WOMYNSFEST CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF SPOTLIGHTING WOMEN IN THE ARTS
March is Women’s Month and what better way to kick it off than with a free, multi-genre evening planned, promoted, produced, hosted, and performed by women? On Sunday March 1, 2020 at 7pm, Vitamin D Productions brings the annual Womynsfest back to The Rotunda at 4014 Walnut Street in West Philadelphia. With this year’s theme, A Celebration of Life, Womynsfest hits its 20th year and becomes Philadelphia’s longest running, free festival supporting and showcasing women in the arts.
As women still fight against discrimination in the workplace, the wage gap, sexual harassment, body autonomy and reproductive justice, and so much more, a festival that uplifts women is needed. Originally known as the Female Series and having found a home at The Rotunda almost from the beginning, Womynsfest is the brainchild of renaissance woman and Philadelphian Denice Witkowski AKA Vitamin D. Witkowski has maintained this festival and kept it relevant by seeking out all types of performers and giving them a shot even if they’re just starting out; this festival has never been about pedigree or prestige but has always been a warm, inviting, supportive space in which all people of all genders and identities are welcome to attend and take in music, dance, film, visual art, etc. Several audience members catch the festival every year without fail, while new audiences always show up.
Over the years, Womynsfest has hosted a diverse line up that reflects the enormous talent and spirit in our city and region, including but not limited to: breast cancer survivors speaking on stage and depicted in photo and painted portraits; poets and spoken word artists; West African percussionists and educators; Irish folk dancers; Indigenous singers and poets; burlesque performers; belly dancers; hoop dancers; singer songwriters; rock and punk bands; visual artists; and independent businesswomen selling homemade food, jewelry, textiles, and more.
This year’s festival features old and new friends including GhettoSongBird, Mia Johnson, Line, Ascxnsion, Vassal, and more to be announced soon.
Info on the Artists
GHETTOSONGBIRD is a bohemian North Philadelphia singer/songwriter/guitarist who started singing, playing piano by ear and writing poetry locked in her room while her siblings played outside. Raised on her Mama’s old LPs & living room jams, she was inspired to perform in talent shows to try out new songs. When GhettoSongBird picked up the guitar by ear she flew right into the open mic scene and began jamming with musicians who played with legends like Jimi Hendrix, Little Richard, Chaka Khan, Tupac, New Birth, and Fishbone to name a hand full that grew her chops as a guitarist & bassist. GSB is influenced by Black Sabbath, Jimi Hendrix, P-Funk, Led Zeppelin, Mandrill, Santana, The Doors, The Bar-Kays, Sly & The Family-Stone, Earth Wind & Fire, Wah-Wah Watson, Prince, Lenny Kravitz, and any exotic sound she could wrap her ears around.
She and her Roxploitation Band have performed at legendary rock venues around the world including CBGB;S (NYC) The Whisky A Go-Go (L.A.) and The Troubadour (London) to name a few. https://www.facebook.com/The.Official.GhettoSongBird
MIA JOHNSON
Originally from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Mia Johnson has been in Philadelphia making music for over a decade-and-a-half. She got her start busking on South Street, then onto Philly venues, the recording studio, and independent tours of the East Coast and Midwest. Over the years she has performed as a solo act with just acoustic guitar, as frontwoman in a full rock band, as a backing vocalist in various projects and theatrically as June Carter in a Johnny Cash tribute act. Mia’s songwriting reflects her interest and love for just about every style of music there is. The sound is rhythmically varied, rich in melody and very-chill-to-really-rockin’ with its strongest influences rooted in folk, blues, reggae and of course, rock n’ roll. http://miajohnson.net
LINE
ASCXNSION
VASSAL, also known as Sarah Chodak, will return to the stage again this year. Vassal came to Womynsfest at the age of 14, blowing the minds of our audience and is now returning at the age of 16. Vassal is a Philadelphia-based singer songwriter who is driven by emotion and the world around her. http://www.vassalmusic.com
And!! Check out our vendor Rosy Charm Shop for fun and beautiful handmade jewelry in the shape of fruit, vegetables, donuts, you name it. https://www.etsy.com/shop/rosycharmshop
So check out Womynsfest 2020: A Celebration of Life on Sunday, March 1, 2020 at 7pm at The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Admission is FREE and all people are welcome.
Contact: Denice Witkowski, Vitamin D Productions: 267.333.1792, VitaminDproductions@yahoo.com