July 2, 2009 – July 5, 2009 (I will be there!)
Marriott Madison West Hotel & Conference Center, Middleton, Wisconsin
This is the oldest National Women’s Music Festival, where it all started. If you live nearby or want to enjoy a wonderfully hosted event … make plans to attend The 34th National Women’s Music Festival.
http://www.wiaonline.org
WHAT IS THE NATIONAL WOMEN’S MUSIC FESTIVAL?
The National Women’s Music Festival, otherwise known as NWMF, will be held indoors at the Marriott Madison West just outside Madison, WI. There are no rained-out concerts, no cold showers, and no “porta-janes” at this Festival.
The Festival is a four-day musical and cultural extravaganza that incorporates all facets of women’s lives. It’s a jam-packed long weekend where choices for things to do range from workshops, concerts, comedy, theatre presentations, a marketplace, newly released films and videos, a live auction, spirituality series, writer’s series, animal lovers series, and much, much more!
Most Festival attendees are women, although men can and do attend. Attendees come from all walks of life and cultures, cutting across ethnic, racial, sexual, age, and ability boundaries. Likewise, festival programming reflects many points of view; a diversity of ideas and topics are explored and discussed in a safe environment. Festival is an environment in which philosophies and politics are open for discussion, not mandated or judged.
Services available include a wide range of accessibility services with almost all concerts interpreted for the deaf. Volunteer opportunities and work-exchange of 4-hour workshifts is available for reduced-price registration. This is limited and arrangements must be made prior to the festival.
Past performers include Betty, Cris Williamson, Kate Clinton, Karen Williams, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Linda Tillery, Jamie Anderson, Holly Near, the Dance Brigade, Melissa Ferrick, Sawagi Taiko, Ferron, Ellis, Ember Swift and Margie Adam to just mention a few. Guest speakers have included Geraldine Ferraro, Rita Mae Brown, Col. Margarethe Cammermeyer, NPR reporter and writer Margot Adler, Katherine V. Forrest, artist Judy Chicago, Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders, Pat Califia, Betty DeGeneres, Anita Hill and Judy Goldsmith.
National Women’s Music Festival is produced by Women In the Arts, Inc. a 501-c-3 nonprofit corporation. The 2009 festival will be the 34th festival which was first produced in 1974 in Champaign, Illinois.