Michfest 40: Home Going (Part 7)

Signs from Fairyland...

Sunday September 20, 2015
I’m on the road on my way back from a short tour with my other band Burnt Sugar/Rebellum. We did a quick Midwest run, which was really nice and strangely a very low stress trip. Along the way I got to see Tracy and Ginger from Fest and that was amazing. In fact it was such a blessing to see all my friends out there. We all get separated in this world and we think that seeing people on Facebook is keeping up with them, and although it is in a way, it's really not. It’s just a band-aid of sorts. Friendship requires talking to people, hearing their voice, seeing their face in person. Maybe I sound old, but that’s what it means to me so the cyber world takes some getting used to. It may keep us in touch, but we are not actually touching. I know that every friendship is different. There are some folks we don’t talk to much at all, but when we see them it’s like not a day has gone by. That is real and I understand that for sure. So I’ll take it as I can get it, but I miss your real face and I miss your real touch.

Me & Ginger in Pittsburgh (Festie Musician & Lodge Sister)

Me & Kendra Ross in Pittsburgh (Fab singer & awesome woman)

Me, Tracy & LaFrae in Detroit (Long Live Sisterhood)

Sunday August 9, 2015
On Sunday there is “church” on the land in the form of Ubaka Hill’s Drumsong Orchestra, Aleah’s One World Inspirational Choir and the Transformation Healing Circle. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go to any of it even though it was the last time. Part of me just wanted to walk the land and see people and touch the ground and the trees and just sit with it all for a while. So I did that in part. I went to see part of the Drumsong Orchestra and then dipped out toward the end and just took some time for myself. I needed to wrap a few things up and swing by Crafts and take a moment to take it all in.

Tribute to Kumu Raylene

I knew I probably needed to be packing that day, but I couldn’t really bring myself to do it. At least not all of it. Besides Sunday being a church day it is also a day for comedy. I guess that’s there to make us laugh before we cry our way to the gate.

Elvira hosted the comedy stage, which featured Mimi Gonzalez, Julie Goldman and Karen Williams. 

The Comedy Crew

Mimi and Karen had great sets (I didn't get to see Julie's set), but the thing I remember most is Karen talking about the Denial Workshop. No there was not a real Denial Workshop on the land, but if there had been that joint would have been packed! I know I would have been leading the charge to the workshop area for that one. In fact they probably would have had to hold that workshop on the lawn in front of night stage.

Karen Williams

Both Mimi and Karen talked about their experiences at Fest, but Karen took it a step further and talked about her experiences in the world being a lesbian comic, a mother of black boys and how some so called liberal white women see her black boys. It was real, real, real and I love Karen for that. I also love the land for that. It’s one of the few places where you can get real, real, real, laugh about it, cry about it and then laugh about it again. The wave of emotions was non-stop. Karen had performed at many a Fest so she earned the right to every word she had to say that day. Like I said, Michfest was not perfect, but whose family is? That’s home right?

After the comedy stage I finally went back to my tent and started to pack. I was surprised I didn’t cry. Maybe I was all cried out at that point. I don’t know, but I just did what I had to do. Denial Workshop.

After packing for the most part, I went out to eat in the Belly Bowl for my last dinner there. After that I pulled myself together and went to the Candlelight Concert. Since it was the final one I suppose I should have been more excited, but I wasn’t. I wanted to skip it for several reasons, but being there reminded me of why I was there in the first place. I went to the candlelight concert with Alyson, Ruby and Maddie. Elvira was supposed to join us, but the place was so crowded that she probably couldn’t find us. I left right before the end. Right before the mass of womyn headed back to their tents. Once again I didn’t want to move with the crowd. I just needed to take that walk alone. But I will say this. Of all the things that happened at closing, I will not forget Julie playing a song she wrote called "Rising" sung by Vicki, and Tina, Sarah, Federika, Jill, Adaku and Naima dancing to it because, I mean, Wow! Honestly, I was half asleep before that, but that moment woke me right up. That was transcendent and I think that’s why I left right after that. I got it. It was time to go. As I walked up the road I heard the womyn howling at the moon. Give thanks.

"Rising"

Monday August 10th
I left in the morning. Not too early, but too early. I can’t remember exactly what I did that morning. I’m sure I walked a bit aimlessly wanting to take one more look at it all. I never made it back to the lodge area, but it is forever seared in my mind. It’s all seared in my mind really. I’m sure I got some hugs, but I do know that there were any tears in those moments. I gathered my things and my-self and eventually found my way to Central Heating to load the vans to head to the airport.

