Ladyfest Philly

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May 13, 2013 | 11:39 AM | By

Get ready for Ladyfest with a mixtape featuring Amanda X, Attia Taylor, U.S. Girls and more (happening in West Philly on 6/7-6/9)

 

Trophy Wife

Trophy Wife | Photo by John Vettese

The ball keeps rolling for Ladyfest Philly, a three-day event taking place around West Philly in June.  Organizers of the festival recently shared an hour-long mixtape showcasing the stellar line-up and including contributions from local favorites Attia Taylor, Trophy Wife and Amanda X alongside national acts Screaming Females, U.S Girls and a dozen more.  The festival, which is in its tenth year and celebrates women in arts, culture and activism, will also offer workshops on topics like “Amps, Pedals and PAs: Demystifying Electronics with Girls Rock Philly” and “Self Defense: From Eye Contact to Eye Poking.”  Tickets, information and an interactive schedule can be found on the Ladyfest website here.  Stream the festival mixtape below and pick it up in the physical form of a cassette tape at Ladyfest; see the track listing after the jump.

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FILED UNDER: Artists, Events, Recordings, Scene, Ladyfest Philly
April 11, 2013 | 2:00 PM | By

Listen to “Clover,” a new song from Philly’s Bad Braids (playing Ladyfest benefit 4/20, tour kickoff 4/27, album out 5/1)

BadBraidsHaunting indie-folk project Bad Braids is releasing its latest long player, Supreme Parallel, this spring via Haute Magie Records, and this a handful of new songs appeared on the label’s website to tease the full set.

“Clover” begins spare and spacious, very akin to the vibe the band had when it appeared on Folkadelphia last autumn, or when it performed for Out of Town Films in a bathtub at Germantown’s Rigby Mansion. Singer-guitarist Megan Biscieglia plays a minor key guitar line, multi-instrumentalist Mike Bruno creates a humming ambient underbelly. But as the song progresses, new textures are introduced – uplifting vocal harmonies, a chord change into a loosely poppy refrain. The song is at once distant and deeply introverted, yet a warm and expressive spiritual journey – “Hopes make you later, dreams take you farther from the sun, I’ll guide you somewhere.” The intensity builds as the fervent drumming and tambourine comes in, concluding in some nether-realm between Kate Bush and Bonnie “Prince” Billy.

Look for the entire LP to be released on Haute Magie on May 1st. Bad Braids has two local shows of note this month; on April 20th, it plays the Ladyfest Philly benefit at Little Berlin, and on April 27th it returns to Rigby Mansion for a joint record release / tour kickoff show with Mary Lattimore. Listen to “Clover” below.

FILED UNDER: Artists, Concert Previews, Events, Recordings, Bad Braids, Ladyfest Philly, Little Berlin
April 10, 2013 | 12:00 PM | By

The Key Studio Sessions: Cayetana

Relatively new faces in the Philly DIY scene, Cayetana crafts focused, passionate indie-punk nuggets exploring a broad spectrum of subject matter – from city living to old age. “South Philly” is an incisive, observational look at rowhome life that’s a world away from the trendy Passyunk Ave strip; “Miss Thing,” a nod to singer-guitarist Augusta Koch’s grandmother, is a moving reflection aging (the lyric “at the end of your life all you’ll eat is ice cream” is at once humorous and heartbreaking). The band just signed to Tiny Engines Records and is looking to release its debut full-length later on this year. This weekend, it plays a benefit show for Ladyfest Philly at Little Berlin featuring Bad Braids and the Girls Rock Philly allstars. Information on the all-ages show can be found here; stream and download this week’s Key Session below.

FILED UNDER: Artists, Concert Previews, Downloads, Events, Recordings, Cayetana, Ladyfest Philly, Little Berlin, The Key Studio Sessions
April 2, 2013 | 12:09 PM | By

Trophy Wife, Screaming Females, US Girls and more on Ladyfest Philly lineup (happening from 6/7 to 6/9)

Trophy Wife

Trophy Wife | Photo by John Vettese

Ladyfest Philly, a celebration of women in the arts and activism, announced the full lineup of musicians and workshops for its three-day event from June 7th to June 9th. Among those performing are local power duo Trophy Wife (pictured), New Brunswick noisemakers Screaming Females, Philly native Attia Taylor, new punk three-piece Amanda X, Toronto avant-pop artist US Girls, electronic artist Void Vision and many more.

