The financial goal of the event is to raise money for the Eastern Massachusetts Abortion Fund, a Cambridge-based volunteer group that helps to pay for abortions, but the hopes are to create a lasting network for creative feminists in Boston and beyond. If the past few months of community-building shows are any indication, they’ve got nothing to worry about.
Ladyfest Boston brings together 25 local and national bands, artists, speakers, and authors for three days of serious appreciation of X chromosomes at the Cambridge YMCA, starting tonight. Collectively managed by Hartsock, Tali Stern, Rachel Rizzo, Christopher Strunk, Terry Cuozzo, and an army of volunteers and open meeting participants, the fest aims big. There’s LA punk legend Alice Bag reading from her book, “Violence Girl.’’ There’s a comics how-to from Boston’s own Liz Prince. And there’s everything from raging punk bands to thorny indie-rock and bubblegum pop - Ampere, Hilly Eye, Girlfriends, Shepherdess. The list goes on and on.
That may be a lot to manage in one weekend, but the bigger project of Ladyfest could already be considered a success. Though there’s a diverse scene of rocking women in town (even if it’s not always at the forefront of every scene), there were some dots they felt needed connecting.
“We just thought there seemed like there was a lack of cohesiveness or a forum for people in this city to get together,’’ says Stern.
Starting back in July at the Plough and Stars, the group began organizing a whirlwind of fund-raising shows; “Ladyfest’’ graced dozens of flyers throughout the fall and almost took on its own social scene, bridging bars, galleries, and DIY spaces.
