In its 3rd year already, CASRAM has created wonderful exposure for some of the nation's brightest stars and provided a platform for independent female artists. This year Washington, D.C. promises to be a smash with some of the most talked about names in hip-hop, soul and beyond!

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The Can A Sista Rock A Mic? Music Festival Returns to Washington, D.C. This August Third Annual All-Female Music Festival Promises to Be Bigger and Better Washington, D.C. –– This August is gonna be on fire with the recent announcement of the 3rd Annual Can A Sista Rock A Mic? Music Festival (CASRAM) scheduled to return to Washington, D.C. from August 7-12, 2007. This unique music festival will highlight positive images of women and showcase some extraordinary local and national female talent. This year’s festival boasts an exciting array of established and rising stars in hip-hop, neo-soul, spoken word, and R&B. CASRAM opens in grand fashion at The Rock and Roll Hotel where the mic will be set ablaze by female hip-hop phenoms Bahamadia and Emoni Fela. Subsequent nights will include live performances from neo-soul sensations Carol Riddick (Musiq Soulchild), YahZarah is Purple Saint James (Erykah Badu, Foreign Exchange), Sy Smith (American Idol, Ally McBeal), and Afi [pronounced ah-FEE], a Washington D.C. native in rotation on VH1 Soul and BETJ. More performers and surprise guests will be added in the coming weeks. The festival also includes spoken word, live art, and a female panel discussion. CASRAM clearly has something for everyone during its series of performances and events at numerous venues in Washington, D.C. While highlighting the exceptional talent in the Washington, D.C. area and beyond, the founders also plan to give back to the community by donating the festival’s proceeds to the DCTV Kids Video Festival.

For interviews with any of the participating artists, contact media@bgirlmanifesto.com.

For sponsorship opportunities, contact sponsorships@bgirlmanifesto.com

Events

Event

Date

Venue

Details

Grand Opening: Beauty and the Beat

Doors 7PM Showtime: 8:30PM

WEDNESDAY

August 8

Live on Woodrow - Reagan Ctr 1300 Penn Ave NW

Metro: Federal Triangle (Orange/Blue)

Rock & Roll Hotel

1353 H Street NE, WDC 20002

Metro: Union Station [TROLLEY FROM UNION STATION] (Red)

L'Renee performs a lunchtime set at noon.

CASRAM presents the first ever in D.C. history, a LadyBeat Maker competition with Emperess, Nemiss, Lioness, Her Rhawness and EmoniFela rockin on fresh beats by Ms Tris Beats, Diverse, Trakslaya and Pri the Honeydark! This is a hip-hop classic with visual art by ArtByLiz and decks controlled by DJ Earth1ne!

Then it gets even hotter with raw performances by the amazing producer, singer and hip-hop artist Georgia Anne Muldrow with Dudley Perkins (Las Vegas) and the return of underground female icon BAHAMADIA (Philly)!

The Remedy Lounge

Doors 7PM

THURSDAY

August 9

Cue Bar

1115 U Street NW, WDC 20009

Metro: U Street/Civil War/Cardozo (Green/Yellow)

Come play ping-pong, pool and relax with us as hometown underground hip-hop celeb DJ Earth1ne and FuseBoxRadio's DJ Fusion set it off while CASRAM artist videos show on the screen! Also free giveaways and the VIBE Confidential Online 1-Year Anniversary and birthdays by Dudley Perkins and Butta!

Blend

Doors: 7PM: Showtime: 8:30PM

FRIDAY

August 10

Republic Gardens

1355 U Street NW, WDC 20009

Metro: U Street/Civil War/Cardozo (Green/Yellow)

We bring together funky style, beautiful people and original music with live performances by FOUR rising stars Alison Carney (DC), Yahzarah is Purple Saint James (Durham, NC/DC) Carol Riddick (Philly) and Sy Smith (Los Angeles)! Russell Taylor is your host for the evening!

REAL DEAL afterparty continues after the show with DJ Cuzzin B (True School Corp./Digital DJs) and DJ Uncle Q spinnin straight bangers and classics, so enjoy! This is the ONLY place to be on Friday.

Where My Girls At?: Women's Voices In Hip-Hop Panel Discussion

12 PM--2PM STUDIO A

Women Speak! Making a Difference and Counteracting the Dominant Representations in the Entertainment Industry Produced by SHEWORKS Entertainment

12:30-3PM BROOKS ROOM

Summer LoveFest

(Outdoors) 4PM - 9PM

SATURDAY

August 11

Public Access Corp of DC (DCTV)

901 Newton Street NE, WDC 20017

Metro: Brookland CUA (Red)

Arts Alley (between Mayorga and Gallery in Silver Spring)

8030 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Metro: Silver Spring (Red)

This is a panel discussion about the present lack of visibility of women in hip-hop. In the early 80's and 90's women in hip-hop had more exposure on the airwaves and in the studio than today. This panel discussion will explore solutions to combat commercialism which has marginalized women in hip-hop and replaced them with degrading caricatures. Panel guests include Sohpia Quintero, Yvonne Bynoe, Bassey Ikpi, and EmoniFela Wilkins. LIMITED SEATS: Please RSVP, shyree@bgirlmanifesto.com

This panel discussion of women representing various aspects of the entertainment business will identify challenges and explore opportunities for women in the industry, and discuss ways in which independent music around the world can serve as a catalyst for changing the current status quo in mass media and entertainment.

MODERATOR

Shani Jamila, radio producer Blackademics, 89.3 WPFW, WDC

PANELISTS

Syieda Penn, CEO of Pastiche Group, LLC a marketing strategist
consulting firm in Washington DC;DJ Soyo, Lyricist Lounge, Intelligent Muzik, Temple of Hip Hop, and Womens Truth, WDC; Yahzarah is Purple St. James, independent music artist;Tracy Press, Sweet Soul Entertainment and Powerful Beyond Measure, WDC;Ritza Yana, RY-Ink, WDC;Risikat Okedeyi, Lil SoSo Productions, WDC;Mia Ferguson,Thique Magazine, Baltimore, MD;Rachel Newman, MG Sandbox, WDC

If you remember last year's Summer LoveFest you know exactly how unforgettable the vibe is as we feature several visual artists, spoken word and of course, live music. DJ Frances Jaye will spin the deep selection along with DJ Earth1ne. ALL FEMALE BAND & JAM SESSION with Live music by L'Renee, Stephanie McKay, Green Tea, Salakida and more! Hosted by Beny Blaq and Jamilla/80s Baby.

Visiting from Durham is the dynamic eclectic soul, funk and hip-hop sounds of Mosadi Music. Love the Poet, Deserie, Keke with other spoken word and visual artists!

Grand Finale

Doors: 6PM Showtime: 7PM

SUNDAY

August 12

Zanzibar On the Waterfront

700 Water Street SW, WDC 20024

Metro: Waterfront SEU (Green)

High energy soul with live performance by Seattle soul star Choklate, and the OFFICIAL ALBUM RELEASE PARTY of D.C.'s own powerful R&B/soul queen, AFI [ah-FEE]! This GRAAND finale will go down in history as the greatest female emcee OF ALL TIME---

MC LYTE does her thang live with band and DJ to represent for the festival so don't miss out! Early 6PM doors.