Cris Williamson

Decades before indie labels were the norm, and years before women had any real access to the industry, Cris Williamson and the Olivia Collective were busy changing the face of popular music. In 1975, the twenty-something former schoolteacher recorded The Changer and the Changed for her brainchild, Olivia Records, the first woman-owned, woman-focused record company. Her music and voice quickly became an essential part of the soundtrack of a movement and was the cornerstone of what would become known as “women’s music”—music created, performed, and marketed specifically for and by women. Today, The Changer and the Changed remains one of the best-selling independent releases of all time. 

For Cris, the music has always been the vehicle for something larger. Her work appears on a regular basis in books and thesis papers, on radio, and in film. Her albums are part of the curriculum for women's studies courses, and thousands of people who may not even know her name join their voices in “Song of the Soul” around campfires and places of worship. She is embraced by women. She is sampled in hip-hop. Her music is used by midwives welcoming life into the world, while hospice choirs sing her songs in tender sacred escort. “She is often considered a treasure, passed hand-to-hand, person-to-person,” says the Boston Phoenix, “Williamson is a heroic character whose tireless activism continues.” 

Today, with 34 full albums to her credit, Cris continues to tour the acoustic circuit, promoting her latest album, Harbor Street, and adding new material at each juncture. Her performance career has included three sold-out shows at Carnegie Hall and headlining many of the great folk festivals, including Newport, Kerrville, Moab, and Vancouver. Cris and Judy Dlugacz were recently honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award bestowed upon them by the Americana Music Association at their annual awards ceremony in the illustrious Ryman Theatre. The award was presented by NPR music critic Ann Powers. 

2025 will mark the 50th Anniversary of The Changer and the Changed and Cris is already busy preparing for a full schedule of touring and teaching, Cris will be presenting a bountiful handful of Changer and the Changed All-Star Anniversary Shows in select major cities—on land and at sea! In addition, Cris will be going into the studio in 2024 to record album #33! Stay tuned. 

Linda Tillery

Linda Tillery is a Grammy© nominated vocalist, producer, percussionist, arranger and cultural historian. Since she first appeared on stage at the tender age of 19, she has been considered as one of the Bay Area’s most soulful and dynamic singers.  

She is recognized as a pioneer in Women's music, with her second solo album titled Linda Tillery released on Olivia Records in 1977 and winning a Bammy (Bay Area Music Award) for “Best Independently Produced Album.” Tillery was also twice named “Outstanding Female Vocalist” at the Bay Area Jazz Awards. In addition to performing, she was the producer on three of Olivia's first eight albums. Within the women's music genre, she has collaborated with June Millington, Deidre McCalla, Barbara Higbie, Holly Near, Margie Adam, and others.  

During the 1980s, Tillery branched out in many directions, recording three albums under her own name while becoming a central figure in Oakland’s R&B and funk scene. 

In the 90’s, Ms. Tillery became a founding member of Bobby McFerrin’s Voicestra, where she began serious study of improvisation and vocal performance. She toured with Voicestra for over five years. 

In addition to her performing credits Tillery has appeared on over 70 recordings by such artists as Carlos Santana, Boz Scaggs, Pete and Sheila Escovedo, Taj Mahal, Vicki Randle, Eric Bibb, Mickey Hart, Bobby McFerrin, Linda Ronstadt, Huey Lewis & The News, The Whispers, Turtle Island String Quartet and Keith Terry’s percussion ensemble, Crosspulse. 

In 1992, Tillery formed the 6-member Cultural Heritage Choir – a percussion driven, vocal ensemble.  

She has metamorphosed into an authority on the African Diaspora in song. Her current mission is to help preserve and share the rich musical traditions of African American roots music. 

Linda will be joined by Tammy Hall on piano, Ruthie Price on drums and Kofy Brown on bass. 

Karen Williams

Karen Williams is a force, a buzzsaw joke machine. She is proactively provocative, and fearless in confronting cliches, and investigating stereotypes through hyperbole. Her comedy stands out as a distinct, cantankerous voice in the lesbian community and a unique perspective on the world at large. “Human Beings: What A Concept,” Karen Williams’ debut comedy album, is a glimpse into the inner politics of a marginalized group that, by necessity, became curators and creators of their own culture. Karen addresses conformity in kindness, love, and relationships. She shares misgivings about aging, codependency, motherhood, and sexuality, especially regarding intersections with race and libertine living. Karen tells it like it is, as she sees it, cutting through the pleasantries with nuance, texture, ambiance, ambivalence, and gusto. She has lingo for those in the know and expertly crafted elaborations for those who aren’t. Throughout, Karen displays an unmatched genius for sarcasm, irony, and rhetoric. If something doesn’t make sense, she’ll knock some sense into it, but gracefully. Her technique is impressive. Rather than beat her opponent over the head, she’ll take the egregiously erroneous or misinformed stance as her own, stretch the faulty logic until it’s paper thin, and wrap the whole farce up into a bow. Karen Williams is special. For more about Karen's humor and healing work, visit www.hahainstitute.com  

