Concert to celebrate 50 years of women’s music Oct. 29
A concert celebrating 50 years of women’s music will be held at 3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 29, at Epworth United Methodist Church in Rehoboth Beach.
Something remarkable was incubating in the United States 50 years ago. A cultural revolution through music was emerging out of the labor, civil rights and peace movements. Women’s music, a term coined by Meg Christian, was growing, flourishing and evolving in creative pockets around the country. Essentially, women’s music is music written by, for and about women.
It is important to document and preserve that history, so archives are being curated, and photo collections are being published. And live performances spanning the genre’s history keep the songs and stories vibrant.
To kick off the show, local bands and performers including GirlsRoom, Christine Havrilla, the Darkes Band and Robin and the Hoods, as well as other talented local women, will perform some of the genre’s early-loved favorite songs. During the second half of the show, musicians will cover songs from the generations of women who have followed those early artists as well as performing their own original music.
Tickets are $25. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to eventbrite and search Women’s Music Concert celebrating 50 years of music.
Looking back, the Olivia Records record label was formed in D.C. by a group of women based on a model of sharing power, work and decision-making. They set out to learn all aspects of the record-producing business. The earliest records to come out of Olivia Records were Christian’s “I Know You Know” in 1974, followed by Cris Williamson’s “The Changer and the Changed” a year later.
On the West Coast, Oakland, Calif., was bubbling with activity. Spaces emerged where artists could authentically express themselves, and audiences could see themselves reflected in the words and music of those women performers. Promotion and production of shows grew as women flocked to fill the seats. Along with the growth of shows, including some touring, the genre saw the rise of music festivals, a place for musicians to perform, and lesbians to gather and celebrate. Festivals pulsed with the energy of place, freedom, camaraderie and collective power. And always the music.
As time moves on, society continues to change. As the lesbian and queer community has become more integrated into the larger society, the need for separate and affirming spaces has become less vital. Artists and lesbians like Melissa Etheridge, Tracy Chapman, the Indigo Girls and Brandi Carlile are now enjoying mainstream and commercial success as the music continues to expand and mature.
