Willie Mae rock camp Mae-Ra-Thon benefit & carnival - shows by Parts & Labor, Antietam, Pterodactyl & more

UPDATE: the May 31st benefit show at Bell House has been postponed

The 3rd annual Willie Mae-Ra-Thon is a four-day, all-Brooklyn music extravaganza with 20 diverse and talented bands taking the stage at Brooklyn venues such as Union Pool, The Bell House, and the newly opened Bruar Falls. Participating bands include legendary indie rock bands Antietam and Babe the Blue Ox, art punk upstarts Taigaa! and Pterodactyl, experimental funk ensemble Burnt Sugar and Brooklyn noise-pop faves Parts & Labor, among others.

The Willie Mae-Ra-Thon runs from Thursday, May 28th through Sunday, May 31st. All shows are 21+. The annual event is organized by the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls Advisory Board, which is made up of camp volunteers, camper parents, and other members of the Rock Camp community.

Another Willie Mae benefit coming up this summer is Ladies Camp, an 18+ weekend version of its rock school. Three day sessions start on Friday, July 24th and Friday, August 7th at Urban Assembly School of Music & Art, in Downtown Brooklyn.

The camp is also putting on a Spring Carnival on Saturday May 30th and Sunday, May 31st at 163 Plymouth Street in DUMBO. More info on that, and the Mae-Ra-Thon, below…

UPDATE: the May 31st benefit show at Bell House has been postponed.

The first-ever Rock Camp Spring Carnival will make the fun activities of Rock Camp accessible to any girl who walks through the door and wants to pick up a pair of drumsticks, try out songwriting, or decorate a t-shirt. The free-admission, two-day festival will feature mini lessons in drums, bass, guitar, vocals; workshops in songwriting, audio recording, and video; band art and ‘zine-making; games; and a bake sale. Tickets will be sold carnival-style, and the cost of activities will range from free to $10. The carnival takes place on Saturday, May 30th, and Sunday, May 31st, from 11:00am to 5:00pm at 163 Plymouth Street in DUMBO.

The Spring Carnival is open to the public, all ages and genders, though most activities will be for girls ages 6-18 (there will be a play area for siblings and other family members). The event is made possible thanks to the generous support of Two Trees Management, Independence Community Foundation, the Eileen Fisher Foundation, and the Union Square Awards (A Project of the Tides Center).
ROCK CAMP SPRING CARNIVAL
Sat. May 30 & Sun May 31
11 A.M. – 5 P.M.
163 Plymouth St.
DUMBO, Brooklyn
Free Admission / Activities Free – $10

More information at williemaerockcamp.org

THURSDAY MAY 28TH
Union Pool (484 Union @ Meeker)
21+, 9PM
Parts & Labor
Omega Jarden
Noveller
Talk Normal

FRIDAY MAY 29TH
Public Assembly (70 N6th St btwn Kent & Wythe)
21+, 10PM, $10
in the Back Room
with thanks to Convivial Gentry
Sex Mob w/DJ Olive
Burnt Sugar
Secretary feat. Big Boss
& DJs!
DJ Scribe, DJ shErOck, Joro Boro, eMMa Sound Sista

SATURDAY MAY 30TH
Bruar Falls (245 Grand St @ Roebling)
21+, 8PM
Taigaa
Pterodactyl
Grass Widow
Querent

SUNDAY MAY 31ST
The Bell House (149 7th St btwn 2nd & 3rd)
21+, 8PM
Babe the Blue Ox
Antietam
The Last Town Chorus
and more…

The campaign will continue this summer with Ladies Rock Camp, the “weekend edition” of the renowned summer camp for girls. It is a one-of-a-kind, three-day musical adventure that brings together women from different walks of life and all levels of musical experience for a weekend of instrument lessons, songwriting, band practice, and workshops, all culminating in a showcase concert at a professional music venue. All proceeds go to the Scholarship Fund of Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls. Ladies Rock camp is open to women 18+, and no musical experience is necessary.

Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls info

Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls is a non-profit music and mentoring program that empowers girls and women through music education and activities that foster self-respect, leadership skills, creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration. The organization operates a summer day camp, after school programs, and community events in New York City, serving more than 500 girls and women each year.