Ladfest 2003, Estrojam, is a four-day festival Aug. 7-Aug. 10 at the Park West, Historic Vic Theatre, the Metro, Subterranean and Bottom Lounge. It is based on educating women about options they have in creative expression and teaching them skills they may not have access to otherwise. The workshops and shows are based around creating equal representation of men and women in all fields. The festival is open for everyone to attend.
Confirmed Estrojam performers include Concrete Blonde, Cat Power (with her band), Bitch and Animal, Laura Love, Bahamadia, Lydia Lunch, Lori Barbero of Babes in Toyland, Via Tania, Analogue Tara, Princess Superstar, Sweet Heat, Panda Panda, Jenny Choi, Katia Moraes (Brazillian), Dyamond Havana, Anne Harris, Lexi Bloor, Ember Swift, C.C. Carter, PMS, Big Smith, Lyricist and many more.
Estrojam will also be showing the world premiere of Coup d’état, an independent documentary focusing on women who are redefining femininity through artistic expression. Interviews include Amy Ray (The Indigo Girls), Kathleen Hanna (Le Tigre), Harriet Dodge (By Hook or By Crook), Miranda July, The Butchies, Lori Barbero (Babes in Toyland), Bahamadia, Sharon Jones (Sharon Jones and the Dapkings), Evil Beaver, Azita Youssefi, Sini Anderson (Sister Spit), Jennifer Reeder (White Trash Girl) and more. The film also includes exclusive footage of Joan Jett, Le Tigre, The Butchies, Amy Ray and Ladyfest.
Estrojam is a 501c3 non-profit event and is fiscally sponsored by Women in the Directors Chair, a Chicago-based, international media arts and activist center. All proceeds from the festival will be donated to The Lesbian Community Cancer Project and Women in the Director’s Chair. E-mail info@estrojam.com.
National Poetry Slam Championship
The 14th Annual National Poetry Slam will be held in Chicago Aug. 6-9. Poets from around the U.S, and abroad will converge on the city to kick-off the festival on Wednesday, Aug. 6 at noon at The Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington. Competitions will begin at 7 p.m. that evening at popular venues throughout Wicker Park. The event will culminate at the Skyline Stage at the Navy Pier on Saturday, Aug. 9 at 7:30 p.m. where finalist will compete for $5,000 in prize money.What makes this year’s national event so different is the presence of visiting poets from Europe. Organizers have worked closely with the city and other organizations to accommodate poets from France, Germany and Switzerland. The group will participate in a panel and also hold a special reading.
Additional daytime and late-night events are as diverse as the poets and assure that there is something for everyone. There’s a Senior Workshop with veteran Slam poet Jack McCarthy. Audience members can watch poets get naughty in the late-night Erotica Slam. In addition, Native American, African American and LGBT will all present in special showcases.
More than 60 teams of four poets will compete before live audiences hoping to be deemed the best-of-the-best by judges.This is the third National Poetry Slam to be hosted in Chicago, the city that gave the slam its birth. Chicago hosted the event in 1991 and in 1999, drawing coverage from 60 Minutes and The New York Times. Slam champions have been featured on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam and many other broadcasts.
The LGBT Slam is Aug. 7, 2:34 p.m. at Chopin Theater, 1543 W. Division, (773) 296-1500.For more information, visit Web site www.nps2003.com or call (708) 848-8007. For Final Night Tickets at the Skyline Stage Theater, call Ticketmaster (312) 902-1500.