Artemis Singers, Chicago's lesbian feminist chorus, will present "Wanting the Music: A Choral Musical of the Michigan Festival," Saturday, Jan. 28, and Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017.
The Michigan Womyn's Music Festival was a woman-only event held in the woods of Michigan for just one week every year from 1976 through 2015.
The festival was also controversial because of its definition of "woman," which was not inclusive of trans women. Though organizers claimed in later years not to enforce any formal policy banning trans women, there were years-long protests and boycotts based on the fest's approach to trans women.
The concert format connects songs from festival artists, including Cris Williamson, Ferron, Melissa Ferrick and Toshi Reagon, with an original story and songs by Artemis Singers members Allison Downing and Loraine Edwalds.
"Having the festival end in 2015 was a deeply emotional experience for women who are part of the lesbian community," explains Edwalds, who attended the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival for 27 years. "With this performance, we honor the musicians who formed the heart of the festival community over the years."
"Our lives changed so much in the years that we had Michigan," Edwalds recalled. "How lesbians are accepted, how they're able to have children, the expectations they have for their relationships are very different now than when the festival started. I hope by creating this fictional story we can remind women of all we've been through."
Several Artemis Singers members and composers from other feminist choruses created the arrangements of iconic festival songs. Rachel Alexander, lead carpenter for MichFest for many years, arranged Nedra Johnson's "August Moon," a song written specifically about the festival in 2014.
Vendors who participated in the festival over the years will have booths in the balcony that people can visit before and after the January 2017 show. There will also be a wall where concert attendees can share their memories of the festival, which will be shared on the Artemis Singers website after the performances complete.
Artemis Singers will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017, and at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29 at the Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox Ave., Chicago.
Tickets for "Wanting the Music" are a suggested donation of $20 in advance and $25 at the door for adults. Tickets for seniors age 65 and older and for children age 12 and younger are a suggested donation of $15. To purchase tickets, go to http://artemiswantingthemusic.brownpapertickets.com/
For additional concert information, directions to the venue, or to volunteer to be a part of the event, email info@artemissingers.org or call 773-764-4465.
Founded in 1980, Artemis Singers is composed of women with diverse backgrounds who are dedicated to effecting positive change in cultural attitudes towards lesbians and women artists. Performances highlight historical, political and personal events important to women.
See ArtemisSingers.org .
