Angela Marie Project

Angela Marie sports an acoustic guitar and is the driving force behind the band. It is her project and, again, everyone else’s project because life is a project and her songs tell the stories of life, from love to loss and everything in between. In “Travel Song” she sings, “The world’s a classroom without the walls. From Spokane to Victoria Falls, fatal to bigotry, meeting each other is the key.” And in “Truly Smile” she sings, “The ants keep marching, through the storm. My head is hurting and I am so worn. Gotta keep it together and be free of all this worry that’s plaguing me and truly smile.”

She believes in good and her songs reflect that. She believes in helping others and her life reflects that. The band performs at many fundraisers in support of the planet and the less fortunate, and she has traveled to other countries to aid others. To Marie, everything should be and feel as beautiful as a song.

“I do it because when someone tells me they feel moved, uplifted, or a little better about life after hearing our music, I have served one of my purposes in life.”

Collectively, the band has a hard time describing its sound. It could fit anywhere from the 1960s to the present; they are hippies, flute and all, who rock out, they are alternative yet old school, and they are high energy and a slow groove. They do not discern, and when they ask others what they think they sound like, people usually say, “You’re you.”

Talmadge McCamment plays lead guitar. He also grabs a bass when bass player and harmonizer Kat Hall picks up the flute. McCamment has played in a handful of bands but AMP is different.

“Angela’s writing is what makes a difference and so does the way we gel,” he said. “We’re good friends, we’re family. There are no egos, just a desire to spread our music and our belief that we’re all in this together.” - Spokesman Review

When Liz Rognes moved to Spokane four years ago, she was introduced to the Spokane Babes of Music.

That was a show put on by local singer-songwriter Kari Marguerite that featured local female musicians. It drew Rognes to the growing community of female artists in Spokane.

“I wanted to find a community of women because I’d spent most of my adult life in communities of women, and I valued spaces where women’s voices are significant, heard and supported,” Rognes said.

Now, Rognes is following Marguerite’s lead, organizing shows that highlight local women and female-led bands.

“I know firsthand that there are many talented local female musicians, producers, promoters and sound engineers here in the Inland Northwest and across the nation, but women are largely underrepresented or misrepresented in the music industry. This isn’t particular to Spokane or to any single city – it’s a larger societal phenomenon that interests me as a musician, as a feminist and as a scholar,” Rognes said. “Music is traditionally a male-dominated industry, and women who enter into the industry often have to battle objectification, dismissal, and we often have to work extremely hard to establish ourselves as credible, smart musicians or engineers. Mass media draws far more attention to women’s bodies than to their art, and I think this reinforces problematic cultural pressures on young women (and, in fact, women of any age) to prioritize meeting unrealistic beauty standards over expressing their intellect or their talent.”

Rognes began writing songs at college in Minnesota, where she was a music major studying classical piano, music composition and vocal performance.

“I actually kept my songwriting and infrequent café gigs a secret from my voice and composition teachers because I thought they would think it was too low-brow,” Rognes said.

While classical and jazz styles continue to be strong influences for Rognes, she eventually fell in love with folk music, the intimacy of her guitar and the liberating feeling of singing her own words, leading to the development of her jazz-influenced folk Americana style.

For the next installment of female-focused music, Rognes will be joined Thursday at nYne Bar & Bistro by locals Mama Doll and Hannah Reader (My Pinky Has A Name), along with Seattle musician Rachel Price and North Idaho’s Angela Marie Project.

The Angela Marie Project’s electro-acoustic, energetic-yet-soulful, progressive-yet-approachable sound can be heard frequently throughout the area. The band plays Tuesday at The Shop. Thursday is a double-header, as they are also playing Browne’s Addition Summer Concert Series. Other August shows include gigs in Coeur d’Alene, Liberty Lake and Pig Out in the Park. Known for their community mindedness, the Angela Marie Project specializes in fundraisers and outdoor events.

Bandleader and acupuncturist Angela Marie Slotten said she sees music as a male-dominated business despite the relative increase in airplay for female singer-songwriters, even in the past 10 years.

“There is still the strong stigma about lead singers being only prima donnas, demanding and bitchy. For example, it is easier and more acceptable for a male musician to say what they need as far as sound or with booking – they can generally be more direct without judgment, while a female musician often will hold back on asking for what they need because we are judged as demanding with lead-singer syndrome,” Slotten said.

“It is so satisfying to have this myth dispelled and have a wonderful working relationship with men in the biz. I love having other women come up and say how they feel empowered by our music and stage presence/energy,” she said. “(It) also means a lot to have girls inspired by our music in the way I was when I used to go see women singers when I was a girl. It’s getting better, but we still need to continue supporting each other, and women are good at doing that.”
- Spokesman Review written by Isamu Jordan

Seven weeks and change.

