New Haven, CT 06513.

    The 1987 FolkTree Festival     Sunday 13 Sept 87     Noon & 6pm
    DeCordova Museum Outdoor Amphitheatre, Lincoln, MA
    $18.50 reserved, $17.50 lawn
    	Ferron
	Taj Mahal
	Greg Brown
	Livingston Taylor
	Claudia Schmidt
    We went last year (lawn seats are fine) and had a blast.

      ================================================================

    An Evening with Holly Near	    24 Oct 87
    Berklee Performance Center, Boston
    <no other information yet, but watch for it...>

    Has anyone out there heard the Rude Girls debut album "Rude
    Awakening" ?  Any comments ? 

re: .39, Rude Girls
    
    Funny you should mention that. I was just listening to "Rude Awakening"
    last night, after borrowing it from a friend. Good stuff. There's a
    real mix of music on the album -- from instrumental to political to
    satire. Sometimes politically-oriented songs are tedious if they're not
    written well, but I haven't gotten bored listening to this record yet.
    
    Some of it sounds a little rough to me (I don't really know how to
    describe it, but it's not as polished as some of the stuff that you can
    buy), but that's alright, because I don't like music that sounds like
    the engineers spent more time on it than the musicians. 

    I heard a few cuts played on Dick Pleasant's Sunday afternoon radio
    show (WGBH-FM, Boston), but I don't know how much other airplay they're
    getting. I guess this is their first album, and I'm looking forward to
    more.