OUR BODIES.
OUR FESTIVAL.
RETURNING MAY 2025.
DC, WE’RE raging to survive
may 16th & 17th!
Shoutout to our venues, our artists, our vendors, our sponsors, and our volunteers for making My Body My Festival a new tradition we love. This year’s festival will treat rage as a place of safety and power our community can always return to, and imbue plenty of love for DC and anti-capitalist messaging along the way.
THE EXPERIENCE
Your backstage pass to MY BODY MY FESTIVAL ‘25.
Food & Drink
Sips N’ Bites
Support your favorite DC businesses by ordering a drink (or a few) at our two incredible music venues: Union Stage and Black Cat.
Merch
Badges of Honor
Experience
Map it out
Map out your two-day festival with venues, locations, and DC-local bands.
After party
(Not quite) closing time
Keep the vibes going with the MBMF team at Black Cat, and celebrate the close-out of yet another My Body My Festival!
Day 1 | May 16
union stage
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Amirtha Kidambi’s Elder Ones pushes the boundaries of free jazz, composition and electronic forms, with the raw riotous energy of “spiritual punk”, comprised of vocalist, composer and keyboardist Amirtha Kidambi (Mary Halvorson's Code Girl, Darius Jones), saxophonists Matt Nelson (Battle Trance, Grid, Lydia Lunch's Retrovirus) and Alfredo Colon (Henry Threadgill, Moses Sumney, Nduduzo Makathini), bassist Lester St. Louis (jaimie branch's Fly or Die, Wendy Eisenberg’s Darlin’, HxH), and drummer Jason Nazary (Anteloper, Saint Abdullah). The ensemble’s instrumentation undergirded by the drone of the Indian pump organ harmonium forms an intricate landscape for Kidambi’s voice to traverse; she battles against its mountainous heights before sliding speedily down its slopes. Truly making an instrument of her vocal chords, Kidambi’s syllabic, frenzied, and powerful utterances weave into the alluring, hypnotic, and confronting jazz melodies of the ensemble. Dealing with issues such as power, capitalism, colonialism, white supremacy, and fascism, Amirtha Kidambi's Elder Ones are not shy to confront and resist systems of oppression and control through their music. As such, a sense of ancestral energy pulses through their performances; it feels as though they are not alone on the stage, but are rather carried along by an old knowledge buried deep within the music.
The subversive spirit and sense of collectiveness cultivated during mass demonstrations across New York City in the wake of the tragic murder of George Floyd serves as the driving force behind their forthcoming album New Monuments. Kidambi describes the title as a metaphor for tearing down old colonial monuments, paving the way for the rebuilding of new symbols. New Monuments is out on We Jazz Records (EU).
Find them here.
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"Her celestial vocal register and authentic lyrics place her in a lane that few can occupy." - Soulbounce
Vocalist and songwriter Cecily (pronounced Ses-Suh-Lee) is known for her agile soprano and honest lyrics. The Washington, DC native has a rich, soothing sound rooted in mid-century Soul and Jazz. Often drawing comparisons to Minnie Riperton and Amel Larrieux, her music is imbued with a unique sensuality that informs not only her vocal approach, but also her self-reflecting lyrics.
Cecily has been heralded for her poetic writing style. Grounded in an easy vulnerability, her lyrics speak of deep lessons around self-acceptance, freedom, community and love.
Her current album Awakening Pt. II, releasing July 26th, was directly inspired by Black Feminist writer bell hook’s text All About Love. The eight-track album explores unconditional love and its transformative power. Going beyond the romantic, Cecily delves into what hooks calls a “love ethic,” with songs navigating familial love, self-love, divine love, and love of the Earth.
The current album is Cecily’s eagerly anticipated continuation of the critically acclaimed Awakening Pt. I. The 2019 release landed her first SoulTracks Readers’ Choice Awards nomination for Best Female Vocalist of the Year and an Indie Soul Music Award for Best Female Artist of the Year. The project was named “Best New Soul on Bandcamp” by Chaka Grier of the Bandcamp Editorial Team, who praised her ability to blend “top-notch songwriting and thoughtful self-reflection with a gentle jazz-influenced sound.”
Part 1’s lead single “Clumsy” won a 2020 Washington Area Music Award (WAMMIE) for Best Soul Song, and had its music video premiere on BETSOUL and BET.com, which praised the tracks “gorgeously sultry vocals.”
