The National Women's Music Festival in Normal, Illinois 2007

Nothing much happened at the National Women’s Music Festival except of course the Mormon invasion. Yes, as fate would have it, the festival was scheduled the same weekend as a Mormon youth retreat at the University of Illinois at Normal. Every day hundreds of Mormon bible-carrying youth would eat in the same cafeteria with hundreds of sleep-deprived lesbians. I rode the elevator with a bunch of them one day. I looked at them and said, “Are we having fun yet?” They asked me if I was pure. They told me Jesus loves me. “Of course she does!” I replied as I exited on my floor.

A little history lesson for those of you who have no idea what I’m talking about. The NWMF is an indoor festival that takes place over a long weekend at a university in the Midwest. Usually it’s in July. The National Women’s Music Festival started in Champagne-Urbana more than 30 years ago, moved to Bloomington Indiana where it enjoyed its biggest success during the 80’s and early 90’s and now is experiencing a revival at it’s new home in Bloomington/Normal at ISU.

The festival is produced by a non- profit called Women in the Arts. This festival reaches out to the young queer women who are bringing there own brand of music to women’s music festivals. They have a stage called the SheRocks stage and belive me, it rocks!

This year Wishing Chair, Women in Docs, Ember Swift, and Trina Hamlin appeared. I enjoyed all the music.

Lucie Blue was powerful, singing, whistling and talking about her breast cancer project. She even showed me how to do a breast exam..on a model she had at her booth. Jamie Anderson rocked with her band and her own brand of music and comedy. And was there. Ferron is still among the greatest! The young and old rushed to see her perform. was the bomb. You should catch her in P-town this summer.

Awesome Comedians

I also laughed thanks to comedians who wants to find me a girlfriend, and who arrived in a tow truck. I found out later, Ember Swift’s luggage got lost, Ubaka Hill’s drum went to Maryland and the van bringing Michele in from the airport had a flat. But through it all, Jane Weldon the producer and Linda Wilson the production manager kept the stages moving and at some points shaking. But believe me when I say there was not a poor performance at this festival. Everyone brought their "A" game.

Goldenrod women’s music distributor was there. They carry thousands of CD’s and schedule the cd signings with the performers. They do an awesome job lead by their leader and a wonderful dyke Susan Frazier, who appreciates my fashion sense. She’s a fountain of knowledge.

Lesbians on Radio

Debra D’Alessandro was there. She has a radio show in Philly called Amazon Country. She emceed one night and did a really nice job; she was funny and cute and kept the stage moving and upbeat during the set changes. Not an easy task. She also led a workshop. She asked women to describe their experiences with women’s music. I joined the group as my ears perked up.

How Women’s Music Changed My Life

I loved hearing women’s stories of their first experiences and how the music saved their lives, how they followed the music and found their tribe, like-minded women at festivals and community concerts. And how important radio shows were to them like Wilma Harder’s “A Women’s Circle” from Indiana and Linda Wilson’s “Womansong” from Kansas City MO., just to name a few.

When it was my turn to speak, I said “Twenty-three years ago, Alix Dobkin asked me if I was going to participate in my community or just sit back and let everyone else create it for me.” That was a life-changing question for me. “Sign me up!” I said, “I want to be a part of it all.” I found my niche as a stage worker and never looked back. And with the mention of Alix Dobkin, other women in the circle nodded their heads. Yes she and her music had been influential to them too. One young woman said the Spice girls were the first women’s band she had ever heard and they totally inspired her.

The Circus

Did I mention I was the stage manager in the Circus Room? There were no bearded ladies, but some pretty good balancing acts. A little history first. I used to be the production manage and Kathy Belge (you may know the name) was the stage manager for the Showcase years ago, which is now called the Emerging Artist stage. Now I’m the stage manager and I really enjoy it. I get to witness the new artists and I get caught up in their energy and enthusiasm. I love it and am excited about the direction of the festival. Plus I get to wear all my outrageous outfits, I got to emcee and perform my drag show at the open mic. I can’t wait until 2008.

_{Retts Scauzillo is a drag king, stage manager and wanna be writer from NY. Email her at rettssf@yahoo.com}