Suzanne Westenhoefer

No one ever accused Suzanne of being subtle, not the shuttle driver who took her to the airport, the woman she was in line with at the grocery store yesterday and certainly not her audiences.  Subtle, she is not.
After 25 years of groundbreaking, stereotype-shattering and brutally honest comedy, she’s not about to start pulling punches now.
The kid from Amish Country who began her comedy career on a dare is celebrating a quarter century of out, open, no-holds-barred comedy.
Suzanne tells the truth. The truth is life is funny, especially when it’s fermented in Suzanne’s mind. That’s why she could never be in the closet, making her a trailblazer when she started doing stand-up in the 1990s. She was the first openly lesbian comedian with an HBO Special and the first openly lesbian comedian on “Late Night with David Letterman.”
Heck, she was on Sally Jesse Raphael in 1991 on a show called “Breaking the Lesbian Stereotype…Lesbians Who Don’t Look Like Lesbians.” From “OMG, a lesbian has long hair and wears make up” to “I went to Helen and Jane’s wedding last weekend,” that’s how far we’ve come in the 25 years Suzanne has been telling her truth to audiences all over the world. Some of that is certainly thanks to her candor, courage and charisma.
Suzanne never does the same show twice. She can’t. She doesn’t write anything down. She charges boldly onto the stage and what happens is always a mystery and a delight. Enjoy a wild night of comedy in a city near you.

Vickie Shaw

Comedian Vickie Shaw is one of our favorite entertainers with Olivia. She has made women of Olivia laugh for over 20 years. Her "take no prisoners" (she's southern) style of comedy is incredibly hilarious and she takes you on a gut-busting journey of extreme humor. She has traveled the U.S. and the world (mostly with Olivia) making people all over the globe laugh until they cry! You've seen her on television, Comedy Central, four comedy specials on LOGO, Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen, and movies (Laughing Matters More), as well as benefits, fundraisers and numerous Pride events all over the U.S. You don't want to miss this incredible entertainer. 

Elvira Kurt

Elvira Kurt is an award-winning, trail-blazing, blazer-wearing stand-up comic and Second City alumna who can now add thespian lesbian to her long list of credits following her Montreal theatrical stage debut in the Broadway smash hit, POTUS:. From hosting her own prime time talk show in Canada, popcultured with Elvira Kurt, to her more recent co-hosting appearances on CTV’s The Social, along with her numerous televised comedy specials, Kurt has done it all—at home and abroad. She’s earned multiple nominations for U.S. College Comedian of The Year, performed solo shows from Iceland and Iqaluit to Australia and New Zealand and is considered a queer icon for being one of the first openly gay stand-up comedians.

Elvira's work in television is extensive. Highlights include writing and performing on Baroness Von sketch Show, Carolyn Taylor's I Have Nothing, being a judge on The Second City’s Next Comedy Legend, a recurring role in the critically acclaimed pre-school series, Miss Persona, and hosting a Mark Burnett- produced game show, Spin Off.

She continues to showcase her creative talents in writing, producing, and directing in everything from the Seth Rogen-produced, The Great Canadian Pottery Throwdown to the Netflix hit, Drink Masters, Canada’s Drag Race, and The Great Canadian Baking Show. Elvira has received many prestigious accolades, including recognition at the Canadian Screen Awards, Canadian Comedy Awards, Toronto Fringe Festival, and earning the Jury Choice Award at the Cannes Short Film Showcase. All this and a sitcom currently in development means Elvira Kurt is one busy teacup butch!

Dana Goldberg

Writer, comedian, and activist, Dana Goldberg has been seen on ABC, TBS, and Last Comic Standing. She is a force of nature on stage and was named to CURVE Magazine’s Power List of 2024 and GO Magazine’s 100 Women We Love. With performances at the San Francisco International Comedy Competition, The Comedy Festival produced by TBS and HBO, and the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland; her quick wit and playful stage presence have her earning loyal fans across the world.

In addition to headlining theaters and festivals, Goldberg has performed at and emceed hundreds of high-profile events, sharing the national stage with luminaries like President Barack Obama, President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Kristin Chenoweth, Meryl Streep, Carol Burnett, Sir Elton John and countless others.

Combining her gift of humor with humanitarian efforts, Goldberg has raised over $50M for non-profits around the country in the fight for LGBTQ rights, women's health, and HIV/AIDS education and prevention. Goldberg is the co-host of The Daily Beans and is currently developing her first TV pilot with SOTO Productions.

