Michfest 2011 Wrap Up - This is Called the Show

There I am in the center. Pre-haircut!

Usually I give a FULL 7-day wrap up of the entire Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival. I really love doing that to give folks who have never been and people who will never get a chance to go (men) a real feel for the festival. But so many things happened in my life post Fest and now we are over a month out from when it all went down. I am still going to give you the full blow by blow of my show, but I’m just going to hit you with the music highlights from the rest of the week. So let’s start where it has begun for the last two years. Road Trip!

Monday August 1st
This year’s Michfest road crew was Toshi, Achuziam and I. Of course we tried to leave Brooklyn at around 6am, but it wasn’t happening. I got up early that morning and picked up Achuziam and then we headed to Toshi. This was a really special trip for Chuz because it was her first time away from her son and the first time she would be hitting the stage in almost two years. When we got to Toshi’s we were going to load the car and go, but her dog was not having it. What I mean is the dog wasn’t trying to go to the bathroom before we left. I swear animals know when we are leaving and try to slow things down. Finally the dog went and we were able to go as well. LOL!

It’s always great being on the road with Toshi and just driving to Michigan in general. We did our usual Panera Bread stop and also drove through a storm. We were sort of caravanning with my girl Laura who would call us from the road every now and then. She was my fest guest so I knew I would be seeing her soon. She left from New Jersey so she was a little ahead of us.

When we finally got to Hart, MI, which near the land, we dropped Chuz at the motel and then Toshi and I headed to the land. Luckily we got there right before they were going to close the gate for the night. I was so thankful that the ladies at the fest had put up my tent for me. I sent it ahead with my girl Kelly as I had last year. They set up Laura’s tent right next to mine and when Ki Ki and Ganessa arrived they would be right in the area too. LaFrae and Alex arrived on Sunday so they were already settled in. Ah, gang’s almost all here! Vicki was in and I think Julie had arrived as well. Ganessa and Ki Ki would be there the next day.

After I got all checked in, a lovely young lady named Thokozani helped me to my tent. Turns out she lives in Brooklyn too. Brooklyn is so deep at the festival. Of course Mariasha and Tina were in the house. Along with BE, Penny and the whole crew! Welcome Home! Yes Welcome Home!

Tuesday August 2nd
I had to jump right in to work because my set was on opening night, which was the next day. I had rehearsal that day and I also had a secret meeting with the ladies of LAVA. For those of you who don’t know, LAVA is an acrobatic dance company in Brooklyn that I love! I had a crazy idea to incorporate them in to my show, but I wasn’t sure how. This is one of the many reasons why Michfest is so magical. There are so many creative and wonderful people on the land that you can make almost anything happen if you just make a call or send an email before you get there. That’s how I got Julie Wolf on my set, but that’s for another part of the story.

Tuesday was an interesting day. It always rains at Michfest. You don’t know what day it’s going to be, but it will happen. Trust! This year’s rain date was Tuesday and it was nothing nice. I just knew that Ganessa and Ki Ki’s flight were going to be delayed but somehow they got there. Tuesday was also the only full band rehearseal that we were going to have. Before we got to the land Ganessa, Lafrea, Alex, Ki Ki, Chuz and I had been rehearsing. The only missing pieces were Vicki and Julie. We had one shot to pull it all together. I knew it was going to be fine, but rehearsal was only 2 hours so we had to make the most of it.

Before reheasrsal I got together with the ladies of LAVA to figure out my entrance for the show the next night. After brainstorming a bit we came up with and idea. The women at the main stage were trying to get everything going to do their own work for the day, but the rain was slowing them down. I wasn’t sure if we would be able to rehearse at the main stage because it was raining, but it slowed just long enough to give us a change to run through our grand entrance. After a few tries it seemed like it was going to work!

Now back to rehearsal. It went amazing! I mean really really amazing! I was so happy. I really wanted to just kiss them all and I’m sure none of them would have minded, but I had to keep it professional. LOL!

