Womxn & Blues: Resistance Revolution

Womxn & Blues is kicking off another season with songs of Resistance & Revolution! Dig into the roots of American protest music. 

Featuring:

Aline Vida
Amber Flame
Briar
Carly Toyer
Tamika Alston

With a voice that resonates with the depth of richly cultivated artistry, Aline Vida’s sound seamlessly melds the acoustic resonance and richness of soul with the vibrant energy of rock 'n' roll. Originally from California and an alumnus of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles, Aline's musical odyssey has spanned continents, from the lively stages of Sweden to prestigious venues in New York like B.B. King’s Blues Club and the Lenox Lounge. Known for her compelling live performances on air in Seattle on stations such as KSER, KBCS, and KBFG, Aline also gained recognition when her track "Secrets and Lies" was featured in the Emmy-nominated TV series "Justified." Viewing each achievement as a vital step in her ongoing musical voyage, Aline continues to captivate audiences in Seattle with a voice that echoes the legendary tones of Etta James, Amy Winehouse, and Tina Turner, bringing a distinctive fusion to her performances. She is also half of the music duo Aline & Wes. Explore her musical world at www.alinevida.com.

Amber Flame is a multi-genre writer and interdisciplinary artist and educator. Flame is author of poetry collections Ordinary Cruelty and apocrifa, and deputy publisher and cofounder of Generous Press. Flame serves as program director for Hedgebrook and tours as singer/songwriter of original blues band, Last of the RedHot Mamas.

Briar Sings. Raised in Chimacum, Washington, her forebears hail from Ireland and Germanic Europe. She is the descendant of African slaves brought to America, out of Nigeria and from the Southern Banto People. Gifted with the ability to connect with her ancestors and convey their messages through song, Briar grounds herself in the knowledge that everything is not always as it seems. Through her gift of song she is reminded that in order to help others heal, we must first love ourselves. This is what she holds onto when singing with her family, community or performing onstage.

As a young San Diegan, Carly Toyer practiced vocal scales while boogie boarding, spent summers being a musical theatre camp counselor, and brought home plastic clamshell CD discographies from their job at the city library. After their college days investigating Gender Studies and touring in a DIY band, Carly settled into Seattle to spend nearly 10 years as an all-ages music educator and a youth summer camp director. A passionate advocate for self-love, community-care, and self-expression, Carly is proud to co-manage the many programs at Rain City Rock Camp that bridge the gap between making music and liberating your heart. You can catch them shredding guitar and keys in KaraoShe, or in their kitchen listening to comedy podcasts and making onigiri.

Tamika Alston’s powerhouse vocals leads Moxie, a band that riffs on the tradition of heavy groove, soul, blues, rock, and jazz, covering an eclectic mix of solid hits from the sixties to the twenties. Tamika has performed the National Anthem for the Huskies, Kraken, and Silvertips and she is a vocal teacher for School of Rock.