That’s the countdown until the next Spokane Street Music Week rocks the downtown sidewalks with noon-hour music and entertainment.

So there’s still plenty of time left to pass the word to anyone who has never taken part in our annual event that raises money for Second Harvest food bank. Shoot me an email via the contact information below if you’d like to get involved.

But the question lingers … Why bring up Street Music Week so early?

Because I just can’t keep the exciting news to myself any longer, that’s why.

And here it is: Spokane has a street music sister city.

That’s right. During the noon hours of June 10-14, two downtowns will battle hunger through sidewalk performance art.

They are Spokane and – ta-dah! – Appleton, Wis.

“We’re on a roll now,” Appleton resident and drummer Audrey Hendrickson said.

I’ll say.

Appleton, population 73,000, has wrapped its arms around Street Music Week.

Feeding America, eastern Wisconsin’s version of Second Harvest, is actively involved. Some Appleton stores are running specials to draw shoppers to the business core during the event.

Hmm. Why hasn’t anyone around here thought of that one?

Heid Music, where Hendrickson works and teaches percussion, has taken on an overseer’s role.

Should things go well, Hendrickson said her employer wants to take the fundraiser to the other Wisconsin cities where the store has a presence. So come June 2014, what began right here in Spokane could be repeated in Appleton, Madison, Green Bay, Oshkosh and Wisconsin Rapids.

Be still, my heart.

When I began this way back when, my goal was to survive a week of strumming my beat-up acoustic guitar in front of City Hall and other downtown destinations.

The plan was to breathe a bit of life into Spokane’s near-comatose sidewalk music scene. To my utter shock and awe, however, I collected $503 in the process.

Picking a destination for the money was a no-brainer.

Despite our affluence as a nation, hunger is still a real problem in America. For every donated dollar, Second Harvest can buy six pounds of food. That $503 could be turned into a serious mountain of life-sustaining grub.

An editor came up with a suggestion: Why not reprise my act the next year and open it up to any minstrels who’d like to join the fun?

Spokane Street Music Week was born.

Last year marked our 10th annual. Scores of generous musicians, dancers, artists and entertainers gave their time and talent to raise some $11,000 for the cause.

This record amount pushed our lifetime total to somewhere in the $40,000 range.

The uncomplicated nature of the event has probably had a lot to do with its success. Participants simply show up, take a collection bucket and find a spot to perform for an hour.

Then they bring the bucket back along with any donations, which all go to the food bank.

Because of this simplicity, I always thought Spokane Street Music Week could be duplicated in virtually any city with a downtown lunch crowd. But Appleton?

That came about thanks to a fine folk rocker named Angela Marie.

The former Wisconsin resident loved participating in Spokane Street Music Week so much that she decided to spread the word to her close friend and former bandmate, Hendrickson.

Street Music Week “is the coolest thing,” Marie said. “You just walk around and experience it. I knew Audrey would appreciate it and want to make it happen.”

She was right.

“Musicians are some of the most gracious people,” Hendrickson said. “And we’re all excited about it.”

My street music amigos and I have a saying about the event.

It’s not about virtuosity; it’s about generosity.
- Spokesman Review written by Doug Clark

The Angela Marie Project has a policy when they play at Bloomsday: No breaks.

“There may be 50,000 participants, but each one of them deserves the music so we don’t want to miss playing for anyone,” Marie said.

Marie has been an avid runner for 28 years, so she knows the importance of the spectator to the runner.

“The spectator can give a runner a boost they couldn’t have found on a solo run,” Marie said.

Now put that in the context of 30 bands and you have staggered mile markers of inspiration as the runners go by.

Marie and her band will provide some of that inspiration at Bloomsday for the third year, playing their brand of progressive pop near Spokane Falls Community College.

“I often have a hard time singing through my tears as I truly feel and am personally moved by the runners,” she said.

Marie said she had to rethink her no-breaks policy last year at Bloomsday when a man suffered a heart attack near where the band was performing.

“I wasn’t sure whether to keep playing. With much consideration and after some strong wordless communication with the medical staff, we kept playing,” Marie said. “Later the staff thanked us profusely, saying the music was key to keeping people moving and redirecting attention away from their necessary work.”

Along with AMP’s no-breaks rule, they also have a policy that they aren’t finished until they play their last song for the cleanup crew.