Rehearsal Tent

On Tuesday night the rain came down in sheets. My tent leaked again! It was a mess. I spent much of the storm in Central Heating, where they check in the artist and also doubles as a Green Room of sorts. I was in there with a few other folks at the storm raged on. The thunder and lightening was so amazing. I love being outside during a storm. It’s actually one of the things I love most about Michigan.

This year the lightening was really close to home. It struck a tree on the land near the Womyn of Color Tent and split. Luckily no one was hurt. At some point, after getting some extra towels to soak up the water in my tent from Lisa, I went back to my tent to ride it out. Finally sleep took over and I was well on my way to Wednesday.


Wednesday August 3rd
I woke that morning to no electricity. I had a sound check scheduled for 8:45am, but that was not going to happen. Also no electric, meant no water. That meant no one could take a shower that morning. So as Elvira Kurt said, we were camping for real. LOL! Of course I wasn’t the only one who needed to soundcheck, I was just first because I was headlining that night. As the time passed and the check time kept being pushed back other deals were being struck.

Jill Sobule was playing right before me and I have to tell you as I told her, I had no idea who she was. Turns out she sang the original “I Kissed a Girl” before Katy Perry was a twinkle in your eye. Yes I know the songs are different, but you get my point. It was great to meet her. At some point during the day she heard my ladies playing and thought it was be a great idea to have some of them on her set. So what started out as just LaFrae and Ganessa on her set, turned into Alex, LaFrae and Ganessa. So that was my rhythm section, but it was all cool.

Finally when the electric and water came back on we were ready to rock this sound check. I can’t remember if at this point I checked or if Jill checked or if the Opening Ceremonies people went, but I do know that it all got done. Big ups to Connie who I believe is the best stage manager in the world!

After all the checks were done I went back to my tent and chilled until it was time for the show. I’m sure I ate somewhere in there, but I just tried to stay quiet and relax myself until it was time to go.

I don’t usually get nervous until right before I hit the stage, but I was nervous. It’s a big deal to headline Michfest and to do it on Opening Night especially with this being my first time on Night Stage. For those of you who haven’t read my Michfest blogs before and who have never been there are three stages at Fest. Day, Acoustic and Night Stage. Often times Day and Acoustic feel like the testing ground to see if you can make it up to Night State. Everyone comes to Night Stage on Opening Night. They might not come all the other nights, but Opening you can count on a full field; but I was ready.

For this big show I called in the big guns. I asked Micah Lee of BlackSnow to make my outfit. That was quite a feat considering that he measured me and then left Brooklyn and had to make it work without a fitting. He made it work! I was also so excited about my band and LAVA being in the mix. All the pieces came together. It was time.

Showtime!
I dressed backstage with everyone who was performing in the Opening Ceremonies. I can’t really describe to you how incredible this opening was. I was off the meat rack. This year was dedicated to the Goddess Artemis and the bows and arrows were not out! Amazon womyn were rising for real. There was a lot of bow and arrow drama, but the show-stopper came from Falcon, the women who is the real incarnation of Xena. For real yo! She came out to the edge of the stage, lit her arrowheads on fire and proceeded to shoot at three targets. The first two were not such a big deal because they were pretty much right in front of her, but really the were on fire so one slip up and someone is getting hit with a torch. But the real drama came with the last target, which was over people’s heads and way out in the field. So she shoots and you can hear people holding their breath. I swear the arrow disappeared in the sky and then landed on that damn target that was hella far away. Yes I said hella! I’m not good with feet and yards, but if I had to guesstimate I would say that target was at least 50-75 yards away. I do know football so I’m thinking half a field or more. It was amazing. Then Julie Wolf, Aleah Long and Vicki Randle had the nerve so sing the mess out of “Calling All Angels” while the children and the elders came out in white and people were instructed to call on their angels who had passed. WHAT??!! There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. I was trying to keep in together cuz I had on a full face of make up. Crazy amazing! Whew!

