Women in Music Week puts the spotlight on female artists

Women in Music Week puts the spotlight on female artists

Women in Music Week launches Friday night.

Why it matters: Sandwiched in the middle of Huntsville's Music Month, it's an event in and of itself, highlighting and supporting the diverse and robust female music scene in the Rocket City.

The latest: At an announcement event Thursday, Alli Johnson, executive producer of WIMW and owner of Artemis Music Productions, told Axios there are so many talented artists locally it's hard to fit them all into the week.

  • The first event is Friday night, with Sippy and special guest MollyWater at Rocket City Honky Tonk.
  • See the full lineup of more than 50 artists here.

    • Zoom out: Women in Music Week, now in its eighth year, predates the Huntsville Music Office, which Johnson said helped transform WIMW from a weekend event into the weeklong showcase of talent it is today.

    Driving the news: It's a boon for artists and other industry folks, too, said Crickett Craig of Gonzo Promotions.

  • "We pay every artist for every performance every time … and the Music Office helps provide us a budget for that," she told Axios.
  • "Just last month, we got to take a 16-year-old kid to Nashville to East Iris [Studios] to record. … It changed his whole life. He now sees himself as an actual musician."

    • What they're saying: "You open up doors for artists … and that's the biggest thing," artist Dani Sings told Axios.

  • Some artists may be trying to figure out how to get their foot in the door, Sings said. WIMW and Huntsville Music Month are about connecting, not gatekeeping, she said.

    • "We are highlighting every genre this year," Johnson said. "From singer-songwriter to EDM to hip-hop to dance choreography, we have a little bit of everything for everyone."

    What we're watching: Asked which shows she's particularly looking forward to, Johnson pointed to the Girl Jam, a free, all-ages show featuring five acts from the Shoals area, set for Saturday from 5-10pm at Stovehouse.

  • She also noted Live Haus presents She Shapes Sound, an interactive singer-songwriter showcase where artists talk about their work and process, set for 6-9pm on Sept. 17 at the Rocket City Honky Tonk.