The Maine Academy of Modern Music held its 16th annual Girls Rock event at Live at Madrid’s Sunday afternoon. “During Women’s History Month, we want to celebrate women in music,” said MAMM executive director Jeff Shaw. More than 20 bands and performers took the stage, some performers covering popular songs like Valerie by Amy Winehouse, others singing originals. The area in front of the stage filled up with onlookers on their feet, cheering on the performers. Sofia, a member of the all-female band Mediocre Men, said, “It’s really fun just to show everybody what we’ve learned and what we’ve been working on, and Women’s History Month, so supporting that.” Shaw says that when he founded MAMM 18 years ago, the kids involved were mostly boys. Girls Rock was a way to get more girls involved, and he says now most of the bands in the organization are either co-ed or all-girl bands. Shaw said both his son and daughter were participating in the event. “The boys can play too, they just have to play songs by women, that’s their entry fee,” he said. “Inclusivity is the goal.”Live at Madrid’s opened in March and partnered with the MAMM, which is located just next door, to host the event. The MAMM also hosts a Girls Rock summer camp and says female and non-binary musicians of any level are welcome to join.
The Maine Academy of Modern Music held its 16th annual Girls Rock event at Live at Madrid’s Sunday afternoon.
“During Women’s History Month, we want to celebrate women in music,” said MAMM executive director Jeff Shaw.
More than 20 bands and performers took the stage, some performers covering popular songs like Valerie by Amy Winehouse, others singing originals. The area in front of the stage filled up with onlookers on their feet, cheering on the performers.
Sofia, a member of the all-female band Mediocre Men, said, “It’s really fun just to show everybody what we’ve learned and what we’ve been working on, and Women’s History Month, so supporting that.”
Shaw says that when he founded MAMM 18 years ago, the kids involved were mostly boys. Girls Rock was a way to get more girls involved, and he says now most of the bands in the organization are either co-ed or all-girl bands.
Shaw said both his son and daughter were participating in the event.
“The boys can play too, they just have to play songs by women, that’s their entry fee,” he said. “Inclusivity is the goal.”
Live at Madrid’s opened in March and partnered with the MAMM, which is located just next door, to host the event.
The MAMM also hosts a Girls Rock summer camp and says female and non-binary musicians of any level are welcome to join.