After we all got our tissues, next up was Jill. Now let me back up and remind you that Ganessa, LaFrae and Alex are now playing part of her set and Alex was in 7th heaven. Alex is a big fan of Jill’s so it was like a dream for her, which was great! I love when things like that happen. They didn’t play Jill’s whole set, but they were a wonderful addition.

In between all this me and a few other folks are cracking glow sticks to give to the band and to LAVA for the stage. So as soon as Jill’s set was done we gave everyone in my set, lights and it was on.

The MC on Wednesday was Karen Williams. If you don’t know Karen you better get on it. She’s an amazing comedian and an all around great lady. So when it was time to get set Connie gave the LAVA ladies and me the signal. Jen who is another amazing crew woman came with us into the field. Yes people I am entering from the audience. Jen was holding my wireless mic because the ladies from LAVA were going to carry me in on my back.

Connie & LaFrae, photo by LaFrae Sci

We got out to the field, Karen and Cree (Gina Breedlove’s daughter) introduced me, LaFrae and Vicki started in with the beat of “BlaK Girls”, I stepped up on Sarah and Diana, Rose and Lollo had my back, Jen handed me the mic and…"MICHIGAN!!!!!!!!!" And the crowd goes wild. HA!!!

Grand Entrance by moonlight: photo by Nívea Castro

The crowd and my people: photo by Nívea Castro

LAVA walks in step up the ramp while I’m talking to the audience and the band on my back. I call for Alex to start the wha wha guitar, and soon the ladies slowly put me down on the cat walk. I’m still talking to the audience calling for all the Blak Girls. “One! Two! Three! Uh!” Bass drops! In the words of Mr. Cheeks “Lights, Camera, Action!” It was like that.

LAVA holding me up and holding me down!: photo by Abena Sharon Dale

The set list for the evening was:
1. Blak Girls (we did the original and the afrobeat mix)
2. Give it to me
3. Kelly Gets Off
4. Can’t Blame a Tree
5. Box
6. I Am American
7. In Your View
8. Gimme Shelter (Yes the Stones)
9. Encore: Go Head & Rise

photo by Nívea Castro

photo by Abena Sharon Dale

Photo by Abena Sharon Dale

Photo by Abena Sharon Dale

Photo by Abena Sharon Dale

Photo by Abena Sharon Dale

Photo by Abena Sharon Dale

There were so many great moments during the show. The audience singing “Kelly Gets Off” even though it was brand new to them, the people dancing during “I Am American” and “In Your View” which they had also not heard before. Me running down the catwalk and slapping people’s hands, getting to the end and this woman picking me up and hugging me! Yes it happened. The crazy solo on the keys by Julie Wolf on “In Your View.” The other crazy solo by Alex on “Can’t Blame a Tree.” LaFrae playing with one hand so she could take a photo of me on stage, the amazing signing by Cathleen Riddely. Wow! It was just amazing. All of it! To be able to sing to the night sky like that was nothing short of a blessing. I am so thankful. I am so thankful indeed.

LaFrae's one handed shot of me while drumming

The Ladies of blaKbüshe!

Ki Ki & Me

After the Party It’s the After Party
I exited the stage to the warm and somewhat overwhelming welcome of my sisters. That love on the other side from my colleagues and friends was neck in neck with the love from the audience. I’m surprised I didn’t cry, but as I sit here writing about it I am welling up a bit. Yes I’m sappy, but I love these women so much. It’s so sad that most of us only see each other once a year, but what a time we have.

My girl Tory and I had been talking for weeks about wine on the land so I was ready for my drink. She got a bottle of white out of her tent, I got a few cups and we all celebrated. That night after the late night meal some of the ladies sat at one of the tables and sang songs to Eshu, Oshun & Yemaya under the stars.

