The Folk Collective: Inaugural Pride Month Event
- The Folk Collective
Music has forever been an avenue through which communities gather, grow, and shape their identities. It’s a common denominator; a tool used to relate to each other and to the world around us. For queer and trans individuals, finding musical community with others that accept them as they are can be life-changing and even life-saving.On June 22nd, Maddy Simpson (in partnership with Club Passim and the Folk Collective) will present six queer & trans musicians in a night of in-the-round style performances. The night will feature original and traditional music by Anju, Roman Barten-Sherman, Jarsch, Sweet Petunia, Naomi Westwater, and Lee Zangari.As we celebrate Pride together, remember the importance of acceptance, equity, and respect for all.
We Are Passim! To learn more about The Folk Collective, visit passim.org/folkcollective.
Sweet Petunia
- Alt Folk
Sweet Petunia, established in 2018, is a queer alt-folk duo from Boston, MA composed of Mairead Guy (they/them) and Madison Simpson (she/her). Over the past five years they’ve broken hearts all across the US- from Richmond, to Chicago, to San Francisco. They’ve been praised for their haunting, interchanging harmonies, and their ability to bring to life something as mundane as catching a stranger’s eye in a poetic ode, to the love that can be found in the smallest of places. They answer the often begged question, “is one banjo enough?” with a resounding “no!” as they switch through combinations of double banjo, double guitar, and guitar and banjo, singing all the while. They most recently brought their unique blend of roots music and punk influence to In Between Days in Quincy, MA.
Anju
- Singer/Songwriter
Anju (they/she) is a singer, songwriter, producer, and performer shaped by the people and places in Minnesota and Massachusetts. Their music conjures imaginary lovers, scents of citrus, and visions of hairy brown skin under the sun.
Anju’s work has been highlighted by NPR’s All Songs Considered, Rolling Stone India, and Minnesota Public Radio’s The Current. She is currently teaching piano, violin, and guitar to young musicians and working on their debut full-length album. You can connect and follow their journey @anjutunes on social media and www.anjutunes.com.
Naomi Westwater
- Americana
- Singer/Songwriter
Naomi Westwater (they/she) is a queer, Black-multiracial singer-songwriter from Massachusetts. Their work combines folk music, poetry, and spirituality. Their hope is that through ritual and storytelling they can aid nature in the end of capitalism and the return of community, creativity, and collective joy.
Naomi holds a Master of Music in Contemporary Performance and Production from Berklee College of Music and she is a part of The Club Passim Folk Collective, where she produces Re-Imagining Lilith Fair: a tribute to the feminist music scene of the 1990s with an intersection lens for today.
Naomi was nominated for a 2021 and 2022 Boston Music Award for best singer-songwriter, and has been featured in The Boston Globe, Under The Radar, WBUR, WGBH, and The Bluegrass Situation.
Naomi is on faculty at Club Passim and Not Sorry Productions teaching songwriting, tarot, and poetry, and leads the Boston Chapter of We Make Noise. She is also an event producer and has produced shows at The Apollo Theatre, The Beacon Theatre, The Bell House, and more. Currently, Naomi is producing a series called Reclaiming Folk: A Celebration of People of Color in Folk Music.
