Fifteen women-led acts featuring a who's who of the leading ladies of the contemporary music scene in Minnesota take part in Crooners Supper Club's first Women's Music Festival on Sunday September 15. Titled "As Only Women Can: A Day of Music Led by Women," this day-long festival plays on all three Crooners concert stages, from 3pm to 10pm. For tickets (full-day admission tickets are $30 & $50) and information to visit www.croonersmn.com.
Among the line-up of soloists and groups are Katy Vernon, Joyann Parker Band; The Annie Mack Band; and The Jennifer Grimm Band. The shows include "2 Girls and a Boyd;" "Soulwomen – The Songs of Rikki Lee Jones, Eva Cassidy and Laura Nyro" featuring Cate Fierro, Katie Gearty, and Leslie Ball; "Erin Schwab Sings the Broads of Broadway;" the all-woman revue "I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar!" headlined by music director Lori Dokken and featuring the vocalists Judi Vinar, Debbie Duncan, Patty Peterson and Rachel Holder; and "The Music of Patsy Cline" starring Joyann Parker.
Among the curated shows are "Dorothy Fields, Peggy Lee and the Great Women American Songbook Writers" with Ann Reed, Connie Evingson and Lucia Newell; "The Women in Jazz Piano Showcase," featuring Mary Louise Knutson and Laura Caviani, with standout up-and-comer Sophia Kickhofel on tenor sax; and "Songs by Minnesota Composers," featuring and curated by Maria Jette, with pianists Sonja Thompson and Mary Jo Gothmann.
Proceeds from the festival will be donated to these participating non-profits: Global Rights for Women; Nonviolent Peaceforce; Center for Victims of Torture; Mary T Scholars, and The 30-Days Foundation.