ASL Interpreter Team
Alli Kisker |
Kayla Cardenas |
Alli Kisker has been a Sign Language Interpreter for the past 11 years and festival interpreting is her favorite. She joins us from Columbus, Ohio where she lives with her family. When she's not working, Alli loves to be outside near water or playing in the garden.
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Kayla Cardenas has been in the interpreting community since 2011, mostly doing stage work and events. She lives in Columbus, Ohio with her girlfriend and two cats, enjoys going to festivals, and camping whenever possible. Her cat’s hashtag is #walterthumbcat and he’s pretty rad.
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Emily Kimmel-Kurtz |
Sunny Pfifferling-Irons |
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Emily Kimmel-Kurtz has been a Sign Language Interpreter for the last 8 years. Emily and her son Ezra live in the Kalamazoo area with their beloved cat Jazmine. When Emily is not working she enjoys playing at the park with her son, going on walks, and gardening.
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Sunny Pfifferling-Irons has been interpreting professionally for 25 years. You name it, she’s probably interpreted it. She and her wife and daughter live on a small farm in Goshen, Indiana where she loves to garden, ride her horse and make maple syrup.
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2022
Year of the Owl
Musicians & Performers
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E. Nina Jay
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E nina jay-Saturday 6pm
e nina jay describes herself as “a Black, Lesbian, Womon, Writer who uses poetry as a tool of survival and to break silences around all forms of violence against gurls and womyn, with particular focus on the intersections of race, sexuality, and poverty. As a survivor of incest and rape, I believe womyn and gurls can create a powerful community to fight against the violence and constant degradation that weaves itself into every facet of our lives, by breaking silences and unraveling shame.” She has recently completed a 98-minute film called body of rooms, which features e. nina performing poetry and spoken word from her book of the same name. The film was shot in the summer of 2017 – before the #MeToo movement reached critical mass. |
Karina Iglesias |
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Hailing from Miami, Karina Iglesias brings forth innovation and a much-needed return to the authenticity of pure soul music. Combining gospel, boleros, hip hop and R & B, she uses her artistic vision and rich cultural background and a wide range of production techniques to reveal character and vulnerability. Karina has also been featured on Univision’s Mira Quien Baila, sharing the stage with Latin artists Beatriz Luengo, Alejandra Guzmán and Gilberto Santa Rosa. In 2013, Karina was a contestant on The Voice, making it to the Top 16.
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Summer Osborne |
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Gaye Adegbalola
Sunday 2pm workshop at L2L Lounge, Sunday, 5pm performance Gaye Todd Adegbalola, a Blues Music Award winner, is best known musically as a founding member of Saffire – The Uppity Blues Women (1984 – 2009). Prior to becoming a full-time blues artist, Gaye was a science teacher in the Fredericksburg City Public School system for 18 years and was honored as Virginia State Teacher of the Year in 1982. Throughout her teaching career, she directed Harambee 360º Experimental Theater —where she was able to creatively use performance as a tool to assist black youth in gaining confidence as they struggled with identity issues during the spread of desegregation. |
During this same period, she nurtured her love of the blues.
Unable to get by on a teacher’s income, she began moonlighting in local clubs and her love of the blues soon grew into a full-time career with Saffire – the Uppity Blues Women. Saffire ended in November 2009, after making music together for 25 years. |
Southern Indiana Taiko Drummers
Saturday, 4pm
Southern Indiana Taiko is the only all-female performance taiko group in the Midwest and much of the United States.
They deliver empowering, high-energy shows and workshops of drumming, choreographed movement, and kiai (shouts of energy and encouragement) at festivals, corporate functions, marathons, schools, libraries, and private venues.
They travel and perform year-round throughout the Midwest. Before the Pandemic, they traveled to Japan and conferences in North America to study taiko from Japanese masters with other taiko enthusiasts from around the world
They deliver empowering, high-energy shows and workshops of drumming, choreographed movement, and kiai (shouts of energy and encouragement) at festivals, corporate functions, marathons, schools, libraries, and private venues.
They travel and perform year-round throughout the Midwest. Before the Pandemic, they traveled to Japan and conferences in North America to study taiko from Japanese masters with other taiko enthusiasts from around the world
DJ Fudgie |
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Antionette King-Short aka DJ Fudgie, lives in Lansing with her beautiful wife Shalen and three amazing little humans. Olivia, Etta, and Oliver. Antionette and Shalen are foster parents for Child and Family Charities, and we're the 2nd couple in the State of Michigan to be married in 2014. This will be Dj Fudgie's 3rd year joining MFR's entertainment stage. She formally served on the Michigan Pride board for 5 years and continues to serve and volunteer for Michigan's LGBTQ+ community.