Roxanna Ward

Cabaret-comic extraordinaire Roxanna Ward hails from Laguna Beach, California. Her engaging blend of piano bar and comedy caused one reviewer to observe, “It’s as if Bette Midler and Steve Allen had a love child.” A pianist, musical arranger, producer, and teacher, Ward has worked with legends Dolly Parton, Laura Nyro, Tennessee Ernie Ford, and Bea Arthur. She has conducted orchestras as far apart as Milwaukee, Dusseldorf, and closer to home with Pacific Symphony. As a songwriter, she penned the R&B single “Remember Who You Are,” which reached number 16 on Billboard’s jazz chart when recorded by Phyllis Hyman, and more recently was recorded by Suede.

Roxanna has spent 20 years teaching chorus at both Thurston Middle School and Laguna Beach High School, building the program to admirable levels, and has served as Music Director at the Laguna Playhouse, Irvine Valley College, and Orange County School of the Arts, to name but a few. She has been the Music Director of choice since the inception of No Square Theatre, in California, and has also starred in No Square's productions of Gypsy (Mama Rose), Nunsense (Reverend Mother), and numerous other Lagunatics shows.

Roxanna’s greatest accomplishment is her son, Jake, who’s not only reached adulthood with grace and humor, but is soon to marry a wonderful young lady while enjoying a successful career in finance in San Diego. She’s also the proud mama of the devastatingly attractive mutt, Buddy, who frequently accompanies her to the theatre.

Roxanna is a beloved member of the Olivia family; her Olivia debut was on an Alaska cruise in 1992. Since then, she's joined us several times a year, and her brilliant comedy, writing, musicianship, and singing endears her to audiences everywhere. Whether you are seeing Roxanna for the first time or the tenth, she always makes you laugh and warms your heart.

Be Steadwell

Be Steadwell (They, She, He, Be) is a queer pop composer and storyteller from Washington DC. Be composes songs on stage using looping, vocal layering and beat boxing. Be's original music features earnest lyricism and affirming queer content. Be's goal as a musician is to make other black girlies, introverts and weirdos feel seen and loved.

Be earned a BA in Black Studies from Oberlin College and an MFA in film from Howard University in 2014. Be's thesis film Vow of Silence screened in film festivals around the world, including Black Star, HBO's OutFest, The Schomburg Center, and Inside Out Toronto.

In 2019, Be composed the music for The Alvin Ailey Dance Company's production of "the gone". Later that year, Be wrote and directed A Letter to My Ex, the musical. A Letter to My Ex imagines a queer black woman's experience of healing after a breakup. In 2021 Be released their latest album, Succulent.

In 2023, Be joined the cast of Parable of the Sower, the Opera by Toshi Reagon and Dr Bernice Johnson Reagon.

C.C. Carter

Voted one of Women We Love by Go Magazine 2015, audiences go into a frenzy when C.C. Carter “Struts” her full-figured body across the stage, scatting hip-hop and spoken word that boast of her voluptuousness. Her raw and piercing poetry has landed her National Slam titles including the 5th Annual Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Competition and the Behind Our Mask 1st Annual Slam.  

She is a favorite at music festivals and women’s spaces everywhere. The multicultural Wordstress fuses her craft of poetry with the harsh realities of Living Large in a Shrinking America – the title of her nationally acclaimed one- woman show. This show is a favorite for Love Your Body and Pre-Vday events on college and university campuses. 

Her poetry has been nominated for a Lambda Literary Award for best lesbian poetry and she was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame for Arts and Entertainment. Women's Studies Departments, African American and LGBTQ student unions often collaborate to bring her to their colleges and universities. She's a triple threat that speaks across a myriad of demographics and diversities 

Whether performing or emceeing in front of thousands, doing informal readings at book stores, conducting master classes on performance poetry or giving lectures on the "isms" faced by a multicultural, lesbian, full figured femme spoken word artist, C.C. Carter delivers a profound performance every time. 

She has quickly become a favorite act to book for – Black History Month, Women's History Month, National Poetry Month, Pride and LGBTQ events.  

Jen Kober

Originally from Lake Charles, Louisiana, Jen Kober has energetically bounded onto the national stage bringing crowds to their feet with her original blend of stand-up, storytelling, and improvised rock-n-roll comedy. Her hard-hitting hour is phenomenally funny—Kober commands the stage and dares you not to laugh. Jen was the 2017 Winner of NPR's Snap Judgement Comedic Performance of the Year for her Girl Scout Cookie Caper story, which went viral upon its release earlier that year. Kober received the 2018 Comedic Performance of the Year for her story titled Nana Vs. OJ.

