7th Annual New Hampshire Women's Music Festival
Saturday, September 9, 2000
Noon - 6:30 pm
Ragged Mountain Ski Area, Danbury, NH
2000 PERFORMERS
The festival is wheelchair accessible and it will be interpreted for the deaf.
Here's some more info about our wonderful performers!
Blue Therapy is a blues-based rock band formed in 1995 by lead singer Dodi Hartigan and guitarist Chuck Parenteau, initially as a way to beat the blues and have some fun. It has since evolved into a band whose tight performances and creative songwriting have earned them regional recognition and a large fan base. They offer a variety of genres and moods from blues and swing to hard-hitting rock and roll. Although they occasionally cover vintage blues and rock, they are best known for their truly original originals, which feature compelling, thoughtful lyrics and musical arrangements that are technically precise without sacrificing soul. Dodi Hartigan, a veteran performer and songwriter, offers up lead vocals that can whisper or shout with an equal amount of emotion and soul. Chuck Parenteau, also a veteran performer and songwriter, drives the music from a decidedly rock orientation and holds the band together with his penchant for precision arrangements and tight performances. Glen Nelson, newer to the music scene, brings creative energy and an unassuming, yet dynamic drumming style to the band. Mark Levreault, a seasoned performer in both the rock and folk genres, brings a strong foundation to the band with his unique bass style. The band's original compositions are characterized by rich harmonies and thought provoking lyrics. Their live musical performances are tight and technically sound, yet the band remains approachable to the listener. Their recordings encompass all of the above and invite repeated listening. Barbara Benham writes in Jam Magazine, "…this is a CD that unfolds with each listening experience".
Don't Harass Betty is...Elaine Sullivan on guitar and vocals; Sue G. Covell on guitar, harmonica, and vocals; Linda Stevens on drums and vocals; Mel Gosselin on guitar and vocals; Ceejay Jones on bass and vocals. Don't Harass Betty is, in the words of a friend, "5 Chicks That Rock." They play a variety of music - from alternative to blues. Their material contains a variety of covers and many of their own originals! Check out
their website!We are very happy to have Olaibo back again. Olaibo is an ensemble that performs original and traditional African drum and song selections. Olaibo, meaning "Come to the festival," is comprised of a group of women who are dedicated to sharing the rhythms of the drum with those who want to listen, dance and enjoy.
A year and a half ago, ten women singers, songwriters, and musicians from the Monadnock Region found each other, formed a group and began to gather monthly to support each others creative explorations (writing, arranging, singing, and performing). Ranging from traditional folk to jazz to blues, with many stops along the way, and variously supporting their songs with piano, concertina, guitars, hammered dulcimer, bass and percussion, The Rolling Crones are Alouette Iselin, Kim Wallach, Liza Constable, Carol Raynesford, Kayti Gilbert, Wendy Keith, Nadine Laughlin, Kate McNally, Wendy Starkweather, and Julie Snow.
Women with Wings are a women's community ensemble weaving a combination of songs and stories -- African, Folk, Gospel, Swing, and much more ...
Holly is one of those rare performers who is equally at ease singing in a church, at a rally, or from the stage of Carnegie Hall. A skilled stylist, her voice comfortably embraces country, folk, jazz, and musical theater. This versatility has perhaps kept Near from an easily definable commercial career. And yet she is one of our nation's finest performing artists—a consummate entertainer.
Touring worldwide, Holly Near is an ambassador for peace. She sings of the world's tragedies without depressing her audience—invoking advocacy rather than guilt. She sings of humanity at its best but never rests on phony patriotism. As one new fan said, "I have never been to an event where I was so entertained and at the same time learned so much—walked away with so much to think about!" Although people do keep discovering Holly Near, her long-standing audience has known this about Holly for a long time—a talented performer who brings to the stage an integration of world consciousness, personal and spiritual discovery, and theatricality. (Holly was named Woman of the Year in 1985 by Ms. Magazine for this very quality.)
Holly says of art and activism, "I do not separate my music from my heart nor do I separate my ideas from my daily life. I do not respond to causes but rather open my self up to learning as much as I can about humanity and this mysterious life experience. Moment by moment, I integrate what I learn into my personal life. I personalize my politics. It is from this personal place that I write my songs. "
We are thrilled and honored to have Holly Near join us at our festival this year. Holly has a vast website where you can read all about her life, her music, her books and her activism.
Please send your comments, contributions, and questions:
Write Us.Last Modified: May 2, 2000
Write to us at:
New Hampshire Feminist Connection
PO Box 311
Concord, NH 03302 - 0311