Press Contact LADYFEST PARIS : Amandine SEPULCRE (FR) / Chri PERCY (EN) Ladyfestparis2011@hotmail.co.

uk

LADYFEST, MISSION AND LEGACY

LADYFEST PARIS 2011 is the first Parisian edition of an independent, non-profit, feminist arts festival that aims to:

1. Provide an original platform for established and emerging artists, comedians, musicians, filmmakers, thinkers, performers, writers, poets, and more. 2. Highlight the continuing social, political and artistic impact and influence of DIY culture. 3. Continue to identify and engage with global feminism and acknowledge our roots in diverse and inclusive counter-cultures. 4. Promote and develop participation and voluntary action as tools to empower individuals and communities. 5. Challenge established ideals, perceptions and boundaries through a certain transgressive activism.

The first Ladyfest, initiated by the Riot Grrl movement, took place in Olympia in 2000. Since then, New York, Berlin, Glasgow, London, Monterrey, Sydney, Singapore, Manchester, Toronto, Nantes, Amsterdam, Toulouse and hundreds other cities of all sizes around the world have organized their own Ladyfests.

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Yet until now, there has never been one in Paris ...

While our festival is set up independently of other Ladyfests, we want to keep in mind their success and add a Parisian chapter to the Ladyfest legacy alongside other cultures. We aim to make this first edition of Ladyfest Paris as memorable as all those other cities before it, through its culture, its history and, of course, its formidable feminist icons. Our festival is open to all. It makes no distinction of gender, age, race, religion or class and opposes all forms of discrimination.

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LADYFEST PARIS 2011

LADYFEST PARIS will take place on July 2nd and 3rd in Paris.

July 2nd: Opening Concert at Caf de la Dance + After Party at The Motel (19:00-2H)

This will be a co-production with the venue Caf de la Danse, which is set in the bustling Bastille quartier and has been entertaining and providing live music to the local Parisian community for the last 20 years with its resolutely independent programming and quality. The evening concert will open the weekends Ladyfest Paris events at 19:00pm, with an eclectic live display of four French and international bands as well as an independent DJ set at The Motel which will be the After Party to the evening festivities. It is an honour for us to have secured all these amazing artists for this years LADYFEST PARIS. It is equally an honour for the artists themselves to be part of this very first edition of Ladyfest here in France's capital. Tickets are now available (22 without booking fees) for this fantastic host of performers and are available from FNAC, CARREFOUR, DigiTick and other similar pre-sale outlets.

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TERRY POISON (ISRAEL)

Often described as the Tarantino of Pop, Terry Poison have risen from the sweaty underground to become Israel's biggest Rocktronica band. With their Riot grrl roots, (both Kahn and Netzer performed as Cherry Poison prior to the birth of Terry...) and electroclash stylings, Terry Poisons analogue synths and apocalyptic beats are unique and entirely contagious! Having performed at France's Rock en Seine as well as supporting the likes of CSS and Depeche Mode, Terry Poison's live show is the perfect party to complete the Ladyfest line up. Having returned back last year from a sold out show at SXSW, Terry Poison and we at Ladyfest Paris believe, with all the heartbreak in the world, there's nothing better than having a band of girlfriends beside you. http://www.terrypoison.com/

WE

ARE VERY MUCH EXCITED ABOUT TAKING PART AT THE LADYFEST, NOT ONLY

BECAUSE IT STANDS UP FOR EQUALITY, AND INVOLVES ARTISTS WHICH ARE GREAT TO PERFORM NEXT TO, BUT ALSO BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A PROMOTE THEIR OWN UNIQUE ART-FORM.