I was riding in the van with Judith and Juanita, Mazz, LaFrae and one more person I think I’m forgetting. It took us a while to all pile in the vans since were all saying our final farewells. As we drove away from Central Heating and turned the corner onto Lois Lane I could feel the wave coming over me. The final departure was here. As we tried to exit we got into a bit of a traffic jam with a truck trying to come in so it took us a little longer to leave. No problem there! But we eventually worked it all out and we were on our way.

And so we are back to the beginning. Back to my tears. Back to the moan I choked down. Back to my broken spirit. I can still feel the hurt in my heart, but I am lucky. I am in a business that will take me to many places all around the world and I know if I put the Bat signal (or in our case the Treeano signal), womyn will appear. I know it. I have seen it in action. So the tears were not so much for the women I may not see, but more for the place that I may never see again. They fell for the transformation that happened to me there. For the lifetime friendships that were forged there. For the dreams I had there and the truths that were realized there. For the tough conversations had there, but at least they happened. For the rough times and the joy. I only had 9 years there, but I think about those young girls that spent their whole life there and the and grown women who may not have been there all 40 years, but still spent their formative years there. It was my place of refuge even in the midst of the drama that outside forces tried to inject into the space. I will always stand up for women’s space. Space for women born female and this is not because I don’t think transwomen are women, but because there is a radically different life experience that happens for girls who are born into that body from day one weather you want it or not. It was in women’s spaces that I grew into the woman I am now. Without those spaces in Brooklyn, the Bronx, in retreat space all over this country and at Michfest I don’t know where I would be. I’m not saying I would be lost in the wilderness, but I am saying that my life would be vastly different. I think that everyone should be allowed to have space to gather with those who understand their experience and there is nothing wrong of phobic about that. There is safety in not having to explain EVERYTHING all the time. There is ease there. It’s exhausting having to be the teacher all the time! It’s exhausting and hear me when I tell you that women, ESPECIALLY women of color are teaching ALL THE TIME! So for one damn week, we would take the hat off unless you chose to keep it on and teach on the land. But if you didn’t want to do a damn thing, but be in the company of your sisters, hang out, sit under a tree, listen to some music, bury your demons, sing loudly to the ferns or what ever the hell you wanted to do; you were allowed to do THAT.

Signs from Fairyland...

Michfest 2013 Wrap-Up: It's On! (Wednesday & Thursday)

Wednesday August 7th
I woke to rain. I woke to a downpour and I knew that it was going to be a long day. I was not only firekeeping that day, but I had also planned to pour water for a two-door lodge that day. I peeled myself up at about 4:45am. I prepped what I was going to bring to the lodge the day before so I didn’t have much to do. I just had to pull it together and get out to the lodge. I put everything that I needed for the day in a plastic bag and ventured out into the early, early morning rain. My flashlight was barely helping me. I almost walked through what seemed like ponds of water. It was pitch black out.

When I got up to the lodge I could see a little fire going. Sharon, Brooke, Robin and Mia were there getting things going. That morning Mia, Cynthia and I were responsible for the fire, but Brooke and Robin camped right by the lodge so there were there in an instant. Once I got up there it was time to put the rocks (ancestors) on and keep the fire going at the same time. Certain people have very particular ways of getting a fire going, but when there is rain you have to do the best you can and use all methods available. We also had to make sure that the kindling was dry at all time. Eventually Cynthia arrived and it took all 6 of us to get that flame really going. There was a whole bunch of fanning happening and then eventually I brought some paper in the mix because one side of the fire was going faster than the other. It was wild to say the least. I think the sun was just starting to come up as we really got it going.

After things had calmed down, Robin, Brooke and Sharon went back to bed while Mia, Cynthia and I keep fire for the rest of the morning through the first lodge. After all that rain it turned out to be a beautiful day; really amazing actually and a great first lodge to firekeep for.

There was a bit of a break between lodges so I went in search of my friend Cassandra and lunch. I ended up finding both. Cassandra and I talked about me to do a Reiki session on her on the land long before Fest, which I was happy to do. So I found her in the WOC tent and we talked about times. Soon I was off to get some grub and head back for the Honoring Our Elders lodge. I was supposed to pour water, but I choose to just sit in that one. It was only two doors, which was good because when it was all said and done I don’t know if I could have done four doors that day. After those two doors I was done and I had a headache that wouldn’t leave me for three days. I don’t know if I was dehydrated or just trying to release something, but it lingered and it was no joke. It’s kind of hard to believe as I write this how much pain I was in for all those days. I was doing everything under the sun to try and get rid of that headache and you know that on a land filled with women, EVERYONE had a remedy. Nothing worked for a good long time and yes I took some drugs too.

