If you've ever been connected to women's
music, Radical Harmonies is a must see. It's a documentary that tackles
a lot of ground, exploring the philosophies, realities, politics, creativity and
personalities involved in the growth of women's music as a sub-culture and a movement.
Historical footage accompanies recent interviews with many of the pioneers of
the music as well as the all-important festivals and record labels. It also doesn't
shy away from potentially divisive issues like women only space, and chronicles
how the women's music culture became multi-racial and multi-cultural, while addressing
issues of accessibility as priorities. The film is jam packed, and it also
manages to cover women's music today and some of the contemporary artists still
packing in the fans at the festivals. It makes me want to run out an buy a new
copy of "The
Changer and the Changed," Chris Williamson's groundbreaking, inspirational
album from 1975. Here are many of the artists who are interviewed for the
film, with footage from many more: Ani DiFranco, Rhiannon, Holly Near, Teresa
Trull, June Millington, Chris Williamson, Maxine Feldman, Meg Christian, Bernice
Johnson Reagon, Margie Adam, Linda Tillery, Judith Casselberry, Ronnie Gilbert,
Robin Tyler, Kristen Lems, Hazel Dickens, Alix Dobkin, Nancy Vogel, Ferron, Sue
Fink, Deirdre McCalla, Jackie Strano, Amy Ray, Toshi Reagon, Tret Fure, Bitch
and Animal, Gwen Avery and Mary Watkins. |