Jen appeared on Netflix in 2019 as she joined the cast of two of its original shows. Including RuPaul’s sitcom, AJ & The Queen and Dead to Me. Jen had audiences rolling in the aisles on The Righteous Gemstones on HBO, played a no-nonsense detective in The Purge on USA Network, and was a wacky science teacher in Diary Of A Future President, on Disney+.

In 2021, Jen 's momentum continued with a recurring role on American Horror Story, a guest star on Showtime's Black Monday with Regina Hall and Don Cheadle, and a Season 2 regular on Apple TV's new queer sitcom, The Browns.

Recently Jen joined the cast of the Cirque du Soleil show MAD APPLE at the New York, New York Casino and Resort in Las Vegas, NV, and is a featured Comedian in NETFLIX is A Joke, with her own sold out show coming this May! A new comedy special No Flies On Me is set to be released this spring on streaming platforms, and Jen’s new podcast, Bitchin’ Over Biscuits just launched to rave reviews.

Sandra Valls

“Comedic Gold!” – Latina Magazine

“A Knockout” – My San Antonio

"She brings to light issues that impact the women of color community!" - QWOC Media

"Valls is as true to her ethnicity as she is to her sexuality; knocking TV audiences on their behinds!" Curve Magazine

Sandra Valls is a comic, actor, singer, writer, and badass. Her unique mix of physical comedy, brilliant storytelling, and powerful soulful vocals make it easy to see why the Los Angeles Times calls Sandra “Talented and Hilarious”. Curve Magazine named her One of the Most Influential Queer Women in the Country and One of the Top 10 Funniest Lesbian Comics. Latina Magazine voted Sandra One of the Top 33 Bad Ass Comics with Latin Roots and Go Magazine feels she’s One of the Top 100 Women We Love.

Sandra will star in the much-awaited world premiere of Real Women Have Curves –The Musical this Christmas season at the prestigious American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, MA. Produced by Barry and Fran Weissler (Chicago, Waitress), Directed and Choreographed by Tony Award winner Sergio Trujillo (Ain’t Too Proud), Book by American Theatre Critics Award-winning and Pulitzer Prize-nominated playwright Lisa Loomer (Girl, Interrupted, ROE), Music and Lyrics by Grammy Award winner Joy Huerta (from internationally renowned Mexican pop duo Jesse & Joy) and Benjamin Velez (Kiss My Aztec, The Tempest). Real Women Have Curves will be Broadway bound in 2024!

Sandra also co-wrote and co-starred in the critically acclaimed Off Broadway show, LATINA CHRISTMAS SPECIAL at the famous Soho Playhouse in NYC. Named Critic’s Choice by the L.A. Times, this show is three hilarious, touching and surprisingly touching stories of holidays past as told by three acclaimed Latina actors. Sandra’s story is about her life growing up a queer, Mexican, Catholic kid in Laredo, TX and later in her adult years, being her mother’s caregiver until the end.

Her other television credits include The Latin Diva of Comedy, Gay and Lesbian Comedy Jam (Showtime), Nick Mom Night Out (Nickelodeon), One Night Stand Up (LOGO), Comic’s Unleashed with Byron Allen (ABC), Habla! (HBO)

Sandra is also a favorite onstage as an emcee. Her hosting credits include Creating Change Conference, TEDX Women, Women in Medicine: Lesbian Health Fund Conference, San Antonio LGBT Chamber of Commerce Coming Out Day, Equality San Antonio – Spirit of Texas Brunch, Latino Institute at Creating Change, La Femme Film Awards (11 years in a row), Power UP 10 Amazing Gay Women and Men Gala, and GLAAD Awards and London Lesbian Film Festival…to name a few plus countless Pride Festivals.

Always a human rights activist, Sandra was also honored in her hometown of Laredo, Texas with the International Woman’s Day Award for being a trailblazer and empowering women and was chosen by Unidos-The National Latino LGBT Human Rights Organization to be part of their prestigious list for Project VISIBLE Latinos LGBT in the USA and Puerto Rico: Out in Leadership. www.welovesandra.com

Mimi Gonzalez

Mimi Gonzalez is a Comedian, Writer, Pisces and Feminist who also farms Black Walnut. A true patriotic American, she doesn’t pay herself since Gonzalez is her last name.  Then she accuses herself of being illegal and blames all the country’s problems on her. This bio should have come with a trigger warning, coincidentally, the most recent name of her show. Her favorite triggers: the U.S. Military, Bi-sexuality, MichFest, kittens and pibbles (the best way to pronounce pit bull). She’s been profiled in Curve Magazine and can be seen on Logo, Comedy Central and Univision even though her greatest feat of speaking Spanish is pronouncing her own name correctly.  When she’s not entertaining on an Olivia cruise, she’s working nationally at Prides, colleges, clubs, open fields and bathroom and automobile rearview mirrors. 

