The hard-working people behind local organization Girls & Ladies Rock MKE are used to wrapping up their camps by showcasing the creativity of their aspiring musicians. On this DJ Takeover, we turned the spotlight on a trio of the organization’s key players as they joined me in Studio A.
With their Ladies Rock showcase (and very special guest musical performance … more on that later) coming up, executive director Mary Joy Hickey and board members Cassidy Skorija and LaTasha Hortman, both of whom are also Ladies Rock camp alums, shared their favorite music live on the air.
If you’re not familiar with their work, Girls & Ladies Rock are all about — as their mission states — “empowering girls, women and gender-expansive individuals through music education and performance.” Each camp is an intensive one-weekend experience, during which participants learn an instrument, form a band, write a song and perform at an end-of-weekend showcase.
Want to hear what this sounds like? You can at this Sunday’s big event at Radio Milwaukee. Starting at 6:30 p.m., campers will play their original songs live and get some serious support from Ladies Rock camp alumni Lauryl Sulfate & Her Ladies of Leisure. It’s a pay-what-you-can event (with a suggested donation of $10), and kids 10 and under get in the door free of charge.
Music lovers just a couple years older might also be interested to know that Girls Rock (aimed at those entering grades 3-12) will be the special guest at the next Grace Weber’s Music Lab set to take place from 5-7 p.m. Friday, March 28.
Before all of that happens, though, we’ve got this DJ Takeover for you to enjoy. So hit that "Listen" button at the top of the page and find out which musicians influenced our Girls & Ladies Rock MKE guests to help them become the difference-makers they are today.
DJ Takeover: Ladies Rock playlist
- Red Queen (Ladies Rock Camp Alumni), "Red Quean"
- The Eyeliners, "Everything's Alright"
- Gigi Perez, "Sailor Song"
- Jensen McRae, "Dead Girl Walking"
- Mitski, "My Love is Mine All Mine"
- Christina Aguilera, "Beautiful"
- Nina Simone, "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"
- Doechii, "Anxiety"
- Rat Bath, "I Eat My Enemies"