Cecily’s 2018 album Songs of Love and Freedom, garnered her a 2019 WAMMIE Award for Best Soul Album and was named “Best New Soul on Bandcamp” by the Editorial team, who described the project as “stirringly timeless and modern.”
Praised across all the musical worlds from which she draws influence, Cecily featured on modern jazz stylist José James’ project No Beginning No End 2. She has opened for award winning jazz and soul artists Gregory Porter, Ezra Collective, Nate Smith, and Maysa, R&B stars Johnny Gill, Kenny Lattimore and Elle Varner, folk artist Becca Stevens and alternative soul pioneer Bilal.
Cecily has been featured at the Essence Festival of Culture, Capital Jazz Fest, The Atlanta Jazz Festival and DC Jazz Festival. She has performed multiple times at the legendary Blues Alley and Apollo Music Café, as well as The Kennedy Center, The Hamilton, Howard Theater, and at the VI Annual Mompox, Colombia Jazz Festival, having been invited by the US Embassy.
Cecily is also an experienced voice teacher certified in Somatic Voicework and trained at Shenandoah University’s Vocal Pedagogy Institute. She also leads guided meditations and sound healing workshops. On three occasions her meditations have been chosen as Editor's Picks and featured on the homepage of Insight Timer, the #1 meditation app in the country.
From creating and performing to teaching and coaching, everything Cecily does is grounded in her commitment to create work that celebrates vulnerability as a strength, unconditional love as a grounding principle, and joy as an innate human right.
Find Cecily here, plus listen to her album and watch her music video.
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Kalia Vandever is an American trombonist and composer living in Brooklyn, NY. Her approach to the trombone is distinctive and defined by her sonorous tone and lyrical improvisational voice, allowing patience and melody to guide her process.
Vandever received her Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies at the Juilliard School. She has toured and performed internationally with her quartet, performing at the Winter Jazz Festival and BRIC Jazz Festival. She has performed with Joel Ross, Immanuel Wilkins, and Fay Victor, as well as popular artists Harry Styles, Lizzo, Japanese Breakfast, Moses Sumney, Jennifer Hudson, and Demi Lovato. She has appeared on Saturday Night Live, as well as Samantha Bee's Full Frontal with Samantha Bee.
Vandever is an awardee of the 2022 Next Jazz Legacy, a program founded by New Music USA and the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice.
Find Kalia here, view her album site here, and on Instagram.
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Zoë Jorgenson has been a working bassist for many years, building a grand catalog of leader and side-person work. As she discovered her voice, she began adding vocal lines and weaving together influences from her time in various multi-genre groups. You'll hear indie-rock noise, minimalist ambient sounds, folk, and improvised traditions that deepened her love for the bass. A Las Vegas native, she embodies the desert’s wide-open skies and jewel-toned sunsets. Her compositions reflect this, paired with a dynamic, melodic stage presence. Most recently, she was a Strathmore Artist in Residence at the prestigious Strathmore Music Center.
Day 2 | May 17
black cat dc
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Alex Vaughn’s music is a testament to her rich artistry, honesty, and relentless pursuit of growth.
Hailing from Prince George’s County, Maryland, the singer-songwriter has crafted evocative R&B tracks, including her first single “Mirage,” a hypnotic reflection on a toxic situationship. Since signing with LVRN, Alex has consistently pushed boundaries, blending her classically trained musicianship with raw expression. Her project, The Hurtbook, and its deluxe edition, The Hurtbook: Homegirl Pack, showcase anthems rooted in sisterhood, authenticity, and self-love, with collaborations featuring Muni Long, Summer Walker, and Ari Lennox.
On November 22, 2024, Alex released her latest single, “Hit A Wall,” produced by Harmony Samuels under the LVRN record label. The emotionally charged track highlights her ability to craft relatable anthems, tackling themes of resilience and overcoming obstacles. Known for her introspective songwriting, Alex describes her music as a way to guide herself through life’s challenges, likening her process to being her own “fairy godmother.” Her work breathes new life into R&B, earning her recognition as a “New Artist to Watch” by Spotify and Apple Music.