“Funny, sexy, sharp, positive…Mimi Gonzalez is a comic, life-affirming force.” Provincetown Magazine. 

Michele Balan

MICHELE BALAN was a finalist on NBC’s Last Comic Standing, and titleholder of "Last Woman Comic Standing." Michele was voted one of the “Top 10 Comics” by Backstage Magazine and The San Francisco Bay Times. Broadway World honored Michele at number two in their Top 10 List of cabaret performers.

Michele headlines around the country at leading comedy clubs, festivals such as Montreal’s “Just for Laughs,” corporate events, JCCs, country clubs, on cruises, and more! She has appeared several times on The Joy Behar Show, The View, and has numerous appearances on HBO, Showtime, Comedy Central, Byron Allen's Comics Unleashed, and recently on NBC’s The Today Show, and Gotham Live.

Jessica Kirson

Jessica Kirson is a powerhouse on stage. She’s a hilariously relatable performer of sheer silliness, vulnerability, and ridiculous characters. Her countless comedic character videos have racked up over 50 million views on social media. Her audience is multigenerational, creating an excuse for large groups of friends and families to spend a night out together. In an era where only 10% of all touring comedians are female, Jessica stands out as one of the strongest comedians regardless of gender. 

Jessica produced FX’s Hysterical, a feature-length documentary that premiered at SXSW 2021. The film explores the changing landscape of women in stand-up comedy and features Margaret Cho, Nikki Glazer, Chelsea Handler, Fortune Feimster, and other notable comedians. Her one-hour special Talking to Myself was executive produced by Bill Burr and debuted on Comedy Central. She is a regular on This Week at the Comedy Cellar and has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The View, HBO’s Crashing, and Kevin Can Wait. She also recently acted in and served as a consultant, producer, and writer on the Robert De Niro film The Comedian. 

Jessica’s highly anticipated prank call album, The Call Girls, also featuring Rachel Feinstein, was released on September 24th. Recorded virtually during the depths of quarantine, the album features characters such as old Jewish grandmothers, sexy co-eds, a conservative mother and her gay son, and more. 

Jessica’s characters are coming to life in her new podcast, Disgusting Hawk with rave reviews. Through her Relatively Sane podcast, Jessica has interviewed the likes of Bill Burr, Jim Gaffigan, and Rosie O’Donnell. 

She was awarded “Best Female Comic” by the MAC association in New York City and received the prestigious Nightlife Award for “Best Stand-up Comedian.” In her spare time, Jessica is a regular contributor to The Howard Stern Show, where she produces and stars in prank calls for the program. 

Barbara Higbie

Called "a bolt of bright sunlight" by the L.A.Times, a “classy talent” by the Boston Globe and “the most exciting musician we’ve heard” by the S.F. Chronicle, Barbara Higbie brings joy and virtuosity to every performance. She is a Grammy-nominated, Bammy and Glama award winning composer, singer-songwriter and fiddler, appearing on over 100 albums, including 18 of her own and 12 compilations that have sold in the millions. She has recorded with Carlos Santana, Bonnie Raitt, Cris Williamson, Ferron, Linda Tillery, Holly Near, Teresa Trull and many others. “Unexpected,” a duo album with singer-songwriter, Teresa Trull (on Olivia/Second Wave Records) made Higbie/Trull one of the most popular acts in Women’s Music. At the same time, Barbara was the first woman to be signed to the famed instrumental label, Windham Hill Records, where she co-led a group that recorded live at the Montreux Jazz Festival, touring internationally for 15 years.  

The youngest of six children from a midwestern musical family, Higbie started piano at age four. At age 13, her family moved from small town Indiana to Ghana, West Africa. She attended Mills College and the Sorbonne in Paris. At 21, she was awarded the prestigious Watson Fellowship to collect traditional music in West Africa. At 22, she placed 6th in the National Women’s Fiddle Contest. At 23, she released her first original album on Windham Hill, the critically acclaimed “Tideline” on the Windham Hill label. 

 Barbara’s first solo CD on Sony Records, a singer-songwriter album in 1990, was named “Top Ten of the Year” by the Washington Post. In 2011, Higbie was named the first “Artist in Residence” for the famed west coast jazz club, Yoshi’s. There, she founded the group “Hills to Hollers” with gospel/blues singer and original Olivia collective member, Linda Tillery and bluegrass star, Laurie Lewis. Recently, Higbie’s composing and recording has harkened back to her Windham Hill roots, with a popular 3-part, all women “Chillogy” series, produced by Lisa Vogel, featuring the brilliant Jami Sieber, cello, Vicki Randle, guitar and Michaelle Goerlitz, percussion. December 2023 marks the release of her new “Solstice” album. In addition to composing, recording, playing festivals and touring, Barbara loves playing for Olivia audiences. She has performed on over 35 Olivia trips and counts them among the best experiences of her life.  