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MURRAY Stewart-Jones Experience
Our surprise superstar, Murray, wow'd MFR festies with her smooth voice and nimble fingers! Watch for her return to MFR 2022: Year of the Owl! |
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STELLA!
STELLA!
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In fall 2017, Julianna Wilson (The Springtails) took over as the newest member of the band, replacing Laura Ann Bates on upright bass and completing the current band’s line-up. |
Rodasi, High Priestess |
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Hello !
I’m Rodasi. Also a mom- two girls still in the home ages -15 & 5. My studies have been in yogic sciences, Asian healing arts and women’s spirituality. I am also a sober woman. I am a monk and teach for the international organization I took vows and study with known as the Bright Path. I’ve been a student of that meditative practice and yoga since 1999. I am a high priestess in a Magdalene lineage - I’ve been walking the path of shamanic priestess witch since 2003. I do Spiritual Advising, Coaching and Shiatsu/Energy work and teach for a living. I am also an author as of last year. Again - honored to get to be here |
Karisa Wilson |
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Karisa Wilson is an award-winning singer-songwriter from Michigan. Her debut album "Little Girl" won WYCE's prestigious JAMMIE for Album of the Year. Karisa writes and performs a blend of Indie Folk, Jazz and Blues. She's also a classically trained violinist.
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Felecia Cruz Saturday 9pm
World traveling creator Felecia Cruz has played over seventeen hundred shows and implemented more than ninety workshops in nine countries. Her sound is a high energy, confidence building mash up of pop, hip-hop and dancehall that you can’t help but sway to. Cruz is vivacious, her lyrics are straight from her guts and she can freestyle over any beat for hours.
Felecia Cruz recently opened for Rah Digga as well as The 3 Chambers Tour (Gza, Ghostface and Raekwon) in Hampton, NH and Portland, ME.
FC was a SXSW 2022 official international artist. Her new EP “Ease” arrives in all places May 3, 2022 as she continues to follow the path paved for her.
Felecia Cruz’s debut EP “Me” arrived on all platforms January 3, 2022. "Me" and was exclusively powered by Mind, Body & Soul from Windham, ME linktr.ee/feleciacruz
No Good Babies—Friday, 9 pm
"10 Best Concerts of the Week"
Stefanie Lazcano and Chelsey Danielle put together their side project No Good Babies, equal parts prog rock, glam rock and psych rock. - Dallas Observer
"10 Best Concerts of the Week"
Stefanie Lazcano and Chelsey Danielle put together their side project No Good Babies, equal parts prog rock, glam rock and psych rock. - Dallas Observer
Jamie Anderson–Friday, 4pm
Singer-songwriter Jamie Anderson has played her unique original songs in hundreds of venues in four countries. She’s a multi-instrumentalist who’s folk without the Birkenstocks, country without the big hair and jazz without the angst. Her twelve recordings include the recently released EP Songs from Home, with music written during the pandemic where she and her engineer play all the instruments. Songs range from the serious “Six Feet Away” to the tongue-in-cheek “Marry Me,” where she professes undying love for Rachel Maddow. Jamie’s also a music teacher with 65,000 subscribers for her YouTube channel. And because she gets bored easily, Jamie is the author of three books, including one about women’s music of the 70s and 80s, An Army of Lovers, and her newest, Drive All Day. www.youtube.com/c/JamieAndersonMusic
Singer-songwriter Jamie Anderson has played her unique original songs in hundreds of venues in four countries. She’s a multi-instrumentalist who’s folk without the Birkenstocks, country without the big hair and jazz without the angst. Her twelve recordings include the recently released EP Songs from Home, with music written during the pandemic where she and her engineer play all the instruments. Songs range from the serious “Six Feet Away” to the tongue-in-cheek “Marry Me,” where she professes undying love for Rachel Maddow. Jamie’s also a music teacher with 65,000 subscribers for her YouTube channel. And because she gets bored easily, Jamie is the author of three books, including one about women’s music of the 70s and 80s, An Army of Lovers, and her newest, Drive All Day. www.youtube.com/c/JamieAndersonMusic
Summer Osborne--Sunday, 3pm
Summer Osborne
Cowboy Jen–Saturday, 4pm
Jen “CowboyJen” Rowray is a 54 YO butch lesbian from the rural Midwest who is passionate about cultivating and nurturing intergenerational friendships between lesbians of many ages and backgrounds.
