This week, grab that $1.10 and take the G2 Metrobus down to 14th Street. Strong and exciting women’s performance nights are just springing up all over the place there, and I suggest you catch them while they last. The first of the two, Mothertongue, is a women’s spoken word night. For the past two years, Mothertongue has encouraged women in the D.C. area to share their voices through monthly open mic and spoken word events. These performances have become a staple in the area’s art and women’s communities, providing much-needed social and artistic space for female writers/performers and the people who support them. Mothertongue continues to sponsor monthly open mic/spoken word events. The increased popularity of the events has indicated a need for even more opportunities for women in the Washington, D.C. area to showcase their written work.
Mothertongue donates the profits from its events to community-based nonprofit organizations that improve the lives of women and/or girls in the metro area. This month, the $3 admission will support the D.C. Rape Crisis Center. The next Mothertongue will be Wednesday, Apr. 17 at 8:30 at Black Cat.
Ubervox is the second 14th Street creation. This project has many descriptions?in its most basic form, it is a mechanism by which established women musicians mentor and provide a performing venue for unknown or struggling musicians. Ubervox is also a women’s music concert series and networking organization, whose goal is to provide performance opportunities and career development and support to women’s musicians of all genres and cultures. To achieve its goal of artistic community, Ubervox hosts a monthly concert series in the D.C. area.
The types of music at the monthly Ubervox Women’s Music Concert Series shows represent a wide range of styles. They include include folk, jazz, hip-hop/spoken word music, world music, Celtic, R&B and country-folk.
Ubervox shows usually follow the same format: three featured performers each perform a 30-minute set, followed by four “cameo spots,” which are shorter sets performed by up-and-coming artists. Unfortunately, these performances are by invitation only, though past “cameo” acts have returned to later shows as featured performers.
Ubervox founder and local singer-songwriter Verlette Simon started the project to fill a void she saw in the D.C. area music scene, where parts of the area were unnecessarily separate.
The first show, held in the District on a November weeknight, garnered about 40 attendees. Subsequent shows saw more and more faces in the crowd until the February show, held in Baltimore, had 90 attendees. The word about Ubervox is spreading?and show attendance and music submissions are on the rise.
The next show in the concert series will be held at the Metro Caf? on Tuesday, April 16. The line-up will feature Gina Young, Pam Steinfeld, and the Space Dots. Gina Young is a singer/songwriter juxtaposing beautiful melodies with punk rock politics. Although currently based in Brooklyn and touring the country, Gina was raised in D.C. While in her hometown she will perform songs from her new album Intractable, which follows her 1999 release, Prom Queen. The cost for the show, as always, is $7. According to Ubervox, most of the money goes directly back to the performers.
Black Cat is located at 1811 14th St., N.W. Metro Caf? can be found down the street at 1522 14th Street N.W.
