 | Michelle Tea
at Decibelle |
What started as Estrojam six years ago, has transformed and transpired into the Decibelle Music & Culture Festival. While Estrojam is still the not-for-profit social justice music revolution and organization it has always been, Decibelle has become the new name for the actual music and culture festival.
This year, the Decibelle Music and Culture Festival continues to not only challenge gender stereotypes within the music industry, but they’re raising issues of and questioning what it means to be a woman, a feminist, an artist, and an activist.
As women are vastly underrepresented in the music industry (and practically everywhere else as well), Decibelle inspires and encourages all types of women to become involved in the creative arts. Along with different workshops in which participants can learn music industry skills (such as how to DJ, or how to get started in the music business), each performer at Decibelle has challenged gender stereotypes and succeeded in the music world in her or his own way.
Jasper James, for example, is a queer funk/soul artist from San Francisco who holds firm to the notion that true transformation of the world around you begins with one's own existence. Refusing binary gender definitions is just one of the many political statements Jasper uses to combat the current insurgence of puritanical mindset occurring throughout our culture today. These are the issues that Jasper sings about and brings to every one of her songs. Politics, activism, and entertainment truly become one in the same thing at Decibelle.
But the Decibelle Music and Culture Festival is not just all about politics and refusing stereotypes. It’s also about having a damn good time. From bigger names like Miss Kittin and Lady Tigra, to local musicians such as Martha Berner and (feisty 16 year old!) Kelsey Monanez, the festival is going to be a five-day music party. And when the musicians are taking a break, and getting ready for the next show, there’s also going to be non-music events that combine the same mix of entertainment and activism. There is going to be a (first ever) feminist pubquiz, a premiere of the film “The Gits”, a literary night with the queen of queer girl literature, Michelle Tea and the rising star of fierce feminist art and literature, Cristy Road, as well as a visual arts showing. Check out the schedule posted here at dykediva, or www.decibelle.org for a complete listing.
One final reason why Decibelle is the music festival not to be missed this year, is that the festival not only provides our community with some great entertainment for the week, but it also gives back to organizations that need to continue to thrive in our community. As in the past, Decibelle has partnered up with two other non-profit organizations in order to bring awareness to social issues that affect women.
This year, The Young Women’s Empowerment Project (YWEP) and the FAIR Fund are the beneficiaries. YWEP is a local Chicago organization that offers safe, respectful, and free-of-judgment spaces for girls and young women who are affected by street economies and the sex trade to recognize their goals, dreams, and desires. FAIR Fund, Decibelle’s other beneficiary this year, works internationally to engage youth, especially young women, in civil society in the areas of anti-human trafficking, domestic violence and sexual assault prevention, and the development of youth capacity-building programs. A portion of the ticket sales from Decibelle this year will benefit these two organizations. But aside from funds, the organizations will also have tables set up at some of Decibelle’s shows to distribute information about their organization and to raise awareness around these issues.
The Decibelle Music & Culture Festival has become one of the hottest festivals in Chicago, and through all of its success it has still continued to fight for the issues that our community knows are important. Attending and supporting the festival is not only incredibly amazing and fun, but it’s finding and supporting the safe spaces that we fight for and cherish in our community.
--Chelsey Clammer |