Julie Wolf

Julie Wolf is a music producer, composer, multi-instrumentalist, music director and teacher. She has appeared on stages around the world and on numerous critically acclaimed recordings. She has collaborated with Carly Simon, Indigo Girls, Ani DiFranco, Maceo Parker, Bruce Cockburn, Amy Ray, Dar Williams, Rumer and Wayne Horvitz among many others. Recent highlights include television performances with Carly Simon (Late Night with Stephen Colbert, The View and Live with Kelly and Michael), recording a duet with Carly Simon for the release of Chimes of Freedom:The Songs of Bob Dylan, producing Bruce Cockburn, working with Joan Baez and producing records for multiple artists of varying genres.

Based in Oakland, California, Julie is a part of a vibrant creative community that includes musicians, dancers, choreographers, poets, filmmakers, actors, directors, writers, teachers, healers and activists. She runs Julie Wolf Music, specializing in music production, composing for film and dance, sound design, and music/audio editing. Recent producing credits include Katie Cash’s Gift Horse, Cris Williamson’s Motherland, Gina Breedlove’s Language of Light, Rachel Friedman’s My Marching Band, The Lost American JazzBook (winner of Jazz Vocal Album Of The Year at the 14th Independent Music Awards), A Fragile Tomorrow’s One Way Ticket (winner of Best Cover Of The Year/15th Independent Music Awards) and Lucia Lilikoi’s Vessel. Julie also teaches music and production clinics, workshops and private students.

Throughout all of these adventures, Julie has continued her work with Olivia which began in 1994, making this her longest standing gig! She’s thrilled to be here with us accompanying many of the musicians onboard, giving some rare solo performances from behind the piano and reuniting with Olivia community!

Antigone Rising

In more than 20 years as one of America's hardest-working bands, Antigone Rising has established a far-reaching reputation for sticking to their instincts. While the all-female New York natives’ live performances have earned the long-term devotion of fans, Antigone Rising's passionate social conscience continues to manifest itself in the group's tireless activism.   

In 2014, the band launched the ambitious nonprofit organization Girls Rising, whose live presentations reflect the same passionate belief that drives the trio's music. Throughout the year, Girls Rising partners with local school districts and youth centers to create programming that's designed to inspire and empower young girls and LGBTQ youth through live performances, presentations, and workshops. The band also presents the annual Girls Rising Music Festival and Game Changer Awards, now in its sixth year. The festival showcases female artists the band has mentored, as well as giving these artists opportunities to perform alongside nationally recognized Grammy-winning artists. Girls Rising also awards scholarships to deserving girls established through private donations as well as celebrity grants to local youth created by Melissa Etheridge, Joan Jett, Carnie Wilson, and, most recently, Paula Cole.  

The creation of Girls Rising was originally set in motion after Antigone Rising was invited by the US State Department to travel as cultural ambassadors throughout the Middle East. After touring the Middle East, the band traveled to Asia, Europe, Mexico, and throughout the United States bringing the Girls Rising program to schools, refugee camps, and community centers, spreading a message of inclusion.  

The band’s activism is reflected in much of Antigone Rising’s latest work, as the trio continues releasing singles to download and stream throughout the year. On the heels of the trio’s final pre-pandemic tour, Antigone Rising made one final stop at Bird & Egg Studio in Oakland, CA. During a day-long session with producer, Julie Wolf, at the helm, the band recorded a handful of songs live. Initially intended to be a stand-alone EP, it was later decided to include the tracks alongside their studio version counterparts to round out what would eventually become True Joy.  

During a year of pandemic seclusion, a handful of new songs were written and recorded through the magic of home studios and drop boxes, followed by a successful Kickstarter campaign that enabled the band to complete their True Joy vision.  

True Joy album highlights include the song “Avalanche”, a powerful anthem of female empowerment, “Right There with You”, a southern rock blues ballad, and “Badlands”, a song co-written with Grammy award winning songwriter, Lori McKenna in which the band's harmonies nod in the direction of Crosby, Stills and Nash. 

Gaye Adegbalola

GAYE TODD ADEGBALOLA (pronounced AH - DEG - BA - LOLA), is a multi-instrumentalist and composer. She is a Blues Music Award (BMA) winner and a founding member of Saffire -The UppityBlues Women (1984-2009). Her CD about LGBTQ issues, “Gaye Without Shame” was nominated for a BMA and her children’s CD, “Blues in All Flavors" won the Parents’ Choice Gold Award. Her 2019 release, “The Griot” (pronounced GREE - OH) chronicles topical blues for topical times.  

