Speedy Ortiz
By James Pleasant
Musicians around the United States are empowering young women to kick butt in music and eradicate gender norms and stereotypes in a typically male-dominated industry.
As part of the effort, indie-rock band Speedy Ortiz will donate an impressive 100 percent of the proceeds from their winter all-ages tour to the Girls Rock Camp Foundation— a nonprofit dedicated to providing funding for Girls Rock Camp.
Girls Rock Camps are dedicated to helping young girls develop life skills, creative expression, and collaboration through music.
As a further incentive for fans to support girls rocking out, Speedy Ortiz is also offering exclusive prizes to people who donate to the organization.: A $5 donation will give fans a free custom Speedy Ortiz poster designed by artist Michael DeForge; A $10 donation will give fans custom Speedy Ortiz nail art stickers, and a $30 donation gives fans a Speedy Ortiz print, as well as all of the aforementioned prizes.
“Girls Rock helps level the music business’ playing field by coaching girls to form bands, develop skills in engineering and technical production, and build their self-esteem along the way,” said Sadie Dupuis, Speedy Ortiz’s lead singer and guitarist. “We love the work GRCF does, and are proud to support them on this tour.”
Girls Rock Camp Foundation has supported more than 44 independently run Girls Rock Camps since its inception in 2014. Musicians such as Tegan and Sara, Beth Ditto and Bikini Kill’s Kathleen Hanna currently serve on the nonprofit’s advisory board.
Santigold
What’s more, renowned artists Santigold, Laurie Anderson and Kathleen Hanna will headline a concert on December 4 at the Roulette in Brooklyn to benefit the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls— a nonprofit organization empowering women through music education that’s unaffiliated to the aforementioned Girls Rock Camp Foundation. All proceeds from this event will go toward giving girls and trans-youth – primarily from low-income backgrounds – the opportunity to learn and express themselves through music.
Check out the Speedy Ortiz’ video for the single, “The Graduates,” off of their most recent album, Foil Deer, and find their tour dates here.
If you want to donate to Girls Rock Camp Foundation, please click here; and to give money, music gear or food to Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls, click here.