Recording: Witch Prophet

Artist: Witch Prophet

Song: Manifest

Recorded at Artscape Daniels Spectrum (Venus Fest), September 30, 2017.

Witch Prophet - Manifest

The idea of a "feminist music festival" might bring to mind an earnest folkie gathering, maybe off in a forest somewhere, but this first annual event was nothing like that, using inclusive and intersectional ideals as guideposts to programming a day of wide-ranging musics. The brainchild of local musician Aerin Fogel, Venus Fest was an ambitious undertaking, presenting a dozen performances in Daniels Spectrum's spacious multi-purpose Regent Park digs. And it all came together quite wonderfully, highlighting a diverse slate of mostly local musicians and incorporating flourishes like Vanessa Rieger's live-mixed visuals. With this first festival completed, there's a new "sessions" series starting up, and lots of energy to build on the positive vibes this day released.

The hustle never stops for Ayo Leilani and SunSun, so it was no surprise to see them playing an afternoon set of love vibes and cosmic ruminations on the very same day they were masterminding 88 Days of Fortune's all-night Nuit Blanche party in Nathan Phillips Square.

[The Venus Fest sessions series begins tonight (November 2nd) at the Gladstone Hotel, presenting sets from Tasseomancy and Dorothea Paas.]