Mama Swan and her flock of Swans All photography by 6 year SWAN, Lisa Sanchez Gonzalez, aka lsg original photography. |
On March 5th, at Trinity on Main in New Britain, some of Connecticut’s most talented women will converge for a show like no other, SWAN DAY. Swan is an acronym for Support Women Artists Now. Now in its ninth year, SWAN DAY is the first, and only, all female festival of music and arts in Connecticut. Jennifer Hill aka The Murderous Chanteuse, is a Connecticut native, and an award winning singer songwriter, music teacher, and the driving force that brought SWAN DAY to Connecticut nine years ago.
While searching for grants for both her music and her students, she found a non profit organization called Women Arts. “WomenArts works to empower, celebrate and support an international network of women artists with SWAN Day and more.” www.WomenArts.org. Just as Hill was exploring ideas to produce a show and gain support, WomenArts wanted to start a holiday to celebrate women in the arts. So Jennifer wrote to Martha Richards, one of the founders of WomenArts, to see if she could get support to produce a music, art, and burlesque SWAN DAY. At the time there were only film and theater SWANS. “I wrote to Martha, and told her I love what you’re are doing! Would it still be a SWAN event if we featured bands, burlesque, and art. And she said yes! We’ve never had anyone do something like that. So I became the first person to produce a SWAN DAY of this kind,” explained Hill.
Jennifer Hill aka The Murderous Chanteuse |
Richards made trips to Connecticut from California to brainstorm with Hill and soon SWAN DAY CT became one of the Super Swans. Super Swans are recognized for producing successful shows and making an impact in their communities. In 2015 SWAN DAY CT came in 2nd for Best Charity Event, and was nominated for Best Annual Festival. SWAN DAY occurs during the month of March all over the United States, as well as internationally. This year, SWAN DAY CT, has again been nominated for Best Annual Festival by Hartford Magazine. With 17 bands, two stages, artists, and burlesque, SWAN DAY CT is a show like no other. Jennifer Jacobs is a fifth year Swan, and is the woman behind Bad Bunny a line of handmade clothing, lingerie and accessories. Jacobs is best know for her custom pasties, that captured the attention Miley Cyrus, who is a client.
Victoria Van Layer |
The music lineup is stellar with a variety of sounds, from Jazz with Nicki Mathis opening the show to hard rock, electric blues, deviant pop, electric rock, folk rock, and more. Jennifer Hill aka The Murderous Chanteuse has a powerful voice and stage presence. She climbs on her piano stool while she sings, and them jumps back to the keys to pound the piano. Chaser 8, an original hard rock band lead by the dynamic and energetic Audra Ciarleglio is on fire with electric hard rock and screaming vocals, has been nominated for Best In State - CT, for The New England Music Awards. The Huffington Post premiered their video, “Step Into the Light”. Someone You Can Xray, led by the Dana Newman just released their first album, “Like Minded Fools”, in the fall of 2015. Xray, as their fans like to call them, always gets the party moving with electric blues and funk. Erika Lynn a multi talented visual and tattoo artist, as well as a singer songwriter, with a sultry blues voice, and lyrics that leave you wanting more. JCherry poet, singer songwriter, has her own style of funky blues and rock, with a dynamic voice and provocative lyrics. Nan Roy ignites the stage with her style of electric Rock. Also on the line up, Them Dam Hamiltons, Dina Bass, Post Modern Panic, I am Snow Angle, The Girls From Ruby Falls, That Virginia, Kiersten Seiser, Kala Farnham, and Canyon.
JCherry
New to SWAN DAY this year will be a fashion show led by Dj Breakadawn the sound mistress of the evening. With design collections by Blissninja, Bad Bunny, Costume Designs by Ebony Amber Parish. The ladies of Burlesque will be back with their enchanting and sexy style, Victoria Van Layer, Mistress Leona Star, Vivienne LaFlamme, Vanil LaFrappe. Live art painting by Kerry Kennedy. The lovely Danielle Duncan will be performing amazing hula hoop acrobatics. This year’s SWAN DAY poster and back drop was painted by Claire Cronchite. All photography by lsg original photography. This year’s EMCEE Ebony Amber of Ebony Amber Cosplay, and Darcy, producer and host of the Hot Spot airing on WAPJ, Torrington, will be hosting the nights two stages. Both stages run separately so everyone can catch all the happenings of the evening. The show is for everyone 21 and over. Tickets can be found at SWAN DAY TICKETS . Fast Track will be available till 12:45 am, so you don’t have to worry about driving. For more information on the FastTrack route visit www.ctfastrack.com. Nora Cupcakes and an array of local female vendors selling art, jewelry, and more will be there too. The doors open at Trinity on Main at 5:45 PM, Trinity On Main
Claire Cronchite. |
With passion and vision, Jennifer Hill has built CT SWAN DAY into a unique festival celebrating women for nine incredible years! The day doesn’t just end, it continues throughout the year for the many women artists that meet and connect. Once a Swan always a Swan, blossoms into a network of artists that can last a lifetime, and change the world for women in the arts.