Celebrating Guelph’s musicians and doing so in a way that allows women to take centre stage
Holy Smokes Music Festival is about celebrating Guelph’s musicians and doing so in a way that allows women to take centre stage. All the acts included in the festival identify as women or non-binary, allowing a unique showcase of talent. The festival is also entirely run by women or non-binary people. The venues are owned by women, the technicians are women, and all the acts identify as women or non-binary. This year the festival will take place from October 3rd to 5th.
The festival’s creators, Alanna Gurr and Charlotte Moore, put together the festival to promote inclusivity. In addition to heading their own bands, (though Gurr admits with a laugh they do not perform themselves), Gurr and Moore have tasked themselves with creating a conduit for similar, sometimes overshadowed, voices. As Gurr told The Ontarion, “There’s always more we can do in terms of inclusivity.”
Going into its second year, Holy Smokes has garnered significant support and praise from Guelphites and sponsors alike. Gurr spoke about the immense support they received with a quiet awe, especially when discussing how applications from interested performers started to pile up almost immediately after the festival last year. However, while acts were eager to join up, technicians were slightly harder to come by, and finding them often meant reaching out to female technicians from as far as Niagara Falls.
Gurr spoke about the festival with a passion that belies the personal significance this music festival holds for her. Gurr, who also co-runs the Girls Rock Camp here in Guelph, told The Ontarion that when she was younger: “I had no female role models. I felt intimidated.” This lack of female representation drew her to more unassuming roles and scared her away from flashier solo roles. Gurr has overcome this fear and is now lead vocals and guitarist in Alanna Gurr & The Greatest State. For Gurr, this festival is just as much about giving young girls role models and giving them the confidence to pursue music as it is about giving women a platform to perform.
Jumping from venue to venue in downtown Guelph, Holy Smokes has a bit of everything. This year the line-up ranges from electronic with Sea Water and Rose to indie with performances by Sages. If you’re interested in goth rock look no further than Bonnie Trash and if you favour R&B check out Bonjay.
The article suggests the Festivals creators “put together the festival to promote inclusivity” yet it is a festival for only women or non-binary people. This screams sexism and discrimination. Imagine a festival only open to strait men, hiding behind the goal of promoting inclusivity. While I obviously support female artists, and would support an all female festival, it is misleading to suggest that this promotes inclusivity.