Opening the Sky

It wasn’t until around Opening Ceremony that I started to feel the headache really come on. I was actually hoping that might cry at Opening so that maybe I could release some of the tension. I don’t know what it is about that damn event, but every time you may find yourself crying, cheering or both. Seriously it’s amazing. This year we celebrated 13 and it was very powerful. Hanifah and Animal did a rendition of “Pussy Manifesto” that was off the chain and really just warmed people up for Hanifah’s show the following night. Marcelle [Davies Lashley] sang a beautiful song and Lisa [Vogel] did something she rarely does at Festival, she spoke and talked about the event that she created. If it was ever going to happen, this was the year. I won’t get into all the Opening details, but I will just say as usual there was serious dancing and fire involved, followed by the annual singing of “Amazon Womyn.” This year Reinna Williams joined Judith Casselberry on the rhyme and it was off the chain. I have heard that song sung or been a part of singing it for many of the years that I’ve been to fest, but this year was something special. I swear that was the really the kickoff to what was going to be an amazing week of music. I feel like every artist that showed up at fest really showed up this year. It felt so incredible at so many moments.

Heartfelt Opening

Animal & Hanifah: Sisters from another Mister

"Pussy Manifesto"

Amazon Womyn Rise!

The opening ceremony was followed by Gina Breedlove. Can you say off the chain?! This was her Night Stage debut and it was one of the best sets I’ve seen on the land. I know you might think I’m a little bias because she is my friend, but for real it was killing! Gina left us in BK for the Bay, but damn if I don’t think that was one of the best moves she made in her life. While she was on stage I could see and feel the joy in her heart, soul and spirit. Now that brought tears to my eyes. That show was banana-balls. Her band was Vicki Randle on percussion & guitar, Shelley Doty on guitar, Kofy Brown on bass and Julie Wolf on Keys. Also everyone, but Kofy were also on vocals! They were all in white and were calling in the ancestors for real that night. Everyone looked and sounded gorgeous. It was just brilliant. These are also the same ladies that are on Gina’s latest album Language of Light. Pick that joint up immediately. Get it now! In fact open up another tab on your computer right now and buy it! I’ll wait for you to come back…Ok, now that you have the album feel the vibes. LOL! Yes, I am serious.

The angelic Gina Breedlove and what might have been the sexiest band on the land!

Gina Breedlove, Vicki Randle, Shelley Doty, Kofy Brown, Julie Wolf

Gina looking good front to back!

After Gina’s set my head was really pounding and it was cold. The Indigo Girls were up next. There was a lot of controversy around their performance at Fest this year. It was expected that they were going to talk about the trans-inclusion issue while on stage, but it didn’t happen. They did a really sweet set and Amy Ray talked about having a baby on the way. I missed much of it because my friend Rachel was giving me an acupuncture treatment by flashlight. Yes you can get acupuncture in the woods! Sadly it did nothing to ease my pain so we went back and caught the tail end of the set.

After Night Stage there is a midnight meal for the artists and workers. The first meal of the week was one of my faves, sesame noodles. I couldn’t enjoy it as much as I would have liked because my head was still killing me. I hung for a bit, but then I went to bed to see if I could sleep it off.

I was a very eventful day and a seriously powerful kick off show to a powerful kick ass week. Rest.

Thursday August 8th
I woke with a calm mind and then just that fast the headache was back. I just had to keep moving through it. I drinking so much water, Emergen-C and Hibiscus tea that I had to pee every five minutes. I know that’s probably the best, but it was killing me. I just kept drinking because I was thinking that I dehydrated, but clearly after a while I was thinking that something was on me in the lodge and it was taking some time to get it off. Nothing I was doing was helping, but I had work to do so I had to hop to it.

At 10:45am I went to soundcheck for Hanifah’s show. I’m not sure what I did before that. Maybe just chilled and checked out the schedule. Hanifah’s soundcheck was fast, but good.

After soundcheck I still had a headache, but I wanted to go check out Round Robin and I really needed to take a shower. So I ate some lunch, took a shower and then headed to Day Stage. But instead of finding a seat I went to check out my girl Kelly Horrigan at her booth. The crafts area is situated at the edge of the Day Stage area so it’s a good place to hear the music, but not be in then blazing heat. There is really not much shade at the Day Stage at all. In fact there is only a big tent that only so many people can fit under and it usually gets filled up quickly. Anyway, that day on the Round Robin was Marcelle, Gretchen Phillips, Laura Love, Jenn Todd, Jill Sobule and Cris Williamson. They all sounded so great and I was glad I caught a bit of it. One of the songs that they sang was “We Shall Overcome,” which I hadn’t heard in a long time. That moment turned out to be more poignant than they probably know. Later that day Shirley told me that the song started just as the Cancer Survivors lodge was getting ready to start. So they sat with the lodge door open, listening and releasing until the song ended. It’s not that the Day Stage is right next to the lodge space, but the sound carries on the land and that song came right on time.

