Rosie and the Riveters latest CD, Ms. Behave, depicts a woman’s struggle in a man’s world.
The group is touring North America after releasing their CD April 6 and will perform in Stettler as part of the Variety Showcase Series.
“There is a whole new age of feminism starting up,” said Alexis Normand in a phone interview from Lexington, Kentucky.
Ms. Behave encourages women to discard their habit of trying to please, be true to themselves and aims to give women the confidence to be agents for change in their communities.
“We wanted to write songs about topics close to our hearts,” said Normand. “It turns out we have a lot of things to say about being women today.”
The group started writing songs for this CD before the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment and assault that went viral last fall.
“This is a collection of gritty, sultry, vintage-inspired folk anthems that paint a portrait of a woman’s voice in a man’s world,” said Rosie and the Riveters’ publicist Beth Cavanagh.
The Saskatchewan-based group, which consists of Allyson Reigh, Alexis Normand and Farideh, got their name from the Second World War’s Rosie the Riveter who embodied the women’s movement during that time.
The group also practices what they sing investing 20 per cent of their merchandise profits - $9,400 so far - into about 200 women’s projects around the world to help women become more self-sufficient through KIVA.org.
Rosie and the Riveters have performed for British Royalty and won a 2016 Saskatchewan Arts Award. Their video I Believe You was featured in Billboard Magazine on International Women’s Day. They were featured in Rolling STone Country magazine, who caught their Nashville show.
“Things are going really well,” said Normand. “We are enjoying this kind of momentum.”
Their show on May 6 is at the Stettler Performing Arts Centre.
“We are really looking forward to coming to Stettler,” said Normand. “Our show is uplifing and empowering. It’s not just for feminists. There’s something in it really fun for everyone.”