For a great opportunity to hear some up-and-coming local artists, stop by Pressed this Friday for the launch of a new monthly music series that aims to promote young up-and-coming artists, particularly those who are queer and/or people of colour.
Poster by Brettney Young
This Friday’s show features November from Montreal, Perkolator from Peterborough, and Ottawa’s own Pith, one half of Pith & the Parenchymas.
The series, Space Jam, is being presented by Babely Shades. In their own words, Babely Shades “was created out of the need for a safer space for feminine POCs within a small local music community, in which folks of colour & marginalized genders are often underrepresented and mistreated.”
Poster by Layla Brown
In the past, Babely Shades organized 1 Girl 5 Babes, a panel on gender and racism in local music, which you can hear a recording of at their Bandcamp. The collective has big plans to organize a variety of parties and shows throughout the spring and summer, and beyond, with artists from California, New York, and elsewhere performing alongside local bands.
In April, Babely Shades and Debaser are collaborating on #DIYSPRING, a two-day mini-festival that aims “to celebrate DIY artists doin’ it themselves”.
At time of writing, Babely Shades has the following shows booked:
- March 25th, at Pressed: November, Perkolator, and Pith
- April 8th, at Zaphods: The Veldt and Everett (Day 1 of #DIYSPRING)
- April 9th, at Pressed: Melody McKiver, Ah-Mer-Ah-Su, Scary Bear Soundtrack, and AKI (Day 2 of #DIYSPRING)
- April 23rd, at Black Squirrel Books & Tea: Eekum Seekum, Towanda, and George Foreman Girl
- April 29th, at Pressed: Hua Li 化力, King Kimbit, and Seiiizmikk