After Round Robin was Big Bad Gina, who I had met on the road and at sound check the day before. I only caught a bit of their set because my head was killing me. I chilled with Kelly a bit longer and then headed back to my tent to take it down for a bit. I had missed poet/actress/writer Lenelle Moïse’s set on Tuesday and I heard it was great. So after a brief rest I peeled myself up and went to see her on Acoustic Stage. I’m glad I did because her show “Womb-Words, Thirsting” was off the hook. Sadly I couldn’t stay to see Stacyann Chin do her thing because I had to get ready for the set with Hanifah.

I still had a headache, but by this time I was just moving through it. I have had this top with a Chinese collar that I have been wanting to wear for a long time, but I need a camisole or something underneath it and I don’t have one. But at Michfest that’s the only time I feel like I can go with just my bra or something like that and get away with it; meaning I feel safe to wear just my bra because it’s a safe space.

Hanifah is always the cool nerd so her and Julie were right in step, but I know Hanifah likes heels so mine were in full effect. I wore the shoes that I had on at Pussypalooza; black, open toes with rhinestone heels. I really love them. Black pencil skirt and my top, which was all the way open so you could see my new bra (I love it) and my dangling hoops. We were ready to rock!

The outfit in full effect!

Hanifah was debuting the music that she’s been doing in France with her band St. Lô and it’s off the chain. I think my favorite new joints are “Flight and Fantasy,” and “Legendary,” but really she does a killer rendition of “In the Pines” that I love too. We had the early set so we didn’t have the luxury of the stage lights to really set it off, but Hanifah is nothing if not a show-woman and she killed it. We officially ended the set on “Hero,” which is a crowd favorite, but of course we couldn’t get out of there without doing “Happy,” the unofficial Michfest anthem.

Hanifah Kicking it off!

In the air!

The Mezz & I

The Cool Nerds!

Marcelle and I getting "Happy!"

The "Happy" Dancers!

Hanifah & Julie in a post-show glow

Brooklyn/Bay Area Love!

Footwear: That's what it's all about.  Ha!

Hanifah did a remix on that joint and it was dope! People came up on stage to dance and it was a blast! Marcel was the first person to crash the stage so I told her to come over and sing harmony with me on “If you feel it/you can do it!” Shelley Doty danced on the catwalk and said it was her first time out there. She never gets out there because she’s a guitarist and usually the band is glued to the stage. Well that is unless you are MEN, but more on that later. I think that moment was the beginning of the Brooklyn/Bay artist love affair that was at a high level this Fest. I mean there has always been love between us, but this year for some reason it just felt really strong. We danced together that night and danced together though the week. It was the beginning and there was much more to come.

Emily Wells followed Hanifah that night and if you are not familiar with her she is a one-woman band. She played drums, violin, keys and samples. Oh yeah she sings too. That was a really cool set as well. Right after Emily was the return of JD Samson & MEN. I’ve seen MEN before at Festival; in fact I think they followed me on Night Stage in 2011 if memory serves me correctly. Although I had seen the set I stood in the audience for a while to catch them once again because my girl Ginger was back with the group and it’s always a pleasure to see her. As I mentioned earlier, usually guitarists are glued to the stage, but next thing you know I see Ginger heading to the catwalk. Shortly thereafter Gretchen come up behind her and starts playing Ginger’s guitar while Ginger just lay back like and angel and let her play. From where I was standing it looked like Gretchen had picked her up in the air. She didn’t, but it really looked like Ginger was flying. That was a really cool moment.

What was also fun was watching and listening to people in the audience negotiate whether or not they were going to body surf through the crowd. People were going up left and right so if you ever wanted to body surf that was the night.

The rest of the MEN set was really great! I won’t give away the ending of their show in case you get to see them one day, but I will say this, “Who am I to feel so free? Who am I?!”

I think the midnight meal that night was chicken. I say I think because I could be getting my days mixed up, but I’ll go with it. There was a dirty rumor that it would be fried chicken. Not so much! Maria [DJ Rimarkable] and I were joking about that on the line and cracking Elvira [Kurt] up. Fun, fun night all around!

Stay Tuned...

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