Girls Rock Philly!

First, this happened (and more, at the liveblog):

Then, this happened:

Then, this happened:

And that was Girls Rock Philly 2010!  We had our largest camp week ever, a record number of people came to our showcase at the Troc on Saturday, August 14th & we had our smoothest CD recording session so far at WXPN’s World Cafe Performance Space on Sunday, August 15th.

We’re about to crash & prepare for our 2nd annual CD release show/party on Saturday, November 6th at Johnny Brenda’s.  This is when the CDs & DVDs will first be available — after that, you’ll be able to find them on CDBaby.com along with our 2009 CD & DVD. 

But we are still collecting photos, audio & video from the Troc, so send them to info(a)girlsrockphilly.org if you’ve got any.  And check out our official camper band photos on our new 2010 photos page.  Also coming soon:  new 2010 t-shirts & onesies (!) on our merch page.

Thank you all for making GRP 2010 the most fantastic one yet!

It’s here! Camp is just about here & you can follow us on our liveblog from August 9-13!

Before camp starts on Monday, check out our camper-turned-volunteer-turned-AMAZING MUSICIAN Attia Taylor’s take on what Girls Rock Philly does for girls, women & their community:

You can buy your showcase tickets in advance or just show up!

The countdown has begun – Camp is in just TWO WEEKS! Purchase your tickets for the showcase now — it’s at the Troc on Saturday, August 14th at 1pm.

If you’re joining us for camp, email us a short profile about yourself with your first name, your instrument (DJ, drummer, singer), musical influences, and favorite way to rock out. We’ll add you here as one of our featured campers.  Send it to info(a)girlsrockphilly.org!

In the meantime, get psyched for camp by checking out some archived songs & videos.  Here are some mp3s from past showcases and here are some videos!

Just in time for camp, we’re highlighting some blogs & sites our there that focus on women in music or ARE written by musicians who just happen to be women.  Check it out:

• Jenny Woolworth’s extensive Women In Punk blog
• The official NPR blog by Carrie Brownstein from Sleater-Kinney (currently on break making music!)
• The Girls Are: reviews, news & tourdates about women making music today
• Venus Zine is more a women’s lifestyle zine, but has a ton about music 

So if you’re not coming to camp, these should help you get started learning about women in music: past & present & future! (If you are, check ‘em out anyway; you’ll be hearing plenty from these sources soon.)

(Click here to purchase showcase tickets)

Each year Girls Rock Philly embarks on a musical journey with awesome females who seek an opportunity to grow and learn together during our week long camp. Your past support has enabled us to double in size over the last three years.  Yet, now – more than ever – we need your help.

As a result of camp’s popularity and exponential growth to 80 girls this year (60% more than last year!), we have had to ensure that our budget reflects the interests and needs of our campers. Many girls are seeking scholarship aid in order to come to camp.  It is important for us to raise the funds necessary to offset costs and give them each a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The Girls Rock Philly experience is summed up best by one of our own:  

I cannot express how proud I am to be a part of Girls Rock Philly! Over the past three years of camp, I’ve seen so many transformations in the self esteem and self confidence of girls. After I left camp, I felt like I could be a musician. Regardless of my race, or my gender, or my size. Another really great thing about GRP is the respect everyone has for each other. It’s a completely safe place, where you are allowed to be just who you are and it’s accepted!

– Attia Taylor, Former Camper & Current Volunteer (who’s just self-released her debut EP)

Please consider this opportunity to support our organization.  Girls Rock Philly is committed to providing young girls and women in the greater Philadelphia area with a platform for growth and empowerment while creating music and friendships. Making a gift today will ensure that girls will rock Philly tomorrow and throughout the coming years.  We appreciate your support of our mission now and in the future.

For all that you have done, and for what you will continue to do in support of Girls Rock Philly, thank you. You rock!

All right, we’re back. Where did we go, you ask?

To Ladies Rock Camp! Check out our full album of pictures on Facebook & thanks so much to the Foster Pups & the Late Bloomers for rocking with us. You can listen to the Foster Pups’ new song here and the Late Bloomers’ new song here.

