“When She Plays We Hear the Revolution”: Girls Rock Regina - A Feminist Intervention

Abstract

In this article, I analyze the ways in which community-based arts projects have the potential to challenge the gendered power dynamics of the music industries by creating productive spaces that encourage accessibility, promotion of female artists, and connection amongst girls and female-identified professionals. Specifically, I share my reflections on the inaugural Girls Rock Regina (GRR) camp, which took place in July 2017 in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Drawing on interview data collected from the GRR organizing crew, participating musicians, volunteers and campers, as well as from my participatory experience as Canada Research Chair in Interactive Media and Popular Music, and Director of the IMP Labs whose research often focuses on community arts-based research in popular music genres and creative technologies, I highlight the ways in which hegemonic ideas around the gendering of creativity, music technologies, and the music industries are being challenged.