The Estrojam Music and Culture Festival returns for its third annual run, spanning four days beginning on Wed., Sept. 21. The classes, workshops, panels and performances will be held at the Metro, Bottom Lounge, Chicago Filmmakers, Uncommon Ground and Circuit Night Club. All of the events, featuring artists who are all either women or female fronted groups, are open to men and women.
The annual fest allows artists, educators, and activists to voice their stories in an effort to educate and awaken social change. Through a series of open forums, creative expression is nurtured and a chance to develop new skills is fostered.
The comedic duo the Hazzards take a break from their East Coast shows and will be performing at the launch party on Wed., Sept. 21 at the Bottom Lounge. The Hazzards have been seen on Comedy Central's 'Out on the Edge' special and had a camp hit with the humorous song 'Gay Boyfriend.' Other acts sharing the bill on opening night of the festival include Chicago's very own comedic troupe Triplette and the band Sybris.
Amy Ray, the darker conscience of the Indigo Girls, will be taking to the stage at the Bottom Lounge on Thursday, Sept. 22, along with Jody Bleyle of Team Dresch, Will Lochamy and Les Nuby. Ray is currently promoting her second solo album Prom. While the Indigo Girls have always lent their talent to political and social causes, Amy Ray started her own non-profit label, Daemon Records, which boasts talent enjoying artistic freedom.
On Friday, Sept. 23, the Estrojam 2005 Film Fest is slated to take place at Chicago Filmmakers in Andersonville. This will be followed by an after-party at Circuit, which will have the B-Girl Battle, a female break dancing contest.
There will be an all-ages panel on Women in the Arts and Music Business on Saturday the 24th at DePaul University. Stacey Singer from Daemon Records, Misty McElroy from Portland's Rock n' Roll Camp for Girls, music industry veteran Dana Powell and Kristin Cox of Breakbone DanceCo. will be serving on the panel.
Chicago's very own queen of house, Screamin' Rachel, will be leading a workshop on break dancing, street dancing and a DJ clinic that Saturday at the Metro. Screamin' Rachel recently performed at the Estrojam's Women of Early Blues and Jazz showcase. The club singer also had her single 'Sister, Sister' storm up Billboard magazine's club airplay chart.
The New York quartet the Brazilian Girls will be headlining the closing show at the Metro later that night. While nobody in the band is actually Brazilian, the group's sound balances between bossa nova, electronic, jazz and pop. Lead singer Sabina Sciubba favors wearing sunglasses or cloth masks when making public appearances, citing that so many female artists expose themselves too much. Don't view this as a gimmick, Sabina is a polyglot, singing in five languages on the band's debut album. The Scream Club and Anna Oxygen will be among those sharing the bill with the Brazilian Girls.
While the Music and Culture Festival is an annual event, Estrojam hosts other events year-round. Earlier this year, Estrojam showcased several local and up-and-coming female vocalists saluting Bessie Smith, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday during the Women of Early Blues & Jazz Tribute.
Youth-geared programs are encouraged by Estrojam, in particular allowing young women the opportunity to work in fields usually dominated by men. This includes acting as a sound technician or working as a member of the stage crew. However, many of the venues now are strictly 18 and over, denying the young hopefuls a chance that may not occur again.
Pieces of artwork that were crafted at the Youth Workshop on Sept. 11 will be shown throughout the festival. Girls, 18 and under, will have brought in a personal object and a poem. With the assistance of an instructor, the young women will have completed their projects and transferred their poetry onto their prized possessions.
A portion of profits from the Third Annual Music Culture Festival will be donated to the U.S. Campaign for Burma in an effort to encourage social change peacefully. Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi is currently under house arrest through the Burmese reign for her strides in bringing freedom and democracy to Burma. Suu Kyi pleas for others to use their abilities to use non-violent methods to fight for the liberties that are still denied there. Also, she is the only Nobel Peace Prize winner who is currently imprisoned. The organizers of this year's event are hopeful that broadcasts from different forums will air on the border of Burma, however, messages from Burma will be shown at all of the Estrojam events.
Another beneficiary of this year's Estrojam festivities is Chicago's Abused Women's Coalition. This local organization offers shelter, counseling, advocacy and 24-hour support to women and children who are victims of domestic violence.
Estrojam's Music and Culture Festival is a non-profit event. Tax deductible donations can be made, since the organization is a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) entity.
Tickets for these events are going quickly and can be obtained through estrojam.org, the Metro, Bottom Lounge and Music Today.
Prior year performers have applauded Estrojam's events, calling it empowering and inspiring. More information about the artists, times and locations of the various classes and shows are detailed at the official Web site, estrojam.org .