“The volunteers are vital to this event,” Marie said. - Spokesman Review written by Isamu Jordan

The Angela Marie Project has a policy when they play at Bloomsday: No breaks.

“There may be 50,000 participants, but each one of them deserves the music so we don’t want to miss playing for anyone,” Marie said.

Marie has been an avid runner for 28 years, so she knows the importance of the spectator to the runner.

“The spectator can give a runner a boost they couldn’t have found on a solo run,” Marie said.

Now put that in the context of 30 bands and you have staggered mile markers of inspiration as the runners go by.

Marie and her band will provide some of that inspiration at Bloomsday for the third year, playing their brand of progressive pop near Spokane Falls Community College.

“I often have a hard time singing through my tears as I truly feel and am personally moved by the runners,” she said.

Marie said she had to rethink her no-breaks policy last year at Bloomsday when a man suffered a heart attack near where the band was performing.

“I wasn’t sure whether to keep playing. With much consideration and after some strong wordless communication with the medical staff, we kept playing,” Marie said. “Later the staff thanked us profusely, saying the music was key to keeping people moving and redirecting attention away from their necessary work.”

Along with AMP’s no-breaks rule, they also have a policy that they aren’t finished until they play their last song for the cleanup crew.

“The volunteers are vital to this event,” Marie said. - Spokesman Review written by Isamu Jordan

Occasionally performing as a solo act, often performing with her band of collaborators – including a flute-playing bass player and backup vocalist, lead guitarist and drummer – Angela Marie is perfectly at home on her own or leading the way in the group setting.

For seemingly months on end the singer-songwriter and guitarist has been playing two to three shows per week.

Somehow during that time she managed to record a full-length CD, “Seriously Lighthearted,” which she releases on Tuesday. - Spokesman Review

Spokane’s own Angela Marie Project performs all-original music all over the state. It’s rockin’ It’s folkin’ It’s grooving’ It’s about four friends who want to be friends with you through their music! AMP is a longtime supporter of the LGBTQ community and is honored to perform in support of Odyssey Youth Center’s 20th Anniversary. - Odyssey Youth Center

Angela Marie Project Band....OMG, you all so rock! I think I am in love w/ all of you...for those who don't know. Angela Marie Project band does many events, fundraisers and more...at no cost. Meeting them for the first time, to see their hearts and love and passion to reach out to the community and and bless not only the LGBT Center tonight, but to other organizations...to see to it, we continue with what we do in our community...Thank you all so much, and it was such an honor to meet all of you. - Frank L. Cooper

Last weekend I got to work with one of my favorite groups of people again — The Angela Marie Project. I’ve photographed these cats a couple times previously, one of those times being at the Annual Earth Day celebration in Downtown Spokane. They contacted me and arranged for me to shoot the Earth Day gig again.



But that’s not all.



I was offered the amazing opportunity to provide them with a shot for their upcoming album to be released this summer! You’ll have to wait in suspense on the album shots, however, as I won’t be posting them until after the album is released.



Here are some of my favorites from their Earth Day gig. It was a bloody, good time — literally — their guitarist sliced his finger open on a broken string halfway through the show, toughing it out and playing through the rest of the set without skipping a beat.



It’s always a blast to photograph these guys and you just can’t beat shooting outdoors in 70-degree sunshine in April. I want to give a huge thank-you to The Angela Marie Project for continuing to provide me with awesome opportunities to work with them. They’re a great group of people and terrific musicians. Give them a listen sometime if you haven’t yet! - Mike McCall Media

Finally got to hear the Angela Marie Project live last night! What a fantastic group of people! Angela Marie's energy is amazing!
Thanks for rocking the stage today. You helped make the entire festival perfect!!! - KYRS Queer Sounds Radio Show

Having played 70-odd live shows in a year's time, the Angela Marie Project is already a prolific part of the local scene. Angela's strong voice and songs of life are backed up her band of close friends. Their rather progressive, upbeat blend of rock, folk, soul and other styles make for a sound that is best experienced live and in-person. For the next best thing, you can hear the Angela Marie Project perform several songs live in the 103.1 KCDA Local Lounge this Sunday, plus a couple tracks from their CD "Seriously Lighthearted."

- 103.1 KCDA Local Lounge

"AMP is very tight, the sound of well rehearsed veteran musicians. Angela Marie's smoky vocals lead the group through her original edgy light rock that is energetic and fresh.

Playing acoustic guitar as if it were an electric, Angela Marie drives the band. Her lyrics are without boundaries, from the heart but not whiny or placid. Angela Marie is an animated performer who complements the character of the group. She creates excitement in any venue." - Sandpoint River Journal By Music editor Ernie Hawks