Gaye has received the Kristen Lems “Social Change Through Music” Award at the National Women’s Music Festival in 2018 and in 2019 the “Koko Taylor Queen of the Blues" Award for preserving traditional blues from the Jus’ Blues Foundation.  Along with her music recognitions she is a former Virginia State Teacher of the Year (8th grade science) and has been honored as an OUTstanding Virginian. The Library of Virginia recognized her as one of the 2018 Virginia Women in History Honorees (along with Barbara Kingsolver, Rita Dove and others).  

Mother of Juno Lumumba Kahlil, Gaye is a long-time activist, who continues to provide a voice for those who have been marginalized by society.  By definition of her life’s work, she is indeed a griot.   

Mouths of Babes

With more than a dozen albums and over a thousand shows between them, Ty Greenstein and Ingrid Elizabeth of Mouths of Babes are no strangers to the contemporary folk-Americana music scene. For years, their respective bands Girlyman and Coyote Grace captivated thousands of loyal fans as they crisscrossed the country, rocked festival main stages, andtoured with the likes of Indigo Girls and Dar Williams. Now, they have distilled the very best of the songwriting, musicianship, and humor of their previous groups into a power duo that brings more depth and style than ever before.

World Brand New, the stunning self-produced follow-up to Mouths of Babes' award-winning full-length debut Brighter in the Dark, is a Folk/Americana album in the old-fashioned sense:an album with an arc, meant to be listened to all the way through on good headphones with no distractions. With ten songs that range from stuck-in-your-head catchy to cinematic and orchestral, married duo Ty Greenstein and Ingrid Elizabeth take you on the Hero’s Journey hinted at in the cover art.  One must venture out to the turbulent sea, step fully into the chaos of the world, and face a reckoning, to finally come home. The album can be read as an inner journey, a relationship coming full circle, or a national reckoning — and is meant as all of these.

Mixed by Nino Moschella of Bird & Egg Studios and mastered by sound designer Bijan Sharifi, the duo created the enchanting sonic landscape in “World Brand New” with the help of multi-instrumentalist Michael Connolly, percussionists Sean Trischka and Joe Chellman, Tania Elizabeth of The Avett Brothers, cellist Mai Bloomfield of the Jason Mraz Band, Tonight Show Band veteran Vicki Randle, and Grammy Award-nominated vocalist Melanie deMore (among others).

As a proudly independent band, Mouths of Babes draws their strength and momentum from a fierce, loyal fan base, grown over their many years as road dogs. “We feel incredibly lucky to have been able to make exactly the album we wanted to make and to have such a strong career,” says Ty, “thanks to our incredible fans, who believe in supporting the music that matters to them.”

Kofy Brown

Kofy Brown, an Oakland, CA musician, singer and songwriter has been a pioneering force in the Bay Area’s hip-hop soul scene for the last couple of decades. Leading her band on tour paving the way for other indie artist to trek forth, the Kofy Brown Band have spread the gospel of Brown’s unique style of soul, rock, funk and more all-over North America, Canada and Europe. Kofy Brown has thrived by following her own creative path.  She and her band have developed a reputation for putting on an outstanding live show.  Her music is a soulful combination of funk, rock, blues and hip-hop topped off with a singing and rap style she calls word song. 

Katie Cash

 
Singer-songwriter and guitarist Katie Cash writes personally charged, emotion-packed songs and performs them with a passionate urgency that has made her a local star in the Bay Area music scene. As a member of multiple bands including Skip The Needle, Cash made her debut solo album “Gift Horse”, produced by Julie Wolf (Ani DiFranco, Carly Simon, Indigo Girls).  The album showcases her pointed songwriting and the edgy musical sensibility that's been honed by extensive roadwork and onstage experience.  

“Katie Cash gave excellent support with her rock and folk endeavors, entwining delicate and powerful into a set so worth seeing.” – The Bay Bridged 

Gina Chavez

Gina Chavez (she/they) is a Latin Grammy nominee, internationally acclaimed recording artist, wife and philanthropist. Born in Austin, she is a 16-time Austin Music Award winner. Gina's first all-Spanish language album, La Que Manda, was nominated for a 2020 Latin Grammy in Best Pop/Rock, making them the third Latine born in the continental U.S. to ever be nominated in history of the category (and the first queer Texan). Gina’s NPR Tiny Desk concert has more than 1.3 million views and she is featured on Brené Brown's hit podcast, Unlocking Us, for which she co-wrote the theme music. Gina tours internationally as a cultural ambassador with the U.S. State Department and runs Niñas Arriba, a college fund Gina and their wife founded for young women in gang-dominated El Salvador. Her official TED Talk is out now.

