Tuesday , March 19 2024
Marla Mase's "Speak" show is going to SummerStage 2013, on August 17 in New York City!

Marla Mase to Host Free “Speak” Performance

New York rock/crossover artist/activist Marla Mase has confirmed that she and guitarist Tomás Doncker will be bringing her “Speak” show to SummerStage 2013 in New York City later this month. They will join a lineup that includes The Zombies, Django Django, Shuggie Otis, Femi Kuti, a celebration of the 40th birthday of hip-hop (featuring Rakim, Dead Prez, and Big Daddy Kane, amongst others), Lianne la Havas, and more. “Speak” is a multimedia dance, art, and music extravaganza inspired by her album Speak Deluxe. It will combine music, visual art, dance, and spoken word poetry to promote peace. In the show, Mase will explore what it means to be a modern woman. According to the press release, through a “powerful portrayal of a woman’s confinement, sexuality, body image, trauma, oppression and freedom,” Mase will “celebrate the raw reality of the human condition as expressed through the eyes, bodies, and voices of women.”

Mase combines rock (alternative/classic), punk, spoken word, funk, reggae, and experimental music into a memorable mixture. She has similarities to a wide variety of artists, including Patti Smith, David Byrne, Frank Zappa, Iggy Pop, Ian Dury, Jim Morrison, and Henry Rollins. According to her website, the musician was awarded an honorary “Messenger of Peace” award by Friends of the UN for her work as a visionary artist/songwriter, and was invited to perform in China for the UN’s annual International Day of Peace event on September 21, 2012. Mase has also been featured on the websites of the likes of the Huffington Post, Underthegunreview.net, Critical Mob, Rock & Roll Report, and AbsolutePunk.net.

Her upcoming performance at the “Speak” show (with Doncker’s band) is guaranteed to be sexy, raw, and edgy. According to the press release, the music, co-written by Mase and Doncker, is an important aspect of the show, and it will contain everything from rock and funk, to world beat, reggae, electronica, and soul music. Mase’s “Speak” performance takes place on August 17 at The East River Park. It is free to the public. More event information can be found at the website of the City Parks Foundation.

Photo credit: MarlaMase.com

About Kate Derringer Barclay

Kate Derringer Barclay is the pseudonym of a freelance writer and blogger. Kate Derringer Barclay is also working on her first book.