women in music

In this week's edition of The Stranger, Emily Nokes and Bree McKenna hilariously turn sexist music journalism on its head with their local bands feature "Men Who Rock!"


Guys who aren't afraid to get their rock on!

Although it's often used as a stand-in for elevator music, bossa nova really doesn't deserve the square reputation it's somehow acquired. When it began, it was actually considered cool and bohemian (bossa nova literally translates to "new trend"). If you've never listened, it's time to give bossa nova another try, and what better way than to check out the many great ladies of bossa nova past and present? It's super '60s, the perfect soundtrack to your Mad Men kick and ideal mellow end-of-summer music. This mix can only provide a small sampling of the bossa that's out there, but it's enough for you to temporarily pretend you're lounging on the beaches of Brazil, wearing a retro swimsuit and sipping a daiquiri.

It took me two showers to wash off the dirt from Portland-based roots music festival Pickathon last weekend, but I'm still basking in the glow of new music discoveries. Some of my faves after the jump, with links to band websites and performances...

Girls Rock Camp summer showcase season is back! Since 2001 in Portland, OR, Girls Rock Camps have been empowering girls and women through music creation in cities and towns across North America and Europe, with a total of 37 camps in the international GRC network, Girls Rock Camp Alliance. GRC Summer Camp is a week-long program where girls and women ages 8-18 learn a new instrument, form bands, and collaborate to create an original song performed live complete with screaming fans and camper-designed band t-shirts. This BitchTapes is a sampling of songs written and performed by campers from Girls Rock Camps across North America and Europe. Check out a camp showcase this summer at a GRC near you!

Heat Wave from BitchTapes on 8tracks.

It's about to get really hot in Texas. Like, really hot. Our social calendars here in the Lone Star State will soon be limited to the following activities:

• Seek cold water
• Bathe in cold water
• Drink cold water
• Drink Lone Star
• Sweat
• Open Facebook relationships with Air Conditioners.

And I'd like to add one to the list. Listen to music about MORE HOT THINGS! This week's BitchTapes is one big missile, heat-seeking a groove. DON'T FORGET TO HYDRATE. Track list after the jump!

Approximately 100% of the time that someone mentions the name Selena outside of Texas, they are talking about Selena Gomez. Approximately 100% of those times, I wish they were talking about Selena Quintanilla, and I pretend in my heart that they are. In Hill Country, though, que viva La Flor. Selena, Selena of my heart and of Jennifer Lopez's breakthrough role, lives on, and she's one of many. Don't let the cowboy/machismo-fueled street harassment, Governor, ex-President, sky-high teen pregnancy rate and matching refusal to accept sex-education funding associated with the Jumbo State fool you. There is a fabulous tradition here of women rebelling (look up Angelina Eberly, for example) and making great music to boot. Here's a mix of lady Texans who make being a Lone Star sound gooood.

While Katie and Kjerstin spent last weekend at Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin, I hung out in Portland, basking in a whole bunch of awesome lady-made music for Portland's annual Siren Nation Festival. In the Ladyfest spirit, Siren Nation celebrates the many contributions women make to the arts, whether it’s music, crafts, art, or film. Siren Nation, now in its fifth year, is more than just a one-weekend festival. In addition to the annual festival, the organizers of Siren Nation hosts fundraisers throughout the year in Portland, including Dolly Parton, Billie Holiday, and Patti Smith tribute nights, providing opportunities for women in the arts all year long. This year's music lineup was phenomenal, and turned us on to lots of new music from female artists.

Reviews and a playlist after the jump!

The weekend is over and we've (for the most part) washed off the dust from Auditorium Shores. Check out our coverage from the third and final day at Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin, Texas!

Saturday at Fun Fun Fun Fest felt like pictures you see of mud-soaked supermodels at Glastonbury Festival in England, except for the rain. And the supermodels. So mostly it was just windy and dusty. But that didn't stop us from seeing a couple of great acts!

Brooklyn Vegan released the lineup for Lollapalooza 2011, Chicago's contribution to the summer festival circuit, today, and I'm sure they just MISPLACED the list with all the female acts on it, and that's coming shortly. Right? There's no WAY such an enormous festival wouldn't include a SINGLE WOMAN in their list of headliners? Ouch, Lolly. Ouch. I thought our love went deeper than that.