Music, dance, theater, visual arts, comedy--they are all part of what defines GRRRLZ ROCK! Served up together, they unite our community in support of equality, empowerment and good old fashioned rock n roll!

Now in its fourth year, GRRRLZ ROCK continues to grow, rounding out its concert series with a tantalizing potluck of other powerful, focused and exciting events, encouraging intelligent discourse on gender, safety, sexuality, health, happiness and good times for women of all ages.

Join the feast and celebrate the message: GRRRLZ really do ROCK!

GRRRLZ Rock! Festival a Success!
The month-long 2009 GRRRLZ ROCK! Festival was a huge success. It didn’t make a lot of money; but a sizeable donation was collected on behalf of Sexual Assault Support Services and that is something all festival participants can feel good about. In addition, this year’s festival drew support from both Mayor of Eugene Kitty Piercy and the Lane County Commissioners who publicly proclaimed November “Grrrlz Rock! Month.” Success is also measured in the diversity of events in this year’s festival. Participants attended a variety of live music events, as well as open house events, feminist education, theatre, potluck, art workshops, film screening and discussion, comedy festival and Trans Awareness Week events – all of which were well received by the community. We are proud to have offered this year’s lineup of events and look forward to next year’s GRRRLZ ROCK! Festival. This report is to briefly outline some basic facts and goals for future GRRRLZ ROCK! events.

Where does the money come from, and where does it go?
Months prior to the GRRRLZ ROCK! events, Cindy Ingram looked to the community for sponsorship. This year she had fundraising help from inspiring promoter and musician, Matrisha Armitage. These sponsorships ranged from $250 to $1,500. There were also several sponsorship packages that included partial in-kind contribution of services and reduction of fees, such as graphic design work. In addition to sponsorships, GRRRLZ ROCK! obtained grant funding from The Lane Arts Council, Human Rights Commission and the Oregon Country Fair Board of Directors. The funds raised from sponsorship and grants covered the cost of pre-event printing, advertising and promotion.

Each performing act (excluding a few which were under contract with sponsoring venue/manager) received $75 for their 30-45 min. set, a bandana with their act’s name on it, and a VIP pass for each individual within the act. Some acts are solo performers while others have up to 50 performers such as the Breakdown Dance Company. Each act, regardless of size, age or experience are paid exactly the same. (Each VIP Pass had a value of $107.)

Historical Facts for the Festival’s Growth

What are some other facts about the 2009 Grrrlz Rock Series?
There were 60 performing acts within the series

• Over 400 individuals participating
• 33 sponsors/funders
• 33 volunteers/interns
• 28 events
• 21 venues
• 500 VIP Passes were distributed to all performers, sponsors, media and volunteers
• 500 bandanas were given away to all performers, sponsors, media and volunteers
• Advertising/promotion for the festival included posters, fliers, stickers, bandanas, banners; KWVA, KRVM, KLCC; Eugene Weekly, Register Guard, Oregon Daily Emerald, Siren Nation Program; Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, traditional website and blog, YouTube and various other media outlets.

Goals for the future?
The GRRRLZ ROCK! Festival has grown tremendously, and creator and coordinator, Cindy Ingram now runs the month-long festival with a cadre of individuals who volunteer their time and talents to make everything a success. For example, several community members took on responsibility for particular components of the festival (i.e., graphic design, publicity, writing, promotions, securing sponsorships, etc.). Cindy will continue to take steps back and provide opportunities for other amazing women to find leadership and success.

Looking forward to 2010, GRRRLZ ROCK! will also continue to grow in accordance with its mission: To engage and stimulate the community in the creation of a month-long festival consisting of events inviting everyone to celebrate, support, empower and expand the success of women as an underrepresented and often marginalized population. As such, the festival will have a focus on women in leadership/ building new leaders. While GRRRLZ ROCK! will continue to celebrate the contributions women make in the local arts, 2010 will address how we attract and support future generations of women in the arts.

