The "Four Women" showcase series at Katerina's, which was established six years ago and continues to entertain Chicago audiences with fabulous singer-songwriters, introduces a new twist: Midwestern songwriters addressing the audience in languages reflecting their roots and origin. The show is Tuesday, April 9.
Tamara Finlay plays music rooted in traditional Ukranian folk and gypsy styles. Based in Detroit, Finlay also performs as part of the folk duo The Thornbills, who are known for their traditionalist, earthy sound and tight harmonies. Autoharp and dulcimer are perfect accompaniments for a voice heralded for its purity, empathy, and sincerity. Many of the songs in Finlay's repertoire were born in a room filled with artifacts of her background, and describe her Russian family and family relations. Of her culture she says in a Metrotimes interview, "It's second nature to me. It isn't a foreign language; it's part of my personality."
South African Rozanne Gewaar can bring a fragile, yet searing presence to the stage. "For me, English was my language of rebellion and contradiction, and to this day, the anthems, the protests are expressed in English; beauty and sadness, in Afrikaans." With the song "Scattered", she gives voice to the immigrant experience, while Afrikaans songs like "Voel Jou" and "Miskien" grapple with the loss of country and culture. Gewaar has lived in the USA for ten years, but still keeps close ties to South Africa. She recently released a second music album in South Africa and Amsterdam.
Asian-American Dawn Xiana Moon was born in Singapore and moved to Michigan at the age of five; a fixture on the folk circuit, she has performed in 10 states and released two solo albums. Recently, the singer-songwriter began exploring her roots, fusing elements from traditional Chinese music with her signature blend of folk, pop, and jazz. The result is a musical brew in several languages that draws influences from sources as disparate as Han Dynasty literature and Americana. "There are so many things I struggle to articulate in normal conversation," Moon says. "But with music, there's an immense freedom, even requirement, to drop our pretenses and reveal the mess."
A fourth songstress will be announced soon. The evening will be hosted by Hannah Frank. Hannah is the publicist for Chicago Acoustic Underground (CAU), the international podcast series celebrating original music at www.ChicagoAcoustic.net . She doubles up as sound technician, and is also a songwriter with her group, Hannah Frank Group.
The women are exploring ways to make the foreign content of the show accessible to its users. Amongst others, they will share some lyrics and songs prior to the show via the facebook event page, and offer spoken translations for some songs, during the show. Says one, "Coming to a new country, and allowing yourself to be assimilated to some extent, finding a balance between original and new culture, is a journey, as is growing up in one country and then reaching back to another. We want to share that journey with our audience in some way." The event link is: www.facebook.com/events/282262291907443/ .
Don't miss this special showcase of Midwestern songwriters exploring their roots and casting a unique light on the American immigrant experience. Four(eign) women takes place on Tuesday, April 9, at Katerina's on 1920 West Irving Park Road, Chicago. Cover: $5. www.katerinas.com .