Angie K

Angie K is shaking up Nashville with her fresh blend of hard hitting country with a nod to her Latin roots. Her first bilingual single Real Talk catapulted her on the country scene by making her a "Highway Find" on Sirius XM the Highway. Since then, she has accumulated over 20 million+ streams, 500k+ followers, and was the only independent artist to play on the Nissan Stadium stage during the 2022 CMA Fest. She was recently named to the 2023 class of CMT’s ‘Next Women of Country’ and their “Listen Up” class of 2024. After making the cover of Spotify's "Country Latino" playlist, Angie was featured on Good Morning America along with her hit single Laredo. The success of the past year helped invite Angie into the prestigious Whippoorwill Arts Fellowship for 2024. Angie has shared the stage with artists like Big & Rich, Tanya Tucker, Sammy Kershaw, Trace Adkins, Melissa Etherige, Jake Owen, and more. You can follow her journey on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook at @officialangiek.

In June of 2024, Angie K debuted on Billboard with Red Dirt on Mars, which was written up as one of the “6 Must-Hear New Country Songs."

Richelle Donigan

Richelle Evelyn Donigan is a masterful Yoga Instructor, Life Coach, Author, and Speaker. She has been in the work and study of transformation for more than 40 years. Richelle has an extraordinary gift for creating safe empowering spaces for beginners and communities that have been traditionally underserved. She has created and led numerous retreats and workshops focusing on LGBTQ Communities. Her Butch Yoga workshops allow Butch Identified women to come as they are, listen and be heard by other Butches and support one another as they share and practice together. Richelle’s Vision Workshops are life changing. You will walk out with powerful clarity and strategies to create a life that you absolutely LOVE. A consummate teacher, Richelle embodies wellness and is dedicated to uplifting community with the profound healing practices of Yoga & Vision. 

DJ Rockaway

Born and raised in Queens, DJ Rockaway has been bringing her passion and love for music to US and international dance floors for nearly two decades. Although she is true New Yorker (just listen to her talk!), she is a regular on both the East and West coasts. You’ll find her spinning at nightclubs, weddings and other private events, and galas for national nonprofits, such as NCLR, HRC, and Equality California, to name a few—and she is also a regular DJ on Olivia cruise and resort vacations.

The executive producer of the San Francisco Women’s Stage and the founder of PLAY San Francisco and PLAY San Jose, monthly events for women who love to dance, DJ Rockaway has created a unique mix of music styles—dance, hip-hop, R&B, house, club, retro—that allows her to play for all who love to dance and feel the music. In her spare time, you can find her behind a camera lens, playing with her drone, or filming and editing music videos. For DJ Rockaway, music is more than a blend of sounds, music is an experience… she wants you to feel it, live it, escape into it.

DJ Tatiana

Born in Madrid and based in Denver Colorado, Tatiana is an established International female DJ with over 20 years in the industry. Her passion for music, international travel and an undeniable energy that draws crowds to the dance floor, has placed DJ Tatiana into a class of her own making her one of the most sought-after DJ’s in the game. Tatiana’s experience traveling the world has allowed her to become fluent in different genres and sounds including hip hop, top 40 remixes, moombahton, house, Latin and circuit. Her honed DJ skills, mass following and extensive music library that knows no borders, allows her to play to any crowd.

DJ Tatiana has current monthly residencies in Denver Colorado, San Francisco, CA and Los Angeles, CA drawing crowds of 2500 - 3000 people nightly, as well as her other monthly residency at  First Fridays, the largest monthly women's party in the USA. She also holds seasonal residencies at Temple Nightclub and at DRLO Live in Madrid, Spain.

Aside from these residencies, former Billboard DJ Tatiana demonstrates international relevancy, headlining events around the world.

DJ Rocabye

DJ Rocabye is one of the most sought-after DJs in Houston, with over 13 years of experience. She is best known for the unique style and flavor she creates when blending and mixing music genres. Rocabye started DJing in Indianapolis, Indiana, and worked in some of the hottest nightclubs and biggest events there, including The Indiana Black Expo and Circle City Classic.  

DJ Rocabye's presence has been felt far and wide, resonating strongly in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami, Dallas, and Houston, where she is known as one of the best DJ entertainers in the business. At nightclubs to corporate events and anything in between, she amazes her audience with her ability to keep the dance floor packed. She has performed for crowds as big as 800,000 people and opened for major recording artists such as Tweet, Adina Howard, and Siya.  

DJ Rocabye currently mixes for Houston's 102.5 FM radio station, in addition to spinning both at private parties and giant events, like Eden, Houston’s official LGBT Pride Girl + party.