Post Show Glow (You see I have my wine bottle in hand): Photo by Nívea Castro

I took a while for me to come down, but I eventually slept that night. I had the whole week in front of me, but my most important job was done. It was hands down one of the best nights of my life and I’ve been here a while folks. LOL.

Thank You!

I have to say thank you to so many folks who made that show possible and helped out in some way. So thank you to:


The ladies contingent of blaKbüshe!:
LaFrae Sci (drums), Ganessa James (bass), Alex Nolan (guitar), Ki Ki Hawkins (vocals), Achuziam Maha (vocals), Vicki Randle (percussion), Julie Wolf (keys) and Cahtleen Riddley (hands).

Achuziam Maha-Sanchez: Photo By Nívea Castro

Alex Nolan: Photo By Nívea Castro

Cathleen Riddley: Photo By Nívea Castro

Ganessa James: Photo By Nívea Castro

Julie Wolf: Photo By Nívea Castro

Ki Ki Hawkins: Photo By Nívea Castro

LaFrae Sci: Photo By Nívea Castro

Vicki Randle: Photo By Nívea Castro

LAVA:
Sarah East Johnson, Diana Y Greiner, Rose Calucchia and Lollo Romansky

And of course:
Terri Lynn Delk, Toshi Reagon, Tory Trujillo, Laura Vogel, Shalonda Ingram and our fearless Michfest leader Lisa Vogel! Yes and Yes!

Photo by Abena Sharon Dale

P.F. (Post Fest)
Since returning from the festival it has been quite a whirlwind. The plan was to come back and prepare to record my CD, but when I returned my doctor put me on vocal rest until at least the end of September and then I have to evaluate from there. In short I had been singing on very swollen vocal chords for a while. Even though I had a great show at Michfest, I knew something was wrong because I didn’t have a voice for a week after my show. When I tell folks about this some people gasp, but I am glad to be finding out what is going on. If I just have to shut up for a while so I can come out better on the other side then so be it.

Thank you for your ever-present love and support of me and my music. It means so much. You can still be a part of making the album happen. Yes we are still in donation mode. Just go to my website to contribute (www.blakbushe.com) and I thank you for any donation you can give. So as soon as the doc gives me the green light, I can get myself in the studio and cut the new project. Yes!

Photo By Nívea Castro

Can a Girl Catch a Break?

New Album Campaign Continues

www.blakbushe.com

Album to be Produced by Toshi Reagon

 

Michfest Part 7 (blaKbüshe Finally Hits Michfest)

Day 7 (8/8) Saturday
About 3 or 4 in the morning the monsoon rain began and I do mean monsoon. My wonderful condo tent started leaking at all the corners and I was cursing the ladies who helped us put up the tent who told us we didn’t need a tarp over the top or bottom of the tent. Lies! Lies! Lies! Okay I forgive them, but damn it was a mess. Then the tent started leaking from the top. So little drops eventually started falling on my head. Not cool at all.

I woke that morning very cranky because I didn’t get much sleep and then I was thinking, damn! I have been here all week waiting to do my set and then the rain of all rains comes on the day I’m supposed to perform. I mean I wasn’t the only one. Gina’s show was that day as well. Not to mention all of the other groups performing on that day (LAVA, Evolution V, Nervous But Excited and Jen Foster). It was a wet mess.

We were all up at the Belly Bowl for breakfast just shaking our heads. Chix Lix sound check was supposed to be at 8:45am, but that was a no go. So the ladies sat in Central Heating and practiced. I was told that my sound check may not happen, but then out of the blue I got word that it was happening because the rain had slowed. We gathered all our stuff and went over to the Day Stage only to have the rain start coming down in buckets again. It was a mess. I watched as the sound ladies did their best to keep that stage and all the equipment dry. We didn’t want any electrical mishaps out there.

Somehow they managed to sound check Nervous But Excited and then it was our turn. When we checked the rain was slowing, but still going. One of the stage hands was tipping water off the canopy so that it wouldn’t cave to the pressure of the water. We did a brief check and then I headed back to the greenroom tent to get ready.