Workshops include two from Girls Rock Philly – “Amps, Pedals and PAs: Demystifying Electronics” and a drumline – one on bike repair on the go from Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, and the Philly Weekly’s Tara Murtha leading a talk called “Victim Blaming in the Media: What It Is and What You Can Do About It,” to name a few. Participating venues include The Rotunds, Locust Moon Comics and Movies and Airspace Gallery, and proceeds will be split between two organizations: Women in Transition and Project SAFE.

Read the full lineup after the jump, and get ticket and weekend pass information at the Ladyfest Philly website. Continue reading →

FILED UNDER: Artists, Concert Previews, Events, News, Ladyfest Philly
March 22, 2013 | 11:19 AM | By

Just Announced: Girls Rock Philly present Ladyfest Philly Benefit with Cayetana, Bad Braids and more (at Little Berlin on 4/20)

LFBGirls Rock Philly student group Shark Tank will host a show at Little Berlin on Saturday, April 20th with Cayetana, Bad Braids, and more.  The event has been organized by Girls Rock Philly after-school program participants, with the group of teenagers handling everything from booking the bands to promoting the show and playing live in two opening acts, Wrong Castle and Barracuda Club House Band.  The concert will benefit Ladyfest Philadelphia, a summer event that celebrates women in arts, culture and activism.  More information about the show can be found on the Facebook event page here.  Below, stream “Mountain Kids” from Cayetana.

FILED UNDER: Artists, Concert Previews, Events, News, Scene, Bad Braids, Barracuda Club House Band, Cayetana, Girls Rock Philly!, Ladyfest Philly, Little Berlin, Wrong Castle
February 18, 2013 | 4:15 PM | By

Watch videos from Ladyfest Philly’s Galentine’s Day Cover Band Benefit

On Saturday night, South Philly arts space Cha-Cha’Razzi hosted a benefit concert for Ladyfest Philadelphia, an event taking place at The Rotunda June 7th through June 9th celebrating women in arts, culture and activism. The Galentine’s Day Cover Band benefit raised $1,200 for the organization and featured groups of Philly musicians playing cover sets spotlighting the music of The Breeders, Bikini Kill, Electrelane and more. Check out a video recap of the benefit in the player below.

On deck for Ladyfest Philly is a benefit dance party at Eris Temple on March 8, a Karaoke benefit at Tabu on March 21, and a Little Berlin organized by Girls Rock Philly campers on April 20. The festival is taking artist submissions through February 28th: the lineup will be announced on April 1, and a companion cassette compilation will be released to coincide with it.

FILED UNDER: Artists, Concert Photos + Videos, Events, Cha-cha'razzi, Ladyfest Philly
February 16, 2013 | 11:16 AM | By

Tonight’s Concert Picks: XPN Welcomes The Spinto Band to Johnny Brenda’s, Arctic Splash at Kung Fu Necktie, Cold Roses at MilkBoy, Parquet Courts at Voyeur for Making Time, Galentine’s Day Cover Band Show at Cha-Cha’Razzi

XPN welcomes The Spinto Band to Johnny Brenda’s tonight.  Boasting a new album in Cool Cocoon and a viral-y popular video in “What I Love,’ the Delaware natives have had a busy few months leading up to this hometown-area show, perhaps best exhibited by their coverage in The New Yorker and on NPR.  As the band points out in this interview with The Key, their generally upbeat, happy sounding music often has much deeper, sometimes melancholy lyrics.  Tickets and information for tonight’s 21+ show with Language Problems and Alec Ounsworth can be found here.  Watch the video for “What I Love” below.

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FILED UNDER: Artists, Concert Previews, Events, Scene, Alec Ounsworth, Arctic Splash, Cha-cha'razzi, Cold Roses, Creem Circus, Dressed Like Stolen Cars, Fauxlectrelane, Johnny Brenda's, Kung Fu Necktie, Ladyfest Philly, Language Problems, Making Time, Milkboy, Naked Heroes, Parquet Courts, The Rivals, The Spinto Band, Voyeur