DIY,

AND

WE SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE EVERYONE WHO IS STRONG ENOUGH TO PUSH AND

BE BRAVE ! - TERRY POISON

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TENDER FOREVER (FRANCE / USA)

All good things come from Portland, Oregon. That's what they say, right? A town that spawned the riot grrrl legends, Sleater Kinney and where Courtney Love spent her youth, Tender Forever resides in Portland cool but with her French roots, she is a DIY solo artist who simply sums up the Ladyfest Paris sentiment in its entirety. Not to mention she has shared the stage with the brilliant likes of Men, Coco Rosie, Electrelane, Thao and Mirah to mention a few... (Ladyfest Team Crushes a go-go!) Tender Forever, the girl with the mic; she moves with passion, pounds out fear, falls to her knees, cranks up the visuals and passes it off to you. Tender is the biggest, softest sound you've ever heard and we are more than delighted to have her minimalist pop electro as part of this years Ladyfest Paris. http://www.myspace.com/tenderforever THE BIG CRUNCH THEORY (FRANCE) THE candy sweet coupling of Lisa Li Lund and DJ Gilbert, The Big Crunch Theory are certainly making a name for themselves here in France. With an acclaimed slot performing at this years Les Femmes S'en Melent, Li-Lund has also provided vocals for the Wave Pictures and Herman Dune. The Big Crunch Theory is heady mix of sprightly hand claps and sparkling synths alongside the tight and pretty harmonies of Lund. The original girl next door of electro, all at Team Ladyfest are swooning for Lisa's beautiful, bubblegum pop. http://www.myspace.com/thebigcrunchtheory NOUS SOMMES RAVIS DE PARTICIPER AU LADYFEST PARIS. APRS AVOIR TOURN AVEC LES FEMMES S'EN MELENT GO GIRLS ! - THE BIG CRUNCH THEORY

FESTIVAL

L'HIVER DERNIER, LE GROUPE A HATE DE RETROUVER SES CONSEURS ROCKAND'ROLLEUSES!!

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ELECTRICITY IN OUR HOMES (UK)

Somewhere between the post punk delights of the Talking Heads and Delta 5, Electricity In Our Homes are bringing the funk to France's capital as the opener for this years Ladyfest Paris. Their quirky approach to arrangements and Bonnie's dominant bass prowess allured us into having the awkward post punk stylings of this bunch perform at the Saturday night concert and with their monochrome stage swank, they are sure to kick off the night in style! http://www.myspace.com/electricityinourhomes IT IS SO EXCITING TO BE PLAYING LADYFEST, WITH ITS INCREDIBLE ETHOS AND HISTORY. I FEEL PROUD TO BE CONSIDERED A PART OF THE MOVEMENT AND CANNOT WAIT TO PERFORM ALONGSIDE SUCH INSPIRING ACTS. - BONNIE

TIGS from CHEW LiPS (UK) DJ set at LE MOTEL Singer and formidable front woman of London dance pop trio, Chew Lips, Tigs will be bringing her best and favourite records along to Le Motel following the opening concert for the official Ladyfest Paris After Party! Come along and celebrate with a signature Ladyfest cocktail and the leading lady herself from 11pm! http://myspace.com/chewlips DON'T BELIEVE IN EVENTS LIKE LADYFEST - IF WE HAD TRUE SEXUAL EQUALITY THEN IT WOULDN'T NEED TO EXIST, SO THE FACT THAT IT DOES MEANS THAT WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO. IM HAPPY TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT .
ALSO I MOVED TO PARIS IN JANUARY SO ITS GREAT WHEN I GET THE CHANCE TO DO SOMETHING IN MY HOME CITY.

PLUS, GIRLS ARE COOL. - TIGS

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July 3rd / All Day Discussions / Art Exhibitions / Workshops / Acoustic Performances at LE COMPTOIR GENERAL (13H30 20H)

The Sunday venue, LE COMPTOIR GENERAL, was not chosen at random. This beautiful space dedicated to solidarity and the environment is the perfect setting for an an afternoon (open to public from 11am) of meetings, discussions and debates as well as workshops, acoustic performances and special events throughout the day.

