Women's Liberation Radio News

Think of the first song you ever heard. Was it the lullaby your mother sang at night? Perhaps it was some wind chimes tinkling in a storm. No matter the tune, music resonates with our souls far deeper than any writing or speaking ever can. Music, that unique organization of sound in time, is the oldest art. Before notated language, women spoke our herstories to the beat of drums. Thrumming on taught skins and hollowed logs sent messages into our bones. We breathed life into pipes that trilled the melodies of now forgotten times. We used our lilting voices to recant folktales and frights, the lessons of our lives, and funny tales of fluky passerby. Melodies, like recipes, can retell herstories, bridge social divides and unite minds. Pulsing chants can rally warriors while charming hymns can heal those wounded spirits. In our current time, these singsong rhymes are claimed and maimed by male supremacy: men relegate women musicians and our works to the background of the industry. Well, the women of WLRN say FUCK THAT NOISE! Let's listen to what women have to say! Starting off our jam-packed podcast is Sekhmet's latest headlines, followed by Heart’s Love Alive. Next is Julia's interview with Brenna and Melanie of BLEEDERS, a pro-woman gash rock band whose recent tour included kicks from the crowd. “Backstabbing Scumfucker” by BLEEDERS is followed by “Traffic” by Bitch and Animal. Then Thistle interviews Bitch, whose shows, like her name, are exercises in self-liberation. Ferron’s “Testimony” offers us a moment of reflection. Thistle’s interview with Ferron, an herstorically influential lesbian musician from Vancouver, is followed by Pink’s “Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken.” Thistle rounds out the hour with her commentary sandwiched between her songs “Bella Ciao” and “O’ Madison,” which she wrote after facing misogynist discrimination in Madison, Wisconsin. Ani Difranco’s “Make Them Apologize” segues into an announcement of the winner of WLRN’s very first T-Shirt Contest. Enjoy! Photo is of Melanie of the Bleeders, performing her art.

This week, I call on music that invokes Spirit in me, and hopefully in you. For me, there can be no Revolution without some ground in one's soul or connection to a notion of Mystery/Spirit/Divinity. That looks different, of course, to all of us, but for the purposes of THIS fight for Women's Liberation, that Mystery, that Divine, that Spirit is Female. SheWho, as Judy Grahn named. Hope you enjoy my selections! Please let me know of songs that inspire Spirit in you; I'm always collecting new music to share: Feministwomyn11@gmail.com. I also welcome your suggestions, feedback and general encouragement to keep my own fires burning. Blessed be! Phoenixx Play list: Spiritsong(background to intro) Shawna Carol She Who Judy Grahn Wash Your Spirit Clean Walela Earth Prayer Alice Gomez The Divine Mothers: Auset&Yemaya Ancestral Rhythms The Ancient Ones Kelliana Ancient Mother Keruna Spirits Barrel House Mamas The Road I took to You Meg Christian My, my Ferron Light of my Light Ferron Song of the Soul Cris Williamson and women of Olivia Hold it up Linda Tui Tillery, Jeanette Lazam, Barbara B.G. Glass, Pat Parker, Anita Taylor and female inmates of San Bruno Women's Jail, 1975, Any Woman's Blues She Whose Head is on Fire Judy Grahn Oh My Spirit Nalini Sweet Wonder Carolyn Hillyer

As promised, this week I devote an hour of Women's Liberation Music to Lucie Blue Tremblay. Her music exudes such love,tenderness and ease all of which we as warriors/Amazons for Femaleness/Justice need every once in a while, hmm? I hope you will find time in your day to settle in for the next hour to allow Lucie Blue to sing to you, Sister. Remember you are deeply loved and held by something larger and deeper than the mess we face everyday under male supremacy. Blessed be, Sister. Enjoy! Saint-jean-port-joli 1986 Lucie Blue Tremblay Mademoiselle 1986 Lucie Blue Tremblay Politique 1989 Tendresse The Water is Wide 1989 Tendresse Absence 1989 Tendresse Homeless 1992 Transformations La Tete De L. Lndien 2017 Counting My Blessings Driving Home 2017 Counting My Blessings Two Lives 1989 Tendresse A Place in The Woods 1992 Transformations Getting Old 1992 Getting Old Stand up and Rise 2017 Counting My Blesseings NOTE: Her album When I was a Puppy features many of her old songs from your probably worn out albums! Buy her music--let's support this womyn! www.luciebluetremblay.com Also she does incredible house concerts!!

Check out this opportunity to get your art out there and to support feminist community radio on the interwebs!

