For some, the summer means relaxing and hitting the beach, but for music lovers it means just one thing: music festivals. Whether they’re touring festivals, or one weekend-only destination affairs, music festivals are a great place to catch a number of your favorite bands in one place. And of course a number of festivals cater only to women musicians, or at least feature them prominently.
With a history of celebrating female musicians, Lilith Fair, brainchild of Canadian singer-songwriter, is back this summer for the first time since 1999, with an eclectic …

Florida’s Pinellas County might be better known for its thriving hardcore music scene amongst high school and college aged students, but slowly indie folk bands have been gaining a foothold in the area. And St. Petersburg’s The Sun Society finds itself at the core of the burgeoning folk rock scene that also includes the likes of other local acts such as John Gold, The Grecian Urns and Old Northeast.
Ranging from 15- to 17-years-old, the five high school aged friends – Kenswick Christian School students sisters Kathleen McGuire (vocals, piano) and …

After extensively touring Europe, Philadelphia-based chanteuse Melody Gardot is finally coming home. And the jazz singer and songwriter will hit up a few cities on this side of the pond along the way.
Her audience primarily based in Europe, Gardot is excited to get back to the United States and expose Americans to her style of music, which typically doesn’t get much attention by mainstream media or music fans. “We’re coming off the arduous and beautiful journey from our tour in Europe,” she said. “So we have a lot of energy …

“A band is like a marriage,” says Cathy. “People grow and they want to do different things creatively. It got to the point where we needed to step back and let people do what they needed to do on their own.”
On one recent fall day, Cathy and her sister Kristen Henderson, who started Antigone Rising with a few pals back in 1993 at Bucknell University, spoke to GRGR’s Rock Hotsheet about the band’s latest metamorphosis into a four-piece, with pal and sweet-piped siren Nini Camps finally taking on a …

Blameshift, native Long Island band, has been lucky enough to have their album in stores like Hot Topic and F.Y.E and the opportunity to play at Vans Warped Tour. The band has been busy busy touring the US but thankfully had some time to answer my questions. 
??How did Blameshift start?
Blameshift began almost 5 years ago when Tim and James met through mutual friends at a party. They learned they both played music and decided to start jamming together with another buddy of Tim’s. While searching for a house to all move into and write music the landlord showing the …

For those who are active in the NYC music scene, one may have come across Cherie Martorana either on Monday nights at Arlene’s Rock’n’roll karaoke decked in fun risqué costumes as the “Bible babe” or in her 80s retro get up at the Canal Room with her cover band Rubix Cube. It may seem that this local rocker chick has been doing this for decades, but Cherie just started her professional music career. She has accomplished and experienced more than most local professional musicians her age. The saying holds true …

Who knew running up to get a closer look at a concert can set off a music career? So is the story of Reni Lane. This rising star got a wicked deal with top photographer Mick Rock after ditching her seat to experience the show from the front row.
Lane has showcased her talent at the famous Sidewalk Cafe. She’s toured the Netherlands with her band, was featured in the First Ladies of Rock campaign, was signed to Custard Records and has even attended Columbia University. After a bustling week on …

You ladies are currently on tour, what’s your favorite part of touring and
what’s the worst?  
My favorite part about touring is visiting old friends and meeting new ones. My least favorite thing is all the time spent in the van. We accumulate so much stuff where you can’t see the floor anymore and it is piled high.
Are there any cities you are looking forward to seeing in particular?
Yes, besides LA, I am looking forward to Casper, WY. We have had good shows there. I am also looking forward …

Plenty of frontwomen belt it out with passion. Few of them possess the pipes, power and hard-to-stomach personal history of blunt blues-rock singer Janiva Magness.
The gutsy siren has been through a higher level of hell than most of her peers (double-parent suicide at 16; teenage pregnancy, mean boyfriends who discouraged her from singing). But perhaps because Janiva (pronounced “Jenniva”) truly believed that from a very young age that she was meant to sing, the 52-year-old chanteuse has a career most rock singers would envy.
The hot-ticket artist, who recently …

Who didn’t want to be a rock star high school? For girls like Jessica Hopper, rock camp didn’t exist – only this “secret boys club” of dudes who seemed to know everything about playing guitar or drums. Hopper, a Chicago-based music critic and former rock musician who started dreaming of rock-and-roll stardom in the ‘80s, wants to change that. Her new book, The Girls’ Guide to Rocking, is filled with countless tips, advice and guidance to give aspiring rocker girls confidence and chops. GRGR’s ROCK HOTSHEET Editor in Chief Marisa …