From Thursday, Aug. 16 through Sunday, Aug. 19, more than 1,000 women are expected to participate in workshops, attend performances, and view films and videos, all organized and facilitated by women from around the world at Ladyfest Midwest Chicago.
Passes are still available for this event. $70 gets you all-access to events and concerts for all four days. Most of the major concerts will happen at the Congress Theater, 2135 N. Milwaukee Ave. Individual tickets, subject to availability, will be sold at each event and workshop, however, the organizers warn that pass holders will be accommodated first. You can buy a pass at www.buyolympia.com, and general information is available at www.ladyfestmidwest.org. All proceeds benefit the Chicago Women’s Health Center and Women in the Director’s Chair.
Highlights of interest :
So, you all know by now that when Amy Ray has down time, she relives her punk rock days with the help of The Butchies, featuring Kaia (of Mr. Lady Records, formerly of Team Dresch). You may not know that the collaboration does not end there: Thursday night, Aug. 16, features a “Mr. Lady Loves Daemon Records” night, with Amy and The Butchies sharing the stage with Tami Hart and Le Tigre. Le Tigre promises a charged, electronic performance, as Kathleen Hanna (formerly of Bikini Kill) works out her DJ yearnings … Congress Theater, 2135 N. Milwaukee, Thursday, Aug. 16, 8 p.m.
Friday night presents a dilemma: go see the ever-elusive Barbara Manning and her weirdo-in-a-good-way folk punk, on the same bill as Nikki Mitchell, The Need (with fat-positive activist Nomy Lamm) and local punks Loraxx … Congress Theater, Friday, Aug. 17, 9 p.m.
…or gaze longingly at lesbian twins Tegan and Sara (coming from a recent tour with Rufus Wainwright) and enjoy the best from local songwriter Ellen Rosner at Schuba’s … 3159 N. Southport, Friday, Aug. 17, 10 p.m. TGIF!
Saturday night is more than all right, as two blasts from the recent past fly in to the Congress. Bratmobile changed the nature of punk-pop for their fans and for hundreds of “grrls” in the 1990s. See them play in the here and now, on the same bill as no-wave dance pioneers ESG, an all-women, multi-generational collective originally from the South Bronx … Congress Theater, Sat., Aug. 18, 8 p.m.
Patricia Smith, Duriel Harris, and C.C. Carter will be on the same stage, slinging out the poems and prose. Congress Theater, Sat., Aug. 18, 6 p.m. … Scrawl is an all-girl spoken-word group from Madison, Wisc., who host open mics full of drag kings, strippers, comedians and poets … participate and see the light … Chopin Theater, 1543 W. Division, Friday, Aug. 17, 10:30 p.m.
These are only suggestions, as there are too many events to list. See the full schedule at www.ladyfestmidwest.org. or call (773) 489-6534.