10/05/2025
TEAM!!!!
I need to tell you about WAMM Fest that happened on September 14th in Troy! I was able to prove my hypothesis that chics do in fact rock!
We are going to start with Niki Kaos — because if it weren’t for her, there would be no WAMM. Nikki is a mother, a musician, an author, a songwriter, and one of the boldest, most compassionate people I know. She’s the kind of person whose vision is as big as her heart. She dreamed of creating a space where women could gather, create, and support each other — no judgment, just music, sisterhood, and shared purpose. That’s WAMM: Women Are Making Music. When Nikki asked me to join, I told her: “But I’m not a musician.” Yet music is in me — in how I write, in how I photograph, in how I live. I was deeply honored to say yes. Since then, being part of WAMM has changed me. It’s become a family. Her partner in this dream, Crystal Dea Moore, matched her sweat for sweat, effort for effort. I watched them work — late nights, phone calls, planning, setbacks, excitement — to bring this inaugural festival to life. When people already started whispering “Next year, next year,” I silently nodded: yes, I’m already in.
WAMM Fest unfolded at The Hangar on the Hudson, a magnificent venue on the river. The owner, Brian Gilchrist, deserves credit — his support of the local music scene runs deep, and this event lit up his space in a beautiful way. Vendors filled the lot — art, jewelry, sound healing — and yes, there was a potato family with a walking potato (a detail I’ll forever smile about) walking around, sprinkling joy.
From the moment the MC, Peggy of Troy, took the microphone, the day felt special. Meeting Peggy that day became a highlight for me. She told me stories of Moochie the Dumpster Kat, the musical she created from comics she once wrote, and gave me signed copies of those original comics — of course, I had to have them. You can catch Peggy on RadioX (her show airs Tuesdays at 7 pm ET on RadioRadioX) — she’s not only highly intelligent, she’s got great taste! Have a listen! You’ll love it! .
The lineup was nothing short of breathtaking. Shannon Tehya & The Troupe brought an energy that filled every corner of the stage; her modern, joyful sound blends pop, funk, jazz, and R&B. Luminous Crush blew me away — I’d never seen them before, but they are rock stars through and through, and when they launched into “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” the whole place sang along. Also taking the stage that day were Kitty Rodeo, Vavavoodoos, Amy-Lin Slezak , Gloria Duo, Powersiren aka Erin Powers, Mark and Jill, and Joanne Delcarpine — each group/artist absolutely brought it! Nobody phoned it in, folks, they were all high gear, fun, and extremely talented. Each person that took the stage, male, female, lit the place up adding their own color and voice to the day’s tapestry.
At the very end, the WAMM All-Stars — the women of WAMM — came together for a special performance. They opened with “Lady Marmalade”, reminding us we knew some French that day. One of my favorite moments was belting out lyrics as Joanne DelCarpine ushered us into “Bitch” by Meredith Brooks — a defiant, cathartic anthem. They delivered “Dead Flowers” by The Rolling Stones, led by Lauren Chiyoko Axford on vocals and harmonica. It was gritty, it was soulful, it was a fitting close: raw, real, and united.
None of this would have been possible without sponsors and supporters who believed. Peak Music Studios, RadioradioX.com Xperience Monthly, Kaos Industries, Curtis Lumber, and Bigger Prints all invested in this vision. Their logos surrounded the stage; their names echoed in every “thank you” I whispered. The local press picked it up too — see the article “A Local Lilith Fair: First Annual WAMM Fest Rocks Hangar on the Hudson” in the Troy Record for more coverage.
https://www.troyrecord.com/2025/09/17/a-local-lilith-fair-first-annual-wamm-fest-rocks-hangar-on-the-hudson/
I also want to name some of the people whose contributions felt deeply personal: Art Fredette and RadioX go above and beyond for the music and arts community in the 518. Justin Piatti, owner of Bigger Prints, produced the banners — seeing my graphics as backdrops behind the bands made me pinch myself. AndMcKenna Geraghty, a 12-year-old photographer with more talent than many grown adults — she stood beside me, capturing moments, and seeing the beauty in everything. She’s going places.
Walking away from that night, I felt triumphant. This was more than a concert. It was a testament to dreams, to collaboration, to women’s voices rising in unison. Every artist who stepped onstage, every hand that helped carry gear, every soul who came to listen — you made history with us.
This is only the beginning. I can’t wait to see what WAMM becomes.
