Concert Coverage: Benson First Friday Femme Fest 2017

After Benson First Friday Femme Fest’s explicit purpose, celebrating and showcasing Nebraska’s women in music, the event has built an enterprise that offers a lot of the same intrigue other local-dominant events. It gives established performers a chance to flash a few new looks, new bands the opportunity to gain an audience and fans to take it all in.

It’s the fest’s sharpened and necessary focus, coupled with community atmosphere, that sets it apart. Edem Soul Music’s Friday night set embodied the spirit of the weekend. She began traditionally, with gentle songs using harp, djembe and her deep, dynamic voice. She then set them aside and, with two backing dancers, proceeded to rap very skillfully over a rhythm-forward backing track. The songs were much more in-your-face, but maintained her trademark ageless positivity.

That kind of support and excitement permeated the third-annual affair, which spread through six venues in Omaha’s Benson neighborhood this past weekend. Musicians and fans alike flowed from spot to spot, taking in as much as possible before jetting off to the next act or their own show. It was as organizer Rebecca Lowry has said time and again: all of these talented people interacting with each other and their art.

Yet another expansion for the third-year festival continues to aid that community cause. Two evenings of music meant more inclusion and variety. In a matter of hours, one could sample soul, noise, punk, country and R&B (all while smashing their daily step requirements).

In the same way we saw bands like FREAKABOUT show their road-tested mettle in the headlining spot, fests like these give us a chance to catch up with something different or new. Petshop performances by Hasco Duo and Screaming Plastic pushed the boundaries of conventional music, as did noise duo Plastic Garbage. Around 10:15 p.m. the first night, Enjoli owned the Waiting Room Stage with a classic R&B performance like nothing I had ever seen in the state. Grooves flowed effortlessly, multiple keyboards added depth and lushness and the harmonies were fit for a gospel hall.

“Think about everything we could be,” Enjoli sang about the possibilities of love. In the context of Femme Fest, it also reads as an assessment of its future. With the support like it has enjoyed over the past three years, the doors are open to some alternative scheduling. Monthly showcases, connected one-off events and new partnerships could spread the vision further and wider, increasing visibility and for non-male performers and continuing to elevate their voices. We’re already excited to see what the Femme Fest crew does next.

See photos from Benson First Friday Femme Fest below.