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This month women in the arts take the spotlight in Paris with the Les Femmes S'en Mêlent Women's Music Festival (Mar 10-14) and the International Women's Film Festival (Mar 12-21). The two events coincide with International Women's Day on March 8, a concept born in the wake of the pivotal 1908 International Garment Worker's strike in New York. Since then, according to UNESCO, International Women's Day has been "the day to celebrate women's continued struggle for equality," examining the state of women's rights and conditions the world over. Women's music festivals, such as Lilith Fair, spearheaded by singer Sarah McLachlan, have become popular in the States. Meanwhile, European women's music festivals have been sprouting up in England, Scotland and Australia. This year, the association Bandido hosts its third annual edition of Les Femmes S'en Mêlentor Women Mix In.Launched in 1997, the festival created a precedent in France as the first music festival entirely dedicated to women, its goal being to help discover new international female talent. Now for the first time, it has expanded to other cities such as Bordeaux, Alençon, Nantes, Nancy, Lille, Colmar and Vendôme, with a first international date in Brussels. Festival Director and Coordinator Jean-Luc Balma adds, "Another important change this year is the inclusion of American artists, we had the wonderful opportunity to have a few of them come over this year." Sixteen international women artists to perform include Magga Stina (Iceland) and Sophie Moleta (Australia), as well as Americans Lori Carson, Eszter Balint, Edith Frost and Lauren Hoffman. Hailing from Europe will be Meira Asher (Israel/Germany), Andrea Parker (UK), Swandive (Switzerland), Katell Keineg (Ireland/USA), DJ Ritu (UK), Barbara Mannin (Germany/USA) and Sweet Jane (Belgium), along with French artists Holden, Elea Sola and Ted. The Festival kicks off at the Hard Rock Café on March 10, intimate concerts will be held at Glaz'Art on March 11 and newcomers and headliners will perform at the Divan du Monde on March 12. Women DJs take center stage at the DJ Club Night at the Divan on March 13. Les Femmes S'en Mêlent Festival Mar 10: Sweet Jane, Ted, 9pm, Hard Rock Café, 14, bd Montmartre, 9e, M° Richelieu-Drouot, tel: 01.42.46.21.10.00, 40F including one drink Mar 11: Lori Carson, Barbara, Manning, Elea Sola, Sophie Moleta, Glaz'Art, 7-15, av de la Porte de la Villette, 19e, M° Porte-de-la-Villette, tel: 01.40.36.55.65, 8pm, 70F/50F Mar 12: Meira Asher, Magga Stina, Eszter Balint, Lauren Hoffman, Edith Frost, Katell Keineg, 7:30 pm, Le Divan du Monde, 75, rue des Martyrs, 18e, M° Pigalle, tel: 01.44.92.77.66, 120 F/100F March 13: Big Mix Total 99 jungle night Andrea Parker DJ Ritu, Swandive, 11:30pm, Le Divan du Monde (see previous listing), 80 F Tickets available through FNAC, Virgin Megastore and 3615 Infoconcert, pass for all Paris concerts 250F, for information, contact Infoline, tel: 01.40.25.47.31, for concerts outside of Paris, contact Bandido, tel: 01.42.36.14.51 |
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