You go, girls: At music showcase GirlFestival, it’s all about the ladies

By Allison Duck (contact)

Friday, Oct. 16, 2009 | 2:05 a.m.

When the guys in Mötley Crüe wrote “Girls, Girls, Girls,” they probably weren’t thinking about a multi-day, multi-venue, multi-genre estrogen-fest. But for the third year, the Las Vegas GirlFestival will deliver all that during a 10-day showcase of all things female-fronted.

“There are still hurdles that female musicians and artists have to deal with,” says event co-founder Roddy Belford. “GirlFestival shows women in a positive light, musically and artistically.”

Belford and Sharon Ludlam created the festival to give local musicians a chance to play together in a non-battle of the bands context. There is no pressure to compete; rather, the event is about putting one’s talents on display. Both musicians, Belford and Ludlam sought a more showcase-oriented format that would “be more homegrown and locally centered.” And primarily female.

“It’s mostly top-heavy musically,” says Belford of the girl-centric lineup.

Indeed, XX-chromosome-fronted bands like Shy Tree, One Loud Secret and This Is My Curse will perform alongside solo artists like Ruth Ann Sharp and Sharon Paquette. Thirty or so musical acts are slated to perform. And, Belford adds, “We’ve added artists, poets, dancers, comedians and some filmmakers [this year].”

What about the boys? They aren’t barred from playing GirlFest, but participating groups must feature a female lead. “It’s really nice to be able to go to an event [where] people are just there to see you and won’t be screaming at you to take your shirt off,” says Paquette, who will perform in the fest along with Andrea Bensmiller and Luke Thatcher in a trio ironically called Bare.

Local pop rock group One Loud Secret features three male performers and vocalist Lelani Dibble as the front woman. Bandmate and bassist Andy Burnette isn’t afraid of being one of the few guys performing at an event with the word girl in the title.

“I kind of like the idea, because the way she performs is just a very girl power type of thing,” Burnette says. “We think it’s cool.”

Like last month’s Neon Reverb festival, GirlFestival makes use of multiple venues such as Las Vegas Country Saloon and Beauty Bar, along with more unusual locales like Sam Ash Music Store and the Summerlin’s Bruce Trent Park, where the dance and art events will take place.

The opening party will take place at Gallo’s Pizza on Saturday with Kush, Bright Lights Don’t Go Dark, Running on a Red Light and Little Suze Homewrecker.

Stay tuned to LasVegasGirlFestival.com for more information on specific events as venues and performers are finalized.