…talking about the teenage years…I think it really inspired me to kind of fill what I saw as a void as a kid when I would go to shows and constantly just see men shredding the electric guitar and being like, ‘why aren't there any women doing this?’ ...It's been so much of the heart of my work… women can do this, too. Folks of all genders can do this, too…having a young woman in the crowd who comes up to me after a show and says, ‘I want to learn an electric guitar now,’ that melts my heart and I feel like I've done my duty if that happens. I feel like all of us right now are in this big shifting moment in time of rewriting the narrative. – Mandy Fer, Sway Wild, on playing lead guitar
Sway Wild –Mandy Fer and Dave McGraw will end their spring tour at the Historic Chief Theater in downtown Bemidji tonight. Dave and Mandy have been making sweet, sultry, soulful music together for twelve years. In addition to Sway Wild, both Mandy and Dave have several side projects and collaborations – Dave is getting back to his folk roots and Mandy tours with Allison Russell as her lead guitarist. Mandy and Dave take a break from tour to talk about their musical journey, Mandy’s guitar, their longtime relationship with Allison Russell, female representation in a male dominated profession, their connection to Bemidji, and more in this Area Voices.
The concert at the Chief starts at 7:30pm tonight. Free will donation at the door and proceeds will support Headwaters School of Music and Arts.