My hair was still wet from the night before so no waves were holding. We tried to blow dry my hair, but it was too late. Bombshell started working on my face and slowly the band trickled back to the tent. Ganessa and Maritri had to go to Gina’s sound check and Pamela had to go back to Chix Lix sound check. Everyone got back in time, but Pamela was the last. There was no time to get her in gear because we were heading to the stage. It was all good. It’s really about the music right? Right! So we hit it.


[Beauty takes time...]










On a side note, Maritri had not originally planned to sing with me, but since she was there and I asked, she chimed in. Maritri knows some of my songs, but not all. I wasn't worried though. She jumped right in and sounded amazing with Tiffany!

Gaetano, my stylist, made me a dress for Michigan even though he couldn't go. It was a sheer sequence dress that hit above the knee that was screaming Tina Turner. You know what I’m talking about? Under it I wore a hot pink bikini top and hot pink hot shorts. I had on some hot pink heals and we were good to go. The colors were yellow, hot pink and orange. We looked great. Even the canopy matched!


[Maritri, Luci & I pre-show]


[Maritri, Ganessa & I pre-show]


[The büshe Rockin!]


[Ladies enjoying the show]

The sun came out and the show went off without a hitch. We had a lot of fun and were joined by the mud ladies who came running naked into the area of the day stage, danced and disappeared as quickly as they arrived. They were a lot of fun! You had to be there. I did a little shimmy with Bombshell and we all played to our hearts content. The set was "Release," "blaK Girls," "Give it to Me," "I'm a Woman (I'm a Backbone)," "Can't Blame a Tree," "Box," "I am American," "Go Head & Rise," with "Long Train Running" (slow blues) as an encore. It rocked! blaKbüshe on the land was Pamela Means (guitar), Lucianna Padmore (drums), Ganessa James (bass), Christelle Durandy (percussion), Tiffany James (BV) and Maritri Garrett (BV). I can’t forget Cathleen Ridley (on hands) who signed the hell out of my songs. The ladies put their stamp on the music. I know it will happen again. Hopefully next year. Please Lisa, Please!!! LOL!

After the show Lisa came up to me and gave me a big hug. She said my show was everything she expected and more! What a great complement. Elvia Kurt who is an incredible comedian and host for the Saturday Night Stage, also greeted me with very kind words. I think all my Buddhist “training” teaches not get to attached to things good or bad, but I did hold on to that moment and others to follow for a while. I worked very hard for this festival. It’s one that I’ve wanted to play for a very, very long time. I felt and feel very blessed.

After the show I made my way to Goldenrod to sign CDs. It took me a while to get over there so some folks bought music before I got there and I wasn’t able to sign for them, but others came through while I was there. Tiffany came with me so we both signed. The rest of the crew had to run to other stages.

While I was at Goldenrod two things happened. A sista named Olokun came by and give me a bottle of wine, which she insisted that I drink in the woods. Then Maria, one of the Native American sistas who worked the womyn of color sweat, came by the table to tell me the she enjoyed the show. I mentioned the Native womyn's sweat that was supposed to have happened that morning. I figured it didn't because the rain was coming down so hard I figured they would just call in off. Well Maria informed me that Barbara, one of the other sisters, got up at 3am and started the fire to heat the rocks for the sweat. She kept the fire going through the rain and then 5 women showed up for the sweat and they kicked it off at 9am as planned. What??!!! Do you really feel me when I tell you the kind of rain that was happening there? How do you keep a fire going through that kind of rain? Those Native sistas are fierce! I mean really. Maria said it was the hottest sweat of the week. Amazing.

