Ladyfest Essex Review

Thanks to the lovely Rachel for this review:

st Essex, 11th June 2011, The Railway Hotel, Southend

Last Saturday brought <a href=”http://ladyfestessex.wordpress.com/”>Ladyfest Essex</a>, the newest incarnation of <a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladyfest”>the DIY festival celebrating women’s creativity, art and music</a>. This Ladyfest was being held in aid of <a href=”http://www.refuge.org.uk/”>Refuge</a>, the domestic abuse charity, and had a very exciting line-up of local bands. My boyfriend and I took the train down from Cambridge and got to the Railway Hotel for about 4pm, a couple of hours into the all-day schedule.

In the upstairs room of the Railway, decorated with pink balloons and posters, stalls lined the walls. There were ceramics, knitting and zines on sale, as well as a craft table and hand-made upcycled clothing. I picked up a copy of <a href=”http://www.noisyzine.co.uk/index.html”>Noisy</a> with a free CD and issue 1 of <a href=”http://www.ste-mccabe.co.uk/search?q=queers+make+music”>Ste McCabe’s</a> Queers Make Music. The atmosphere was quiet but very friendly. We had arrived just in time to hear a quick talk by a Refuge representative, who told us about the work the charity does and mentioned that the women’s sector is very underfunded. Next up were the three female poets of <a href=”http://www.sundownarts.org/”>Sundown Arts</a>. <a href=”http://joverfield.blogspot.com/”>Jo Overfield</a>’s snappy delivery matched her funny, offbeat poems. <a href=”http://raypoetry.blogspot.com/”>Ray Morgan</a> gave us wryly observed tales of commuter life and office temping, and Cherryl Scott recited from memory several moving pieces about surviving domestic abuse.

Things quietened down a little until the music began at 8pm. My boyfriend and I had delicious beanburgers downstairs, enjoying the fact that the Railway Hotel is the only completely vegetarian/vegan pub in Essex, so that we were completely refuelled when <a href=”http://www.tentigersmusic.co.uk/”>Ten Tigers</a> came onstage. Ramshackle, charming and terribly catchy, Ten Tigers are one of my favourite live bands and they didn’t disappoint, despite technical issues. They kickstarted the festival with 82, played a metal-sounding version of “our big feminist anthem” Superlucky and debuted a new song with the chorus, “She’ll never love you as much as she loves Jesus!”

The next band were <a href=”http://www.myspace.com/candypanicattack”>Candy Panic Attack</a>, a three-piece who seem to make much more noise than three people should be able to. They rattled through their set of super-short punk-influenced tunes that ordered, not invited, dancing. After them were <a href=”http://www.myspace.com/calicobanduk”>Calico</a>, were a very different proposition. Playing without their drummer, they delivered a set of tight songs made striking by the almost spooky vocal harmonies of singers Shel and Lauren. They were hypnotic and marvellous.

<a href=”http://www.myspace.com/thescarletechomusic”>The Scarlet Echo</a>, next up, were sharp, stylish and electric. They were incredibly energetic onstage, playing ska-tinged rock enhanced by Hannah’s unusual voice. Following them were <a href=”http://www.myspace.com/deathoftheelephant”>Death of the Elephant</a>, one of the bands I had been most keen to see. Unfortunately, because of the previous technical problems, they had to shorten their set, but what they fit in was fantastic, noisy but melodic riot grrl/garage band songs, including Trypticon, with its memorable intro: “She’s got a new toy and she’s scared she’ll break it…”

The final group of the evening, <a href=”http://www.le-monnier.co.uk/”>Le Monnier</a>, had been at the festival for the entire day (I know, because I had been admiring singer/bassist Alexandra’s amazing dress for the entire day) and for a short, tense while it looked like the scheduling problems would deprive them of their slot! Luckily this didn’t happen and the band rocked the stage with the heaviest sound of the day. The new single, Con Amor Siempre, sounded great: it’s from the album Russian Doll Life, out in October, and I can’t wait for it. Alexandra dedicated their last song, Kingyo, to the Ladyfest organiser Hayley Foster da Silva.

Ladyfest Essex was a great chance to celebrate both women in art and music, and the diversity of the Essex music scene. It was great fun and I’m really happy I could attend. Hopefully there will be many more in future years!

It’s over (for now…)!

Well after much time being devoted to this one day in the year, the party is over, Ladyfest Essex happened this weekend, and what a day it was!

After the times were posted on here, there was rejigging required once again as we couldn’t have any full bands before 8pm, and I worried what I was going to do, as all the promo said 2pm on it, and I didn’t have much booked for in the day, as I had been worrying about space. But luckily, one band had dropped out and another voluntarily dropped out, so I was able to fit the bands in and a few other people agreed to do stalls in the day.

