Jess Hawk Oakenstar features at Sydney CD
By Jen Cruthers
At Sydney's first Cultural Dissent for 1995, on February 26, several entertaining women performers played to a lively and appreciative audience.
The women's performance night was diverse. The good time also brought home the message of many women performers who find their way blocked in the male-dominated music industry.
Trish, a member of Resistance and a socialist, feminist and activist, started the night with Judy Small's song "Festival of Light".
Sarah and Kate, French horn players from the Conservatorium, delighted the audience with their "loud and dominant" repertoire.
Mignon well represented the passionate political struggle of her birth country, South Africa, in the song "Angry Nation".
The feature act was Jess Hawk Oakenstar, on tour from the USA. She played a wide selection of her songs, including many from her latest album, Your heart will show you. Oakenstar is a feminist singer/songwriter who was born in Zimbabwe and now lives in Arizona after spending 10 years in New Zealand.
The album is a mixture of political, spiritual and plain fun songs. Her stage performance brought her music alive, worth more than just a look.