This year the beloved festival Ladyfest, which has moved to Waban Alley Park, was bigger than ever — more than 900 tickets sold, plus vendors and crew, brought the number to about 1,300.
There were outstanding local bands, and the brilliant Esperanza Spalding as the headliner, but the biggest crowd pleaser of the evening unfolded as the crowds were dispersing and vendors packing up: Ben Taylor, a surprise guest act, had his own surprise guests: his mother and sister Carly Simon and Sally Taylor, a rare and some might argue historic moment for musical history on the Island.
But there was far more going on than just the headliners. Ladyfest itself has an extraordinary history, and proves how well the Island community can come together, both to celebrate talent and to support a good cause.
The idea sprang from Island residents Kelly Feirtag and Rose Guerin — a festival to raise money to help nonprofits that protect women from domestic violence. They launched Ladyfest in 2017 at the Ritz in Oak Bluffs, but “then it blew up and moved outside … along Circuit Ave.,” said Feirtag.
Eventually, it grew so big — three stages along the street, interspersed with vendors — that it outgrew even Circuit Avenue. After taking a hiatus in 2024, the organizers realized that there was the giant and often unused Waban Alley Park a stone’s throw from downtown.
“The park department and the select board gave us permission.” Feirtag said. “They were so supportive, and we’re really grateful.
Because they’re still experimenting with the new space, the organizers had only one stage; going forward, they hope to have two.
Aside from the headliners and the surprise act, local artists included Nanauwe, a Wampanoag tribe member; Dana Williams; Island Hip Hop; Dwight and Nicole; and the Outskirts; as well as Guerin herself.
But the success of the day wasn’t just the music. There were 56 vendors, selling everything from food to crafts to clothes to (at one booth) vibrators. Vendor Jessica Kramer described the energy as friendly and fun, and enjoyed the circular economy she witnessed: “Someone would buy something from a booth, and then that vendor would go and buy something from another booth, and then the second vendor would go buy food — that kind of thing, all day. I ended up having a financially successful day.”
All the booth fees went to Connect to End Violence, a branch of Martha’s Vineyard Community Services that supports survivors of domestic violence and rape. It was also an opportunity for outreach from the five nonprofits on the Island that “support the community’s better wellness and health,” said Terre Young, board chair of Martha’s Vineyard Sexual Wellness, represented at the festival along with Connect, Health Imperatives, the Red House, and the Island Wide Youth Collaborative.
“It was an opportunity to connect with the community,” said Young. “We could ask them, ‘Here’s what we do, what do you need?’ The festival allowed all of us exposure and connection, which is the best.”