In the daytime, we had stalls with zines, recycled clothes, a Refuge Stall, a craft area and energising massages. It was fairly quiet during the day, maybe it was the rain, or maybe it was the fact the London Slutwalk was also on the same day. In any case the day lifted a bit when we had a talk from Refuge who told us a bit more about their work and some shocking facts about domestic violence- did you know 1 in 4 women suffer domestic violence at some point in their lives? But it also inspired quite a few people to help the cause further, and perhaps take part in one of the runs/walks.

Shortly afterwards, the lovely ladies of Sundown Arts cheered us up by entertaining us with a mix of funny, lighthearted poems as well as deeply moving poems that reflected the cause we were all here for.

By the time we got to 8pm, people started to turn up a bit more, sound problems intiatlly caused trouble for first act Ten Tigers and made everything run behind. Ten Tigers coped well despite the problems, and even treated us to a catchy new song called ‘Trinity’

Candy Panic Attack were up next and played a set of straight up moody/riot grrrl style punk before Calico entertained us with an acoustic set.  The Scarlet Echo were next and did a fun, energetic set.

Death of the Elephant played their usual blistering riot grrrl goodness and disaster almost struck when the sound engineer started taking things down and Le Monnier hadn’t played yet! Luckily we managed to solve the problem and Le Monnier still managed to top off the night with an amazing heavy rock set which I’m sure must have gained them some new fans!

We raised £130 on the day and £30 so far in Justgiving donations so in total we have made £160 for Refuge (so far) so thank you to everyone who helped and donated!

some videos of the bands:

 

 

Line Up Times

This is the official times, but remember they could change slightly on the day!

 

2pm doors open, stalls open for browsing
> >> 3pm Talk from Refuge
> >> 4pm Sundown Mulitmedia spoken word
> >> 4.30 Artgruppe
> >> 5.15 Ten Tigers
> >> 6 Femmepop
> >> 6.45 Candy Panic Attack
> >> 7.30 Calico
> >> 8.15 Death of the Elephant
> >> 9 Scarlet Echo
> >> 945 Le Monnier

Less than a week to go!

I’ll be posting up the line up times this week when it’s all confirmed properly, so keep your eyes peeled!

If you can’t make it, you can still donate: http://www.justgiving.com/ladyfestessex

 

Le Monnier Release New Single

Our headline act ‘Le Monnier’ are bringing out a fantastic new single ‘Con Amor Siempre’  officially released on 13th June, but for those of you attending Ladyfest Essex you can pick up a limited edition version of the single (with only 30 available) at a mere £2, with 25% kindly being donated to Refuge, our chosen charity.

Less than 2 weeks to go until youu get to see this exciting act sure to rock your socks off, and lots of other superb talented bands. Make sure you’re there!

Update

Less than a month to go and we have exciting news.

Refuge UK have agreed to have a stall at the event and are also going to do a talk, so you will be able to learn all about the inredible work they do for victims of domestic violence. Remember to go check them out: http://refuge.org.uk/

There will also be an article in next Monday’s southend Evening Echo Woman pages where Hayley answers a few questions about the inspiration behind the event so remember to go buy a copy!

we also still need a few volunteers so if you think you can help email : moonlight.phoenix@gmail.com

Manifesto

Ladyfest Essex is being organised by Hayley Foster da Silva, also known as DJ Moonlight, presenter of the al female fronted radio show ‘Pigtails and Army Boots’ that goes out on several radio stations including http://www.arfm.co.uk

Ladyfest Essex is a completely non profit all day event celebrating women(and those who identify as women) and creativity, through music, spoken word, stalls with zines, crafts and other wonderful creative ideas from both local and not so local talented people. We’re hoping to make the day a day to remember, a real celebration, and to raise money for the charity Refuge, who help victims of domestic violence at the same time.

Do you want to be part of Ladyfest Essex?

Ladyfest Essex needs you!

We’re looking for volunteers who can help on the day-we need people who can take the money on the door, people who are happy to walk around with donation buckets, and any other help anyone would like to offer is always welcome.

We also have the opportunity for you to hold a table with your zines, crafts etc, if you wish to do this, you will need to bring your own table and a donation to the charity.

If you have any creative skills you would like to show off between the bands, also please get in touch.

and finally if anybody would be happy to hire a drumkit to us for the day, that would be fantastic!

If you can help with any of the above, or have other help/experience you would like to offer then please email moonlight.phoenix@gmail.com or leave a comment with where to contact you.

Ladyfest Essex is coming!

Ladyfest Essex is taking place on Saturday June 11th 2011 upstairs at The Railway Pub, Cliftown Road, Southend on Sea. The event is taking place between 2pm-11pm- an all dayer of music, stalls and female creativity. Only £3 entry with all proceeds going to the charity Refuge.

Bands confirmed are-

Artgruppe

Ten Tigers

Calico

Femmepop

Le Monnier

Candy Panic Attack

Death of the Elephant

The Scarlet Echo