Say Sister! Opening Square Dance

Join hands, swing and turn, do-si-do, and promenade at the Say Sister! Festival opening Square Dance! We’ll have a live old-time string band and a caller to talk you through all the moves.

6-9pm | “I’ve Endured” Exhibition Opening | Main Gallery
7pm | Square Dance | Theater  |  All ages are welcome!

About “I’ve Endured: Women of Old Time Music”
Creative Alliance is honored to host “I’ve Endured” an exhibition presented at Birthplace of Country Music Museum in 2023. Originally created by a women-led content team the exhibition “I’ve Endured: Women in Old-Time Music” spotlights commercial success stories and iconic musicians like Mother Maybelle and Sara Carter, Ola Belle Reed, Elizabeth Cotten, Lily May Ledford, Hazel Dickens, Etta Baker, and Alice Gerrard.

About “Say Sister! Festival”
Join us for a diverse and revolutionary celebration of women in roots music with the inaugural Say Sister! Festival. This transformative event celebrates the vital contributions of women to a space where their presence has always been essential, though often underappreciated, shining a spotlight on the past, present, and future contributions of women in Old Time Music.

Set against the backdrop of Baltimore’s rich musical history—home to icons like Alice Gerrard, Hazel Dickens, and Mama Cass—Say Sister! honors the women who have endured, thrived, and shaped the roots music landscape.

Co-curated by Maryland’s beloved, multi-Grammy Award-winning artist and Roots Music Specialist, Cathy Fink, the Inaugural festival kicks off on January 3 with the lively Inaugural Say Sister! Square Dance, the festival unfolds over two weekends of electrifying performances, insightful workshops, films, storytelling, and jam sessions. Each artist will not only take the stage but also lead an engaging workshop, offering a deeper connection to their craft and the roots music tradition.

Say Sister! is a festival programmed in conjunction with I’ve Endured: Women of Old Time, a touring exhibition from the Birthplace of Country Music.

Festival Dates:
FRI JAN 3 | Exhibition Opening & Square Dance
FRI JAN 10 – FRI JAN 11 | 2 Concerts, Workshops, Activities & More!
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