After signing I want back to my tent, changed and headed over to see Gina Breedlove and Evolution V at the acoustic stage. Gina’s set was off the hook. Her band included Ganessa (guitar), Maritri (guitar), Judith Castleberry (vocals), Mayra Casales (percussion) and Jennifer Vincent (bass). Gina’s set was way too short for my taste, but as I said above the sets are shorter on the acoustic stage. Gina’s voice is like water and it just washed over us. Also I don’t know anyone who can wear a pair of jeans like Gina. Just beautiful. I hope to see her back at Michfest next year on the Day Stage so the festival hear more of her. After Gina was Evolution V. I really wanted to stay and see their whole set, but my stomach was angry at me. I had not eaten really the whole day because I can’t eat before I perform.


[Gina Breedlove setting the stage on fire!]


[Maritri, Gina, Jen & Mayra]


[Ganessa & Maritri holding it down for Gina]

Some of you know that I am witch. So it nice to be on the land and surrounded by my people. I have to be honest and say that many times when people think of witches they just think of white women, but we are much more than that. That was made very clear with Evolution V performed. This ensemble consisted of Aleah Long, Tammi Hessen, Ubaka Hill, Yaniyah Pathfinder, Queen, Nyame-Adama Selassie and Tory Trujillo. All women of color. All fierce. All doing the spiral dance! They opened with a procession down the long isle that leads to the stage. The called in the Goddess and proceeded to show Michfest how the sistas do it. I was only able to stay for the beginning before my stomach took over, but Olive has not stopped singing the Spiral Dance song. In fact she sang it all the way home. Fierce women! Just beautiful!


[Yaniyah Pathfinder calling in the Goddess]


[Ubaka, Tory & Aleah]

I headed back to the Belly Bowl to get some food and then I had to get ready for Chix Lix. It wasn’t starting until 10pm, but I just wanted to be ready. Christine Love let me borrow her white knee high platform boots. With them I wore a jean mini and a tie-dye shirt with a big peace sign. Was that 60s enough?

The night began with Leslie & the Ly’s. I had no idea what to expect and because of that I got way more than I expected. Leslie & the Ly’s was a lot of fun and although they do music, it was all theatre. Who knew that was going on in Iowa?

After Leslie was Melissa Ferrick. Her set sounded great! I was really getting ready at that point and helping other folks get ready for Chix Lix. Hanifah was singing “Girl From Ipanema” and she decided to wear a long dress. I was great! She looked incredible. Vicki was in her black gown for “Baby Love” something she says she rarely does, but she was wearing it well. The Topp Twins were decked out in wedding dress and suit while Teresa Trull was in her priests collar for “Going to the Chapel.” The Chix Lix band had on their CHiX t-shirts and we were ready to roll.

[I am ready for my closeup]


[Hanifah wowing the Night Stage with "Girl From Ipanema"]


[A few of the fab chix on Chix Lix. Pamela, Tory, Vicki & Aleah]

The set turned out really great. Some of the other songs we did included, Toshi doing “White Rabbit,” Aleah doing “Piece of My Heart,” Judith doing "Everyday People" and Ferron doing “Downtown.”

After the show there was a party in the Belly Bowl with DJ Rimarkable on the wheels. The place was packed and everyone was jammin’. I cracked open the bottle of wine I got earlier that day and shared it with my peeps. I was damn good indeed. Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz 2004. Check it out.

[DJ Rimarkable rockin' the impromptu set in the Belly Bowl]


[Happy dancing people in the Belly Bowl]

The party ended way too soon. In the workers section everything has to be shut down by 1am. It makes sense because the ladies in the kitchen have to be up at the crack, but it was our last night and I didn’t want it to end so soon. I wandered around a bit because I really didn’t want to go back to my wet tent and in particular my wet bed. My air mattress was soaked. Basically I had to sleep on the top half of the bed. That was not cute at all. We had contemplated staying for another day to see the Closing Ceremonies and to support Gloria who was performing her set on Sunday afternoon, but we decided to stick with the original plan and get on the road. I really wanted to stay another day because it's always hard to leave, but in retrospect I'm glad we left when we did. There is always next year.