With a growing catalog of projects, including Voice Notes, Alex has amassed over 24.3 million streams across DSPs and garnered acclaim from outlets like ESSENCE, VIBE, and Hot New Hip Hop. She continues to challenge stereotypes in the industry, particularly by prioritizing collaboration among women in R&B. Alex’s evolving sound, lined with authenticity and power, solidifies her as one of the genre’s most promising voices.
You can find Alex here.
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Based out of Washington, DC, Carly Harvey combines Blues, Jazz, Soul, and Indigenous American styles to produce a unique sound. She is the originator of the "Native Scat"—an improvisational fusion of a traditional Jazz scat with Native vocables. In addition to performing as a solo act, Carly is an entertaining and dynamic band leader.
According to DC Music Review, "Carly is grace, confidence, originality, and the right amount of sexy swagger all at once. She commands the stage with her voice and presence and draws you in intensely. Then she seems to end each song with an infectious smile of pure gratitude that beams so brightly into the audience.
In July 2018, Carly was featured in Big City Blues Magazine as one of the youngest Blues artists to watch. She is also a three-time DC Blues Society Battle of the Bands Winner and was proclaimed DC's Queen of the Blues in 2016 by Dr. Nick Johnson of WPFW Radio. In 2021, Carly was nominated 7 times and won the WAMMIE award for Best Blues Artist.
Carly is an Eastern Band Tsalagi and Tuscarora descendant and it is her belief that Blues not only comes from the African American experience but is also directly influenced by Indigenous American Minor Pentatonic Melodies and Stomp Dance Songs. She occasionally offers master classes to educate people about the music that gives her so much pride in her Afro-Indigenous heritage.
Find Carly at her website, Instagram, Youtube, SoundCloud, and TikTok.
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Rooted in the traditions of Latin and American jazz, with an innovative, multi-genre sound, Puerto Rican vocalist Taisha Estrada is a compelling songwriter and storyteller. Taisha engages audiences through her lyrics and dynamic stage performance. Her musical projects have been featured in the Washington Post and NPR, and she has headlined at such venues as the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage and Blues Alley.
Currently, Taisha is working towards her first single since the release of her album, a song entitled "El Abstracto," a delicately composed piece that speaks on seeking solace in ourselves and our communities amidst tumultuous times.
"As a composing musician Miss Estrada establishes herself at once as the ultimate ingénue - simple, unspoiled, unacquainted with the formulas and formalities of the world. This shows in the brilliant simplicity of her music. It is as if the waves of the Caribbean from distant shores splash, each with their singularly unique rhythms, turn up on the proverbial beaches of some part of the island where she dreams her music before she enters the studio to write and record it to perfection." - Raul de Gama of Latin Jazz Net
Find Taisha on Instagram, TikTok, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Bandcamp and her site.
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Be Steadwell (They, She, He, Be) is a queer pop composer and storyteller from Washington DC. Be composes songs on stage using looping, vocal layering and beat boxing. Be's original music features earnest lyricism, and affirming queer content. Be's goal as a musician is to make other black girlies, introverts and weirdos feel seen and loved.
Be earned a BA in Black Studies from Oberlin College and an MFA in film from Howard University in. Be's short film Vow of Silence screened in film festivals around the world, including Black Star, HBO OutFest, The Schomburg Center and Inside Out Toronto.
In 2019, Be composed the music for The Alvin Ailey Dance Company's production of "the gone". Later that year, Be wrote and directed A Letter to My Ex, the musical. A Letter to My Ex imagines a queer black woman's experience of healing after a breakup.
In 2021 Be released their pop and R&B album- Succulent.
In 2023, Be joined the cast of Parable of the Sower the Opera by Toshi Reagon and Dr Bernice Johnson Reagon.
In 2024 Be released their album, Dear Ex: the Musical. Be currently works as a lecturer in Howard University's School of Communications.
Find Be at their site.
DC, Thanks for loving us back.
Shoutout to our two venues—Union Stage and Black Cat—for providing their space in support of DCAF, and our friends at Songbird Music House for helping us kick off 2025!
One final round of applause for abortion access.
Each year, the DC Abortion Fund supports thousands of callers in getting the care they need. In 2024, we pledged $1,555,440 thanks to our supporters. To date, we’ve never turned away a caller due to lack of funding, thanks 100% to our radically supportive community. To continue to fund abortion care for those who need it, consider making a donation.