WHAT IS LADIES ROCK CAMP?
Ladies Rock camp is an intensive Friday-Sunday music camp in Milwaukee for women and gender expansive adults (18 years or older). Campers of all skill levels learn an instrument (guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, or vocals), form a band, write a song, and perform their song at an end-of-weekend showcase for friends, family, and fans.
Thanks for a great 2024 Ladies Rock camp! Join our mailing list for details about upcoming Ladies Rock events:
WHAT HAPPENS AT LADIES ROCK CAMP?
During camp, campers receive small-group instruction on instruments, attend workshops, and practice with their bands. Workshops focus on topics such as songwriting, conflict resolution, women in rock, band merchandising/marketing, and others emphasizing leadership and the skills women need to take over the world! Instrument instruction and workshops are taught by a volunteer staff of Milwaukee-area musicians, teachers, artists, crafters, business owners, and community organizers.
Workshops offered during past camps have included a songwriter panel & songwriting bootcamp breakout, defining your brand before you brand your band, how to be brave on stage & what’s so bad about the f-word (that would be feminism!), creating a life that reflects your values, how to soundcheck, and even a women in the music industry roundtable. Campers are also treated to private performances from some of our favorite local lady rockers, with past performers including B-Free and Shle Berry. Specific workshops to be offered each year are TBA.
INSTRUMENTS
No musical experience is required! You do not have to bring your own instrument, although you are welcome to do so. We will provide instruments and equipment during camp. In your registration, you will be asked to pick two different instruments you would be interested in playing in your band. The choices are bass, drums, guitar, keyboards, or vocals.
We do our best to accommodate all participants with the instrument they would like to play at camp while making sure we have a balance of vocals and instruments in each band.
TIMES & LOCATIONS
Camp is held from 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday, and ends with a showcase that runs from 8-9:30 p.m. on Sunday (there is an optional break/meal time on Sunday). The camp kick-off meeting is held on the Thursday evening prior to camp. Campers must be able to attend all days of the camp, as well as the showcase performance.
Past camp sessions have been held at UW-Milwaukee’s Helene Zelazo Center, Mount Mary University, the Riverwest Public House, Company Brewing, the Miramar Theater, the Sugar Maple, Circle A Cafe, Promises, and others.
COST TO ATTEND
Camp tuition is $300. This covers three days of programming, including the showcase. A nonrefundable $100 deposit is due at time of registration (this goes towards your $300 tuition).
If you are unable to pay the total amount of tuition, there is limited financial assistance available thanks to generous community partners such as All Messed Up. The deadline to apply for financial assistance is typically one month prior to camp. All applicants then receive notice of whether they will receive financial assistance by two weeks prior to camp.
Questions? Contact us!