Embarking on its fourth year, the Songbird Festival returns to town this May. Taking place on Sunday, May 3, from 10 AM to 4 PM, the festival is free to attend and will take place at the Maryland Hall.
Spanning four stages, the festival will see performances on the Theatre, Tree, Cafe and Emerging Artist Stages, the last of which will also offer open mic slots between performances. In addition to live performances, the day will also feature activities for kids and adults, local artists, community resources, vendors and food trucks.
The Songbird Collective was founded by four women in 2022: Laura Brino, Meg Murray, Danah Denice, and Jeanette Lynn. They met up together for a seemingly normal conversation that blossomed into the collective. This festival highlights women and non-binary artists in the community, creating a shared space for creativity, collaboration, and support. The collective has a strong belief that music is for everyone, a universal language that can inspire and uplift people from all walks of life.
One of the festival’s featured acts is Sonia Disappear Fear, an Americana group from Baltimore. Highlighted by lead singer Sonia Rutstein, the band originally formed in 1987 by the Rutstein sisters. Since then, Sonia has gone on to receive several awards, as well as embarked on philanthropic adventures, with her 2006 Middle East tour leading to the founding of Guitars for Peace, a non-profit group that provides children in war-torn or impoverished countries with musical instruments.
IlyAimy, short for I Love You and I Miss You, is a band whose motto is, “Dangerous music for dangerous times.” This group, based out of Baltimore, is known for their acoustic grunge, giving them a distinctive sound. The band performs in a variety of formats, ranging from two to six performers on stage.
Other musicians that are expected to draw a large crowd will be Davonne D’Neil, Local Souls, Shelby Morgan, and Friends and Folklore.
While admission is free, it is still recommended that you register in advance, and can do so here. There is plenty of parking offered at Maryland Hall, some of which is free and some of which requires payment, so make sure you have an idea of where you’ll park before you go.
As music fills the halls and local artists take the stage, the Songbird Festival continues to create space for creativity, connection and community. Whether you come to discover a new favorite artist, support local performers or simply spend the day surrounded by live music, the festival offers something for everyone to enjoy.
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