LESBIANISM as Resistance As we here in the US drag ourselves across the one year marker of a particular misogynistic white male supremacist presidential rule, it seems prudent on this week’s Women’s Liberation Music Hour with Phoenixx to focus again on Resistance! Last time, our music of Resistance carried the flavor of Anger; this time, the music flavor will celebrate Lesbianism. Separating ourselves from men, focusing on one another as Sisters/Lovers/Friends/Tribemates/etc and as Sonia Johnson once wrote, “taking our eyes off the guys,” are vital strategies of resisting male supremacy and heteronormativity. Lesbian Culture is rich with music around this Gynocentric theme, so I’m thrilled to gather and arrange some of my favorites for you this week. Hope you find yourselves singing along, laughing, crying with recognition and feeling the pride of being born a Female-loving Lesbian! Songlist: Well story and song Linda Shear, A Lesbian Portrait No thanks, Mister Nancy Henderson, Berkley Women's Music Collective Ain't Gonna Marry Chicago Women's Liberation Rock Band, Mountain Moving Day Leaping Lesbians Sue Fink, Joelyn Grippo, Lesbian Concentrate Gay and Proud Debbie Lempke Lesbian Concentrate Sisters in Struggle Lesbians on Ecstacy, We know you know So Fine New Haven Women's Liberation Rock Band, Mountain Moving Day Family of Woman Linda Shear, A Lesbian Portrait A History of Lesbianism Judy Grahn Lesbian Concentrate San francisco Bank Song Susann Shanbaum, Berkley Women's Music Collective For STraight Folks Pat Parker, Lesbian Concentrate Lesbian Code Alix Dobkin, Love and Politics Take My Love with You Bonnie Raitt, Slipstream

Learn how to pre-order your TERF shirt in this entertaining little ditty some of the gals at the station made to get more women into these awesomely designed shirts! Listen to the ad to hear why YOU may want to order one today! We are taking pre-orders until December 10th, 2017 when the shirt will be removed from our site. So pre-order yours NOW!

In this enlightening discussion, Falcon River, a butch lesbian and co-founder of a groundbreaking lesbian bar, shares her vibrant journey through the second wave of feminism. Linda Bellos, a bold out lesbian feminist, reflects on her experiences facing no-platforming at Cambridge University over her gender-critical views. Together, they delve into the significance of women-only spaces, the legacy of second-wave pioneers, and the importance of reclaiming feminist dialogue to address contemporary issues within the movement.

The podcast explores the vital role of anger in the fight against oppression and encourages listeners to vocalize their feelings. It tackles sexism, racism, and other societal injustices, advocating for solidarity and resilience. Through powerful music and spoken word, it champions female empowerment and the reclaiming of identity. The speaker reflects on their heritage, honoring the strength of women in their family. Metaphors of storms and boxing illustrate the struggle against adversity, inspiring collective action and self-expression.

Samantha Berg, a radical feminist journalist, Julie Bindel, a prolific writer and co-founder of Justice for Women, Sabrinna Valisce, an experienced advocate against prostitution, and artist Renee Gerlich share impactful insights. They tackle the male-driven exploitation industry, advocating for the abolitionist model. The conversation highlights personal journeys, critiques of pornography, and the urgent need for women's rights. The guests call for solidarity and accountability while revealing the complexities of female oppression in the context of sex work.

Phoenixx is a WLRN listener with a large women's music collection she would like to share with her sisters. Take a listen to this 2nd episode of the WLRN Music Hour! Playlist for WLRN Music with Phoenixx October 2, 2017 Body Hair, Anne Seale, sample record with Hotwire, Jan 1993 A Touch of Menopausal Anarchy, Carolyn Hillyer, Weathered Edge Sway of Her Hips, Teresa Trull, Playtime, 1997 Womanly Way, Linda(Tui) Tillery, album same name, 1977 Brown Like Me, Washington Sisters/June Millington writer, Understated, 1987 Big, Big, Woman, Regina Wells, Rashida Oji Bledsung Live at Kuumbwa Jazz Center, Polly Wood, Music for Metaformic Theory, 2008 The Bloods, Debbie Lemke, Berkley Women’s Music Collective, 1977 Ode to a Gym Teacher, Meg Christian, I Know You Know, 1974 Tomboy Girl, Tret Fure and Cris Williamson, Radio Quiet, 1999 Untitled, Pat Parker, Every woman’s blues, Women’s Prison Concert Collective, 1976 Feral Children, Beth Orton, Comfort of Strangers, 2006 3000 Miles, Tracy Chapman, Where You Live, 2005 Be Careful, cover by Cris Williamson (written by Patti Griffin), Motherland, 2017 Old Woman, Linda Shear, A Lesbian Portrait, 1975 Phoenixx is a 50 year old, post-menopausal, able-bodied, middle-class white Dyke/Lesbian Separatist of Spirit. I love wimmin and our Radical Feminist music through Time, as it foregrounds the Gynocentric Background (Mary Daly’s articulation) and pushes back the onslaught of phallocentricity that pitifully tries to pass as everything. I offer these bi-monthly arrangements of Women’s Liberation Music as Female magic to continue to undo what has been done to all of us through time and space for millennia under male supremacy and to link us to the Gynocentric Goddess-honoring world that came before. "The connections between & among women are the most feared, the most problematic and the most potentially transforming force on the planet." Adrienne Rich