#WomenCrush

#WomenCrush Music presents their first showcase of the 2018 season at The White Eagle with members of the Portland #WomenCrush Music team and noteable women artists from the Portland music scene. From pop, rock to folk, these local songwriters are the perfect introduction to the talent and community #WomenCrush Music has to offer.

About #WomenCrush Music:
#WomenCrush Music is a non-profit organization that serves to create opportunities for rising women songwriters by hosting international showcases, educational workshops & networking events. Whether they are just in the beginning of their careers and want to start performing at local venues, or they've just released their second album and are ready to go on tour. #WomenCrush Music wants to connect artists with future collaborators, educate them about the business and inspire them to make an impact on this male-dominated industry.

It was founded in January 2017, when Ashley Kervabon saw a need to build a stronger community amongst women in the music industry in Portland, OR. When the first showcase was a success, Ashley reached out to women in her online music communities to see if any other cities had ongoing showcase series for women artists. It was then that she realized there was a void that needed to be filled and she started her expansion by bringing the showcase series to her hometown of NYC. By fall of 2017 #WomenCrush had grown dramatically, including several new team members and many more new cities to launch in 2018, such as, Los Angeles, Chicago, Austin, New Orleans, Nashville, San Francisco, San Jose, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Missoula! Follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay posted on their events at @womencrushmusic.

About the host:
The Portland branch is often hosted by founder of #WomenCrush, Ashley Kervabon. Ashley started her music career in NYC where she was born & bred, but it wasn't until moving to Portland in 2015 that she realized what her real mission was: writing songs for other artists & helping them advance in their career. She is now pursuing this by leading the organization she created, #WomenCrush Music.

When she's not trying to be the next Sia or out networking somewhere, she's embracing her inner foodie, playing with her chiweenie puppy Henry or making travel plans with her hubby-to be. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram @ashleykervabon.

Laura Palmer

When the cloudy fuzz of winter has finally seen its end, Laura Palmer's Death Parade comes out of the foggy mornings craving that sunshine, but from a distance, covering themselves with shade. The need to love something so bright but which burns your skin, giving you life and happiness until the sun sets, leaving you sunburned and longing for the cooling touch of the night.

Laura Palmer's Death Parade has come together by love and grief. With the strong family ties of Laura Hopkins and bassist Fredrick Ernest, there has been turmoil with founding member Michael Finn. Leaving the band when Laura was processing the loss of her step father and another dearest friend, Laura continued to dive into her grief by ways of her music. Laura invited in another heartbroken soul, close friend Benjamin Johnson, after his loss of the band Grandparents, turning their sounds into a collective process to search for the love that comes from within.

Sounding like the forgotten dreams and collective wails of lost lovers and realized romances, Laura swoons to the inner desires, leaving you to dive into your own memories and fantasies as she gives into her own. Backed by Frederick Ernest and Benjamin Johnson, the tonally perfected trio will spin you into an emotive collection of melody and authentic variety.

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/laurapalmersdeathparade/

The Van Rontens

Funky folk-grass

A fusion of Folk, Funk Grass and Gypsy Roots. It's like a whole new sandwich. Or maybe Iron and Wine meets Modest Mouse with crystal clear female lead vocals. Lead vocalist and songwriter Melodie Ayres, in seek of a major life change, upended her Kansas roots this last summer. She packed her car and shoved off for the adventure of the Cascade Mountain range and the rich music scene of Portland Oregon. After months of playing open mics she accumulated a tribe of musicians and fans to support her dream. Now The Van Rontens have created a sound like no other and are touring the country changing perspective on life one fan at a time.

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/thevanrontens/