Girls rock Iowa City at Englert this weekend
The idea of conceiving, performing and publishing a piece of art in one week could intimidate even the most experienced artist. Yet, undaunted, 10 bands made up of kids and teens have done just that, and will shred, sing and drum as they debut their original songs this weekend.
On Saturday, June 29, 39 campers between age eight and 14 will rock across the Englert stage starting at 12:30 p.m. for the Girls Rock! Showcase. The performance is free for those 17 and under and $12 per ticket for those older.
This sixth year of the showcase, hosted by the local non-profit Girls Rock! Iowa City, is a way to get female, trans and non-binary youth involved in the self-expression evoked through musical performance.
"They spend one hour a day in instrument lessons," said Merit Bickner, co-founder of Girls Rock! Iowa City. "(They play) guitar, bass, drums and keyboard, then they spend two hours a day with their band.”
This year the 39 campers split off into 10 bands, each with seven days to write, perform and record a new song. Though councilors ultimately end up selecting who will be in which band, they try to make sure the program is as kid-lead as possible.
“On Monday, we played a game where we listen to two different kinds of music where we listen to a female, trans or non-binary artist," said Bickner. "Then they go across the room and find people who like the same music.”
Campers also participate in activities that aren't related to songwriting. One camper used craft time to create a picture of a "Unicorgi" (a creature containing all the adorableness of a corgi while still radiating the majesty of a unicorn) with the words "Bee yourself" under it.
This is the kind of self discovery Bickner loves to see at the camp. She feels it gives girls, trans and non-binary kids and teens the chance to express themselves in a way she said society doesn't always encourage.
"It is about music, but really the underlying idea is that we want to make healthy and whole women and trans and non-binary people," Bickner said. "Having them be empowered to share their ideas, taking our sort of internal criticism out of the process… the music serves the purpose of empowerment."
Isaac Hamlet covers arts, entertainment and culture at the Press-Citizen. Reach him at email@example.com or (319)-688-4247, follow him on Twitter @IsaacHamlet