While something called FemmeFest might scare away those who produce testosterone, a celebration of women should not be something that men, or anyone else, fear. It should be an event that every gender embraces as musicians, filmmakers, poets and artists all converge to showcase their talents.
The second annual Charlotte FemmeFest, which will run from 5:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. throughout the NoDa neighborhood on May 30, is focused on women and women as central figures in bands.
“I want guys to know that of course they’re welcome and they’ll have a good time,” event creator Lea Kuhlman says. “I have this guilt about the whole thing being exclusionary, but it’s not. It’s just solo female artists and bands with a strong female presence or a female singer. It’s also very family-friendly because it starts early and there are non-smoking venues involved.”
Kuhlman started the event in 2008 after talking about putting on a show with her band The Near Misses and local trio Volatile Baby. While Kuhlman wanted to perform at Visulite Theatre, Volatile Baby was thinking about The Double Door Inn. The idea then formed into an all-day event taking place at both venues and SK Netcafe.
With all of the construction in that area these days, Kuhlman has brought FemmeFest to Noda, a place a little closer to home for her and her husband, owners of The Evening Muse. An event Joe and Lea had put on at the Muse a few years back called “Leave it to Divas” was also an inspiration for FemmeFest.
This year’s event will take place at six venues around the neighborhood — Neighborhood Theatre, The Evening Muse, Prevue, Smelly Cat Coffeehouse, Dolce Vita, Wine-Up — along with one outdoor stage in the alley next to Salvador Deli. Tickets — $15 in advance and $20 on the day of the event — will buy a wristband that will get you into all venues. Other local businesses may also have discounts on food, drinks or merchandise.
There are more than 30 acts scheduled on the music side of the event — roughly half are local — along with approximately 10 poets and 16 artists exhibiting work at the Neighborhood Theatre and a handful of filmmakers showing their work at Prevue.
“There was a little bit of all of this stuff last year, but it was originally conceived to be a music thing … then it became a women’s cultural festival,” Kuhlman says. Proceeds from the event will benefit the ECO Center for Women at Charlotte’s Center for Community Transitions.
Kuhlman has gotten help putting the event together the last two years from a number of people around the music scene, including her husband, Joe, who will run the sound at the Neighborhood Theatre and organize the other venues; Micah Davidson with the Carolina Live Music Society; Zach McNabb with the Neighborhood Theatre and local writer and filmmaker Therese Bartholomew.
As for the selection of the artists who are participating, Kuhlman says she is familiar with most from her own performing or via gigs at the Muse and other local venues. “I have had some people make submissions, but we’re not big enough at this point where people are clamoring to get in,” she says. “We tried to not repeat a lot of acts from last year. We know a few local acts from last year helped bring a crowd, so we have them again to help with the foundation of it.”
Bands will perform on a staggered schedule throughout the venues, with each act having 30-45 minutes for their set. Some acts are also playing two sets throughout the day in order to give people more of an opportunity to see as many performers as possible.
Among the artists slated to perform are Sarah Borges & The Broken Singles, Miss Tess & The Bon Ton Parade, Stephaniesid, Donna Duncan, The Near Misses, Christabel & the Jons, Volatile Baby, Jocelyn Ellis & The Alpha Theory, The Bowmans, HuDost, Natalie Royal, Erika Blatnik, Reeve, Laura Blackley, Devon Sproule and many more. A schedule and map are available online at www.charlottefemmefest.org for people who want to plan out their day.
“It’s a cheap ticket for so many acts, but we’re hoping that people will buy merchandise and CDs to help support the bands they like,” Kuhlman says. Her husband adds, “A lot of out-of-town acts are practically volunteering — they basically get gas money. Let’s face it, no one is getting rich off of this. I don’t feel right asking anybody to play for free. Anyone who is worth booking is worth getting some money. A lot of the acts that we’re booking are getting exposure because they wouldn’t ordinarily play in front of so many people.”
Kuhlman tried to get a national act, such as Tift Merritt, to help garner interest in the event, but was unsuccessful as Merritt is in Europe and she couldn’t financially afford to book several big-name artists. “I’m really proud of the acts that are playing — there are some that are new and a little rough around the edges, but they have great potential. I’m really pleased with everyone we have on board.” Joe says they plan on working to book a national act for the 2010 FemmeFest toward the end of this year. “It’s one of those things that will help put the promoter’s mind at ease to help make the festival and get people to take it more seriously,” he says.
Lea hopes to have this remain an annual event, but will continue to evaluate it each year to make sure it is worthwhile. In the meantime, she can picture it getting bigger as some people have already noted areas that it can expand in — dance and theater, larger stages and events for kids in coordination with the Johnson YMCA. “I’ve thought about having a band or two the night before to make it more of a weekend event in the future,” Joe says.
“There used to be a lot of festivals Uptown, but it doesn’t seem like there are as many anymore,” Lea says. “This will stay in NoDa for the foreseeable future, until we outgrow it. I think the festival will benefit the types of businesses that are here. We don’t need to close off the streets. The main reason we do it is because we thought it would be a lot of fun, and it’s a way to give back.”
FemmeFest 2009 will be held in NoDa on May 30. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 on the day of the show. More information is available at www.charlottefemmefest.org.
This article appears in May 26 – Jun 2, 2009.
