Woman power: Andrea Magee a driving force behind She Rises Music Festival in Taos

Adrian Gomez, Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
·2 min read

Aug. 11—Andrea Magee knows the importance of creating a community.

This is exactly why the musician wanted to put together an international all-female lineup.

The result is the inaugural She Rises Music Festival, set for Kit Carson Park in Taos. The event is slated to kick off on Sept. 1-2.

"Taos was the perfect place," Magee says. "The community seems to support creativity and nourishes it. I've performed at the Big Barn Dance for the last five years and I'm originally from Ireland. When I first played in Taos, I was completely blown away from the response to my drum. There's something in the air for creative energy."

On Sept. 1, there will be an intimate performance from KT Tunstall.

Then on Sept. 2, Magee curated a lineup which consists of Shawn Colvin, Allison Russel, Gina Chavez, The Tiarras and PAACK.

"(The festival) is a vibrant celebration of music, culture and community featuring an all-female lineup aimed to inspire, uplift, and empower women in the music industry and beyond," Magee says.

A portion of ticket sales will go toward "Music Helps," a nonprofit designed to use the healing and enrichment benefits of music while also providing leadership and employment opportunities for women in the music industry. Tickets are at sherisesfest.com/tickets.

Magee is working alongside Sarah Hearne to put on She Rises.

"As a music festival producer, I couldn't be more thrilled to bring forth a concert that not only showcases incredible female musicians, but also serves as a powerful platform to lift women up," says Hearne, She Rises Music Festival co-organizer.

Magee says on Sept. 2, the festival will feature an all-women's Indigenous choir led by mother and daughter Madi Sato and ISHI Sato.

ISHI Sato is Taos and Jemez pueblos, and Madi Sato is half Japanese and Irish heritage. The mother-daughter duo will be joined by a choir of Indigenous Native American women to offer a musical blessing over the festival.

"It was very important to both Sarah and I that we honor and show respect to the land and people of Taos and New Mexico," Magee says. "We truly want to thank the local community for embracing our new festival and are so grateful for the opportunity to honor the spirit and heritage that we all get to bask in when we bring our music there in September."