OR just watch these videos:

June is when we go back underground to prep for CAMP WEEK 2010: training volunteers, ordering t-shirts, getting our gear & food together, and arranging our showcase at the Trocadero on August 14.

If you have a gear loan or donation to make, contact our gear coordinator. Or if you’d like to donate food, contact our food coordinator & thank you so much!

Girls Rock Philly is still 3 months from the COMPLETELY FILLED Girls Camp 2010. 

But May is, in many ways, our biggest month EVER.  Why, you ask?

• Ladies Rock Camp on Memorial Day Weekend 2010!  Come to the showcase at Tritone on Monday, May 31!

• On Wednesday, May 12th,  Women’s Way awarded Girls Rock Philly & GRP Director Beth Warshaw-Duncan its Powerful Voices Award.  It’s GRP’s first big honor & we are thrilled to celebrate — especially since we got to meet both Mayor Nutter & the Director of the White House Council on Women and Girls. 

• On May 14-15, we had a rock n’ roll slumber party with Rock N’ Roll After School!  Check out the pictures on Facebook & if you’re out in the Phoenixville area, check out R&RAS!

• On Saturday, May 22nd, GRP held a VOLUNTEER MEET & GREET at our tent in the Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby/Trenton Avenue Arts Fest.  If you haven’t yet, sign up now for camp 2010!

Girls Rock Philly’s camp for 2010  is 100% full!   We filled up our largest camp week ever in exactly 2 months, so THANK YOU for your record-breaking interest.   

Still need your fix of rock?  Over 19?  We’ve got Ladies Rock Camp happening on Memorial Day Weekend.

• On Saturday, April 10th, GRP was an in-kind sponsor of the Uniquely You Summit at Springside School in Philadelphia!  This meant GRP camper DJs & volunteers to answer questions & tell you about our program.  Thanks to them all & our camper DJs Maura, Jenn & Candice!
• On Friday, April 16, Sugar Town threw a benefit show for GRP!  Thanks to them for their support & thanks to the audiences & bands who played — we had a great time!
• On Saturday, April 17th, (doors at 7pm) Girls Rock Philly were at LOVE IT: CELEBRATING TEN PLACES WE WANT YOU TO LOVE, celebrating our inclusion on a MURAL.  Thanks to your texting, we won a prize (which is not a car, but still awesome). 
• On Saturday, April 24, GRP repped at the Fishtown Shadfest & had a great time!
• And on May 14-15, check out this combined party we’re holding with Rock N’ Roll After School!  More details on Facebook or just sign up for the fun at R&RAS.

It’s not even spring yet, but Girls Rock Philly is busting out all over the area!  We’ll be filling  some gaps with even more spring programming and appearances, but here are some notable events to get you started:

• On Tuesday, March 2nd, GRP was the recipient of an oversized check from the amazing, sold out IgnitePhilly 5!  Thanks to all of them & to Johnny Brenda’s for hosting – the proceeds are enough for 3 camper scholarships! 

• Tuesday, March 23rd, the Women’s Studies program screened Girls Rock! at the University of Delaware’s Women’s History Month film series.  GRP director Beth spoke afterwards, as well as Kristin Thomson from the Future of Music Coalition.  (If you couldn’t make it, you should definitely catch the documentary on Netflix instant or at your local video store.)

• Saturday, April 24, GRP will be representing at the Fishtown Shad Fest again!  Meet us, greet us, and sign in person for Ladies Rock Camp & Girls Rock Philly 2010 as a camper or volunteer.

• May 29-31 is Ladies Rock Camp & we still have spots available! Apply online here.  How could you not after checking out this sweet stop-motion video about it?

• GRP 2010 is filling briskly, so make sure you reserve your place by applying online or printing out your application & mailing it in. See you this summer!

Applications for GRP 2010, from August 9-14, are up online NOW. We’re taking 80 campers, so tell all your friends! Remember, there is now a 7th day of camp — recording a CD — on Sunday, August 15th!