In 2010, more volunteers will be needed to continue the growth of this important festival celebrating the contributions of women in the local arts. If you are interested in volunteering your time to run the GRRRLZ ROCK! 2010 series, or would like to learn more about performing, sponsoring or promoting this unique month-long festival, please contact Cindy Ingram at awecindy@efn.org. We would love your help.

GRRRLZ ROCK! wishes to extend sincere thanks to the 33 interns/volunteers, to the local artists and venues who gave their time and talents to support the festival, and finally to the following community organizations from whom GRRRLZ ROCK! received significant financial and in-kind contributions:

Grrrlz Rock is a benefit for SASS!
Sexual Assault Support Services of Lane County is a non-profit organization providing community education, outreach, advocacy and support to survivors of sexual violence and their families. SASS advocates listen, believe, support, accompany, offer information and referrals and provide peer counseling to survivors of assault past and present. Visit the SASS site -->> Learn more about SASS Event -->>

Grrrlz Rock Festival Guide
Don't miss the Festival Guide with all the information you need to know to attend all of the Grrrlz Rock Events.
Click here to download festival pdf -->>

Community Potluck and Family Karaoke Night
Donations of food for the Community Potluck and Family Karaoke event are greatly appreciated. Yes, individuals and families are encouraged to bring a dish to share, but restaurants, caterers, and local food businesses of any kind are encouraged to share as well. We'd love to ensure that there is enough food to go around. Can you help? Please contact Cindy at awecindy@efn.org for more info.

Also, limited vendor/non profit tabling space is also available. Would you like to sell your creafts? Educate the community about your projects? We'd love for you to join the party!
Read more information here -->>

Got Radio?
Be sure to tune into you favorite local stations (KWVA, KRVM and KLCC) to catch a series of Grrrlz Rock live performances and interviews!

• Thursday Nov. 5th, 5pm: KWVA Rabbit Hole radio w/DJ Kellsj: Circa Vitae
• Thursday Nov. 12th, 11am: KLCC with Michael Canning: Cindy Ingram and Savanna Coen
• Thursday Nov. 12th, 5pm: KWVA Rabbit Hole radio w/DJ Kellsj: The Dead Americans
• Friday Nov. 13th, 3pm: KRVM with Dj Adam: Bajuana Tea
• Sunday Nov. 15th, 6pm: KRVM with Rockin' Rome: Halie Loren
• Thursday Nov. 19th, 5pm: KWVA Rabbit Hole radio w/DJ Kellsj: Crooked River
• Friday Nov. 20th, 3pm: KRVM with Dj Adam: Melissa Ruth (tentative)
• Sunday Nov. 22th, 6pm: KRVM with Rockin' Rome: The Beat Crunchers
• Thursday Nov. 26th, 5pm: KWVA Rabbit Hole radio w/DJ Kellsj: The T-Club (tenative)

All Over Lane County, Baby!
It’s official! The Board of Lane County Commissioners’ public meeting on October 20th has declared that all residents of Lane County are encouraged to celebrate the month-long festival that is out very own Grrrlz Rock! Eugene Mayor, Kitty Piercy, led the way and Lane County Commissioner Pete Sorrenson followed suite… a unanimous vote resulted in the official proclamation that the month of November is “Grrrlz Rock month” for all of Lane!!

Here (click play video in upper right) is the incredibly long, incredibly boring Lane County Commissioner’s web cast of the meeting. (You can fast forward this video to 1:45h to cut to the chase.) The conversation is a bit hilarious! I don’t want to ruin it for you… you’ll appreciate the formality and basic exploration into language of equality. Yes, it’s true, women really DON’T like to be called girls. That’s belittling. : )

Grrrlz Rock is very proud to accept and thank the Lane County Commissioners support and solidarity!

Official 2009 Grrrlz Rock Bandannas on sale NOW!
Get them quick before they are long gone! $5 each

2009 Poster Out! Click to View!

What's a VIP Pass?