As a young lesbian she needed to see other like her, and not like her, to meet and share stories with others who had been where she was.
She got that from intergenerational friendship groups and from festival.
She wants that for other lesbians, young ones to elders.
She uses humor and storytelling on her social media, TikTok, Tumblr, Instagram, and yes, even Facebook to form those those connections with the ultimate goal of networking across generations and regions so lesbians can meet, share, learn and teach each other.
The more lesbians we meet, the more we realize there is not one way to be a lesbian and we are not alone.
Jen “CowboyJen” Rowray is a 54 YO butch lesbian from the rural Midwest who is passionate about cultivating and nurturing intergenerational friendships between lesbians of many ages and backgrounds.
As a young lesbian she needed to see other like her, and not like her, to meet and share stories with others who had been where she was.
She got that from intergenerational friendship groups and from festival.
She wants that for other lesbians, young ones to elders.
She uses humor and storytelling on her social media, TikTok, Tumblr, Instagram, and yes, even Facebook to form those those connections with the ultimate goal of networking across generations and regions so lesbians can meet, share, learn and teach each other.
The more lesbians we meet, the more we realize there is not one way to be a lesbian and we are not alone.
Amor y Luz—Sunday, 4 pm
The creation of Amy Vitro (flute, clarinet, guitar, ukulele, percussion, vocals) and Kutasha Silva (lead vocals and cello) sits on the border of classical music and freer territories that speak of love and light.
Using their Czech-Italian-Spanish-American and Irish-Afro Puerto Rican backgrounds to explore music, they fuse classical and Latin American music that is as lovely as it is intimate.
Through performance, the classical crossover duo aims to inspire intercultural dialogue and educate audiences with the extensive contributions of women composers throughout the Americas.
After three years of living in separate states, Amor y Luz is thrilled to finally be in one zip code and looks forward to sharing their music extensively throughout stages in the Washington D.C area and beyond.
Using their Czech-Italian-Spanish-American and Irish-Afro Puerto Rican backgrounds to explore music, they fuse classical and Latin American music that is as lovely as it is intimate.
Through performance, the classical crossover duo aims to inspire intercultural dialogue and educate audiences with the extensive contributions of women composers throughout the Americas.
After three years of living in separate states, Amor y Luz is thrilled to finally be in one zip code and looks forward to sharing their music extensively throughout stages in the Washington D.C area and beyond.
Friday, August 5, 2022
Mistress of Ceremony: Summer Osborne
4:00 PM Jamie Anderson
5:00 PM Opening Ceremony with
Priestess Rodasi
6:00 PM Sally Potter
7:00 PM Karisa Sprite
8:00 PM Renee Janske & Friends
9:00 PM No Good Babies
10:00 PM DJ Fudgie Dance at L2L Lounge
4:00 PM Jamie Anderson
5:00 PM Opening Ceremony with
Priestess Rodasi
6:00 PM Sally Potter
7:00 PM Karisa Sprite
8:00 PM Renee Janske & Friends
9:00 PM No Good Babies
10:00 PM DJ Fudgie Dance at L2L Lounge
Saturday, August 6, 2022
Mistress of Ceremony: Summer Osborne
3:00 PM Southern Indiana Taiko Drummers
4:00 PM Cowboy Jen
5:00 PM Journee!
6:00 PM e nina j
7:00 PM Lexy Dunn
8:00 PM Karina Iglesias
9:00 PM Felecia Cruz
10:00 PM Dance with DJ Fudgie in L2L Lounge
3:00 PM Southern Indiana Taiko Drummers
4:00 PM Cowboy Jen
5:00 PM Journee!
6:00 PM e nina j
7:00 PM Lexy Dunn
8:00 PM Karina Iglesias
9:00 PM Felecia Cruz
10:00 PM Dance with DJ Fudgie in L2L Lounge
Sunday, August 7, 2022
Mistress of Ceremonies: Jamie Anderson
3:00 PM Summer Osborne
4:00 PM Amor y Luz with
Amy Vitro & Kutasha
5:00 PM Gaye Adegbalola
6:00 PM Open Mic
7:00 PM Stella!
8:00 PM Murray Stewart-Jones Experience
9:00 PM Closing ceremony with Priestess Rodasi
10:00 PM
3:00 PM Summer Osborne
4:00 PM Amor y Luz with
Amy Vitro & Kutasha
5:00 PM Gaye Adegbalola
6:00 PM Open Mic
7:00 PM Stella!
8:00 PM Murray Stewart-Jones Experience
9:00 PM Closing ceremony with Priestess Rodasi
10:00 PM