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GINA BIRCH acoustic set (UK)

English musician and film maker, Gina Birch is one of the founding members of the all female, British post punk band, The Raincoats and Ladyfest Paris is proud to welcome her to Le Comptoir General for the Sunday of this years festival. During her time with The Raincoats, Gina performed at the Chicks on Speeds release party in Berlin and last year as part of the Matt Groening edition of the All Tomorrow's Parties festival. In March 2009 The RaincoatsFairytales-A Work in Progress, directed by Gina Birch and produced by The Raincoats was screened at the BFI in London. Gina is an avid Ladyfest supporter having performed at both the 2002 and 2007 London events and seems a fitting and fabulous edition to the first ever edition of Ladyfest here in Paris. Gina will be performing an exclusive, acoustic set as well as screening her film during the days events. http://www.myspace.com/ginabirch MS JONES - set acoustique (FRANCE) In neighbourhood Arcadia, its all about keeping up

with Joneses. This Jones, however, isnt one for social hierarchy nor social networking for that matter. Originally from the heart of France, it was around four years ago now that Ms Jones, with a solid (and talented) group of friends, gave birth to the project. Accompanied by a guitar and handpicked guests, Ms. Jones, through her lyrical poetry translates the emotions that run through all of us. Viv Albertine has even said of the stripped bare songstress: "You Can Hear That She's A Life Lived " She will be performing alongide fellow musician, Phillipe Belet at The Comptoir including tracks that will feature on her debut album coming soon. http://www.myspace.com/heloisesque
IT
IS IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO BE A FEMINIST IF YOU ARE A WOMAN WHICH ONLY MAKES YOU MORE MOTIVATED TO PARTICIPATE IN EVENTS LIKE THIS

- MS JONES

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SLAM FEMININ SLAM Feminin is an all female group of spoken word artists that have been performing in France and Europe since 2003. For Ladyfest Paris, they will be interpretating and performing their own text and poems. http://slamofeminin.free.fr

EXHIBITION THE BODY / LE CORPS On Sunday at Le Comptoir Generale, Ladyfest Paris has invited artists of both genders to consider their interpretations of "The Body" and have been provided with an impressive selection of work that will be a bold feature alongside the timetable for our Sunday festival. The theme of The Body has been chosen for its breadth and incorporation of anyone and everyone which is the motive behind this entire festival. The outcome has been a multitude of form and purpose, inward and outward expression of how we use, enjoy and represent our bodies. It is a beautiful, informative and secretive exhibition that exposes a subject that affects both genders.

FEMINISM AND CREATIVITY IN ALL IT'S FORMS: AN INTERVENTION BY FILMMAKER EMILIE JOUVET, BURLESQUE PERFORMER LOUISE DE VILLE, ROCK SINGER DEBORAH DEGOUTS AND WRITER WENDY DELORME. Through readings, videos and audience interaction, they will celebrate female and feminist creativity in all it's forms. An exclusive session not to be missed. EMILIE JOUVET Photographer and film-maker, Emilie Jouvet's "One Night Stand" a DIY romantic queer porn, the first French queer porn , won the first prize in Berlin Porn Film festival 2006 the special prize of the jury at Copenhagen film fest 2007, the first lesbian prize on Amsterdam in 2008 and the FEMINIST PORN AWARD in 2009. Her shifted and provocative art-videos are shown in international exhibitions, queer festivals, and were screened on TV channels worldwide. http://www.emiliejouvet.com/ LOUISE DE VILLE Louis(e) de Ville got the urge to twirl tassels and moustaches by observing the tail twitching antics of her familys cows on the farm in good ol KY, USA. Now a faux Franaise she scandalizes stages across Europe, performing regularly as a femme, king, and everything in between. She sees gender as performance and plays with stereotypes; both honoring and twisting traditional femininity as well as exploring her masculine side and all aspects of her sexuality. A traditionally trained actress and gender activist, she embraced burlesque as her preferred medium, when she understood that people pay much more attention to you when you are in your underwear http://louisedeville.com WENDY DELORME Wendy Delorme is a French writer & performance artist. Author of the queer novel and feminist manifesto Quatrime Gnration (Grasset, France, 2007), and a collection of short stories about sex politics & queer lives (to be published in March 2009. She is also the star of

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short films 'The Apple' and new film UNDERGROUND: FROM PARIS TO BERLIN DEBORAH DEGOUTS Singer and post-political rocker Deborah has been raging 2005, where for the first time she blasted the public's ears at the legendary night PLUG with Carrefour. Solo or with the band, Deborah has ruffled many an alternative evening, mainly in Paris and more recently in London. Deborah Dgouts, the underground Parisian muse, then moved on to become part of a power trio of stage strippers, performing to a fast growing number of dedicated fans. http://www.myspace.com/ladeborahdegouts

