Photos courtesy of Walephotos, Stevie Robinson, Victor T Johnson

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SATURDAY OCT 11, 4:00pm-9:00pm
Downtown Silver Spring
Ellsworth Drive (across from Discovery Channel building at Georgia Avenue)

Silver Spring, MD 20910

FREE - All Ages

CASRAM closes in grand fashion every year. This year, with a family
friendly environment complete with vendors and visual art in beautiful
downtown Silver Spring, we feature stellar, diverse performances by the
truly soulful, energetic Angela Johnson, R&B singer Emily King, young hip-hop prodigy Ms. Emoni Fela, Singer & MC Josephine Silla, reggae spiced hip-hop gems Nola Darling, spoken word matriarch Dehejia Maat, the airy, electronic Yoko K. / aphrodizia, jazzy grooving Deborah Bond, up-and-coming DC soul singers Ne’a Posey and Teisha Marie and more!

In support of Raising Expectations!

Sponsored by SCION, Arts & Humanities Council of
Montgomery County, Downtown Silver Spring, Washington CityPaper,
Zipcar, Whole Foods Silver Spring, Honest Tea, Red Bull and YOU!

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Tonight’s showcase will feature a new crop of exciting female singers and one who achieved great success in the 1990s. Toronto’s Ayah will be making her D.C. debut along with frequent visitor Liv Warfield and locals Alison Carney and YahZarah. Additionally, Jean Baylor of Zhane will be taking the Republic’s stage. $15- Doors open at 7:30 p.m.

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SOLD OUT!

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE 2008 ‘CAN A SISTA ROCK A MIC?!’ FESTIVAL

THE SAARTJIE PROJECT IS BACK!

The Saartjie Project is a collective of artists and activists placing a necessary focus upon the life and legacy of Saartjie (Sara) Bartman, who is also known as The Hottentot Venus.

If you’re familiar with her tragic story, you know that European fascination with her natural curves led to her remains being bottled upon display after her death, with nothing less than similarly oppressive poking, prodding and disenfranchisement of Saartjie while she lived.

We explore the continued fascination with the black female form, what it means to be in the black female body, honor Saartjie’s humanity and bring her story/our story to life through drama, song, dance and spoken word.

LEARN MORE AT: www.thesaartjieproject.org

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TONIGHT: Dallas native N’Dambi got her start as a background singer for Erykah Badu and now is a well-regarded indie songstress with two Stateside releases under her belt. Joining her on the bill will be D.C. area-based vocalist Tamara Wellons, who had a soulful house hit earlier this year and Howard alumna April Hill, who this past weekend was named co-recipient of the SoulTracks Readers’ Choice Award for New Artist of the Year. Shows at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. will be held at Bohemian Caverns. $15 in advance.  Tickets can also be purchased at the door.  (DCist/Melton)

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D.C.’s Can A Sista Rock A Mic? Festival returns for a fourth year featuring powerful, independent female artists in soul, hip-hop and beyond! This year the festival brings to you a film and panel discussion, a theater production and a free grand finale in beautiful downtown Silver Spring with vendors, visual art and more!
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WEDNESDAY OCT 8, 7:00pm
Bohemian Caverns
2001 11th St. NW
21+

tix: $15 http://ndambibc.eventbrite.com/

CASRAM 08 opens with an acoustic show from one of the pioneers of the new soul movement, N’Dambi! 2 shows: 8pm and 10pm - 8pm opening is D.C.’s own Tamara Wellons who is slated to release her newest album this month. 10 pm opening is HU graduate from Atlanta, April Hill!

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THURSDAY OCT 9, 7:00pm
Bohemian Caverns
2001 11th St. NW
21+

tix: $10

A collage of hip-hop inspired performances from newcomers Bless Roxwell & Ra the MC, electric funk band OP Swamp 81, funky hip-hop’s Eagle Nebula, and electro-soulful Ms. TK Wonder (with Taylor McFerrin). This is a memorable show of unique performances that will leave you in a zone!

Hosted by XO and DJ JAV

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FRIDAY OCT 10, 7:30pm ************SOLD OUT!**********
DC Arts Center
2438 18th St. NW (Adams Morgan)
Ages 17+(some nudity)

The Saartjie Project: The life and legacy of Saartjie Baartman who is also known as the Hottentot Venus. Using drama, song, dance and spoken word we explore the continued fascination of the black female form.

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FRIDAY OCT 10, 7:30pm
The Republic
1355 U St. NW
21+

tix: $15 http://casram08friday.eventbrite.com

CASRAM’s flyest take the stage for a live evening of rhythmic basslines and beautiful people as Canada’s Ayah makes her D.C. debut, along with Portland, Oregon’s Liv Warfield, pioneer Jean Baylor of Zhane‘ fame, rising star Alison Carney, and hometown heroine Yahzarah.

Hosted by W. Ellington Felton

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SATURDAY OCT 11, 2:00pm
Historical Society of Washington D.C.
801 K St. NW
Washington, D.C. 20001
FREE: rsvp@historydc.org

No! The Rape Documentary & Panel Discussion with Konyka Dunson: In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, NO! The Rape Documentary is a groundbreaking feature length documentary unveiling the reality of abuse and healing in the black communities, and is being used around the world by grassroots movements around the world to end violence against women. After the film, there will be an audience discussion moderated by Konyka Dunson of WPFW & DCTV.

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SATURDAY OCT 11, 4:00pm
Downtown Silver Spring
Ellsworth Drive
Silver Spring, MD 20910
FREE - All Ages

CASRAM closes in grand fashion every year. This year, with a family friendly environment complete with vendors and visual art in beautiful downtown Silver Spring, we feature stellar, diverse performances by the truly soulful, energetic Angela Johnson, R&B singer Emily King, young hip-hop prodigy Ms. Emoni Fela, Singer & MC Josephine Silla, reggae spiced hip-hop gems Nola Darling, spoken word matriarch Dehejia Maat, the airy, electronic Yoko K. / aphrodizia, jazzy grooving Deborah Bond, up-and-coming DC soul singers Ne’a Posey and Teisha Marie and more!

In support of Raising Expectations!

Sponsored by SCION, Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County, Downtown Silver Spring, Washington CityPaper, Zipcar, Whole Foods Silver Spring, Honest Tea, Red Bull and YOU!

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N’dambi headlines an intimate acoustic show at Bohemian Caverns during the 4th Annual Can A Sista Roc A Mic? Festival. Don’t miss this special night as we open the festival with the new face of Stax Records. Tickets will go on sale this week!

www.ndambionline.com

www.myspace.com/ndambi

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(painting by Tokio)

Women visual artists are encouraged to present their works at this year’s Can A Sista Rock A Mic? Festival.  As the festival celebrates women in independent arts, visual arts will be a regular feature as women’s issues of life and expression will be on display to compliment the other creations of soul, hip-hop and beyond.

If you are a visual artist seeking exposure at this year’s festival, please contact the festival’s Curator, Courtney Savoy at csavoy [at] solsourcegroup.com

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Ellsworth Drive, the outdoor retail and family-friendly street directly across from the landmark Discovery Building also referred to as Downtown Silver Spring, will host the grand finale of CASRAM 08. This ‘block party’ will be complete with vendors, artists and stellar performances on the big stage for the entire day of Saturday, October 11, 2008.

Vendors interesting in selling original products may contact the Vendor Manager, Ms. Tam Henry at thenry [at] solsourcegroup.com

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