This story goes way back to the Big Mouth Girl Festival in Michigan, the very first women-centric festival, and the first festival of any kind as a solo act that I had performed (by the way, I did write a post about it; when you have a moment to spare, I encourage you to scroll through and read it).

In 2023, the organizing head of BMG Fest and longtime friend, Nedra Johnson, introduced me to one of the heads of SisterSpace Weekend, Polly Laurelchild-Hertig; we discussed bringing my performance to SisterSpace that year, and I was eager to expand my name on the women’s festival circuit. Unfortunately, I was unable to make it to SisterSpace 2023, because the ride I thought I had to get there canceled on me. Little did I know at the time that the festival was accessible by Amtrak, so that is how I managed to make it this year.

SisterSpace Weekend is a 3-day women’s festival located in Northern Maryland, near the Pennsylvania border and the Susquehanna River; I was actually there a bit longer because, apparently, I made myself the first-ever volunteer AND performer – typical me, giving myself WAY too much work! I was scheduled to perform on Sunday, September 8 for the poolside performances, however, a Friday night performer dropped out and I was called to take their place as the opener for the festival. Was I nervous? Of course I was! I wanted to do well and hold my own in a field of supremely talented people. I took the stage and I did just that…wish I had footage, though, you should’ve been there. 😅

Who were some of those notable performers? Let me check through my list…*ahem*…

For starters, Ubaka Hill & The Shapeshifters, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer, Gaye Adegbalola (aka my adopted gay Mother 😂), Dawn Drake & ZapOte, Lourdes Perez (aka my sweet adopted gay Auntie 😁), e. nina jay (aka my ride-or-die gay Auntie 💪🏾), Reina Williams, Heather Mae – one of my cabin mates and fellow Fish Fam ♓️, Stephanie Chin – my other cabin mate (sorry for snoring 😅😅), Lyrispect, Andrea Nardello, and Rebekah Lau’ren.

Look all of them up, and you’ll fully understand why I was nervous.

Everyone from the DJs – Maria Maria, Kathy G, Sheek, and Phuong – to the MCs, Debra D’Alessandro, Di Hargrove, and Dujuana Sharese (dot com 😂), were fantastic. I was blessed to be in the presence of so many wonderful women, and I was honored to take in so many stories and lessons along the way. Being immersed on the other side of the stage and actually doing the work of a stage hand opened my eyes to how daunting and demanding the work really is, and I am thankful for all of the knowledge and experience I gained, as a result.

Ladies, thank you for your bountiful love and support, and I hope to see you next year, when SisterSpace, Goldenrod Music, and Cris Williamson’s The Changer and the Changed, celebrate 50 years of revolutionary moments.

I hope to see you ladies again, and I hope I get to celebrate with new ones being welcomed into the fold.