A LECTURE BY DR. BRIGITTE ROLLET ON THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN CINEMA; FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE CAMERA Brigitte Rollet is a lecturer in cultural studies at the University of London Institute in Paris (ULIP). As a specialist in French cinema and especially French women directors, she has published various books, articles and chapters on gender and sexuality in French cinema including Cinema and the Second Sex: Twenty years of Women's film making in France and an appraisal of the work of Coline Serrau. http://www.chcsc.uvsq.fr/ficheschercheurs/Rollet/Rollet.html

LADYFEST MONOLOGUES The Ladyfest Monologues is a series of readings, including academia ranging from classic French feminism (Simone de Beauvoir) to contemporary writing (Catherine Waldby) and female-authored poetry and prose. They will also include personal accounts of female experience and individual accounts of 'feminism', written and performed by those participating in Ladyfest Paris. We hope to show the diversity of what comprises our collective notion of 'feminism', and the myriad issues of queerness, body politics and why feminism is relevant to us as individuals.

WORKSHOPS The whole afternoon will be ponctuated with creative DIY workshops led by volunteers and organizations.

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MICROLOAN FUNDATION

In connection with the spirit of LADYFEST described above, we want to give back to those who can truly benefit from the awareness and funds that the Ladyfest Paris 2011 raises. So this year, all profits will be donated to Microloan Foundation, a micro-credit charity which gives small loans ( 64 on average ), mentoring and training to fund small business ventures set up by women in Africa. Once their loan is repaid, and 99% of them are, the funds are used to provide loans and empower other women. The virtuous circle can thus be continued for many more to come, helping more women escape poverty and achieve independence. http://www.microloanfoundation.org.uk The MicroLoan Foundation and its actions will be presented on Sunday at le Comptoir.

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PRACTICAL INFO Saturday 2nd July: CAFE DE LA DANSE, 5 passage Louis-Phillipe, 75011 Paris / Mtro Bastile Doors open at 19h00 and curfew is 23H00. LE MOTEL, 8 passage Josset, 75011 / Mtro Bastille DJ set from 23H30 to 1H30 Sunday 3rd July: LE COMPTOIR GENERAL, 80 quai de Jemmapes, 75010 Paris / Mtro Rpublique Le Comptoir will be open from 11h for Brunch. LADYFEST PARIS festivities will start at 13H30 and will go on throughout the day until 20H00 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=153485291388945 TICKET INFO Saturday 2nd July : Saturday 2nd July: Live Concert + After party, 22 (without booking fees) Points of Sale : Fnac, Carrefour - 0 892 68 36 22 (0.34 eur/min), www.fnac.com www.digitick.com and other similar outlets. Sunday 3rd July: Admission is free. ADDITIONAL INFO/CONTACTS: The non-profit organization Ladyfest Paris is... Ursula (DE): hardcore - punk tofu monster Olivia (UK): in love with Judith Butler Lauren (UK): creative enjoys tediousness and piercings, avoids social norms and suntans. Katie (UK): always learn, live life, build relationships, make love, be art, find peace. Jenna (UK): tea drinker. Lipstick wearer. wanderer. Chri (UK): wordsmith and meat lover. Ardent admirer of grrrl music and guitars. Amandine (FR): random. Clumsy feminist. probably loves you. And some lovely helpers (the list keeps growing!) Ladyfestparis2011@hotmail.co.uk www.ladyfestparis.tumblr.com www.facebook.com/LadyfestParis www.twitter.com/ladyfestparis

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Theyre already encouraging/supporting us !

LADYFEST PARIS also thanks MEN, GOSSIP, WHITE LIES, MELISSA AUF DER MAUR, artists Marion Candy, Sarah Tricker and Caroline Aufort, as well as all the artists that have been submitting work for the festival. We also thank Gambetta, the crew ARRACHE TOI UN IL,bands Lili On Acoustic, Pierrette et Georges, Lily after Midnight, Madzelle, and all the people that have been encouraging us, helping us, donating money, and making this festival happen.

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