Sisterhood in Song 2025:

Women’s Song Circle and Women’s Theme Night at the VFSS

A great group of women from four generations; what could be better?

In preparation for the March 2025 International Women’s Day theme night at the VFSS, we organized a women’s song circle in February focussing on songs by women and about women’s experience. A dozen or so of us brought delicious snacks, instruments, tunes and good cheer to Barb’s house on a late winter afternoon. Around the circle we went, explaining what brought us to our love of singing, singing together and in harmony.

Narratives ranged from campfire singing to family gatherings to sister harmonies and choirs. There was a definite ease and familiarity in how we spoke and sang songs, and a clear reflection of our generational experience. The “youngers” sang songs like MILK’s Quiet, Savage Daughter, and Never One Thing, while the “olders” offered Woman of Labrador, Ferron’s Testimony and She Shanty.

Whether one or 5 decades old, these lyrics all had a deep resonance with aspects and phases of our lives as women. The breadth of offerings was mind-blowing! We learned and taught Bread and Roses, so that we could all sing this iconic feminist anthem at the March Women’s Theme Night. It was a lovely afternoon, full of of spirit and energy and sisterhood.

Three weeks later, for the special women’s theme night, three of our core singers got very sick and we had to change our plans on the fly. A last-minute appeal by email brought out dozens of women and men to bolster the program, and, like a good stew, it turned out rich and hearty.

As the notes of Bread and Roses rang out across four generations, our hope was replenished, once again.

The recording and video from the women’s theme night will soon be available.

Watch this space.