Iowa Women's Music Festival celebrates 17 years
The 2010 Iowa Women's Music Festival kicks off with a mind-blowing, eye-popping multi-act show 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16 at The Englert Theatre, 221 E. Washington St. in Iowa City.
IWMF’s opening night features Ames performance artist/comedic satirist/gem sweater queen/YouTube phenomenon Leslie and the Lys, paired for the first time ever with Bitch, an outspoken alt-folk musician (the violin is her weapon) and poet. Popular Minneapolis-based band Caroline Smith and the Goodnight Sleeps open the show. Tickets are $16 at the Englert, by phone at 319.688.2653, or online at www.englert.org.
The Blue Moose Tap House, 211 Iowa Ave. in Iowa City, is the place to be when IWMF showcases some of the best local female musicians at Friday's Anniversary Party. On tap are Lojo Russo with Natalie Brown, The Vagabonds, Sarah Cram and the Derelicts, Kelly Carrell with Laurie Haag, Armonia, and honorary local Kim-Char Meredith. A sliding-scale cover charge will be requested at the door (minimum $5; more if you can) and all donations will benefit the 2010 Iowa Women’s Music Festival.
The festival’s traditional free, family-friendly main event, the “Day Stage” in Iowa City’s Upper City Park, comes to life Saturday, Sept. 18, at noon and continues until approximately 6 p.m. The non-stop stage lineup includes headliner The Refugees, Chris Pureka, Ruth King, Desdamona with Carnage, Mary McAdams, and a singer-songwriter round-robin with Rae, Emily Louise and Jenny Kohls. High-energy emcee Kim-Char Meredith returns for the third year to host the show.
Food and merchandise vendors will line the festival, and Iowa Shares will host a silent auction. Attendees should bring blankets or chairs for grass seating. The park is wheelchair accessible. Pets on leashes are welcome. In case of inclement weather during the outdoor portion of the festival, the rain location will be The Mill Restaurant in Iowa City.
The festival blasts indoors to the Mill Restaurant, 120 E. Burlington St. in Iowa City, at 8 p.m. Saturday night. The closing celebration lineup features Miami’s edgy alternative duo The State Of, passionate world-music troubadour SONiA and disappear fear, and Congress of Starlings featuring IWMF veterans Andrea Bunch and Aerin Tedesco. A sliding-scale cover charge will be collected at the door.
For more information about the events of the 2010 Iowa Women’s Music Festival, or to apply to be a vendor, go to www.prairievoices.net, call 319.335.1486, or e-mail festival@prairievoices.net. The festival is also seeking volunteers; call Laurie at 319.335.1486 to sign up. The festival is supported by Toyota/Scion of Iowa City, Rockwell Collins, Rude Girl Records, Iowa Shares, the Women’s Resource and Action Center of the University of Iowa, and many other generous community businesses and individuals.
