Can a Sista Rock a Mic Festival showcases female artists

Kimberly Nichole crooned her way into this year's Can a Sista Rock a Mic Festival with her soulful renditions of Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy."

"She just killed it; she's just got great stage presence," said Kimani Anku of Northeast, who founded the festival five years ago with business partner Brandon Felton.

Nichole, a New York native, performed in downtown Silver Spring on Saturday during the CASRAM Summer Lovefest along with local rapper Ra the MC, Princess of Controversy, Deborah Bond, Alison Carney, Yahzarah, Shae Fiol and other artists.

The festival is a showcase series of female artists. The event swelled to 11 days from the usual six as the pair took last year off because of lack of funding.

Volunteers with the local Grammy office shouldered the stress and the myriad responsibilities that the event founders usually juggle, which could mean passing out literature to the crowd, giving water bottles to artists and serving as stage managers.

"It felt good to see so many people come out to support. When you see different people who got on a bus from New Jersey and New York, or piled in a car from Philly, it's like, 'Wow, people are starting to really get it,' " Anku said.

Anku also made contacts with representatives from the Capitol Jazz Festival about potentially collaborating and having a small stage at their event next year.

He also connected with people from Live Nation, a concert events company, who are planning to stage concerts in Silver Spring in 2011.

Neo-soulster Dionne Farris connected with the audience during the opening event at Ben's Next Door. Local band Black Alley, fronted by Kacey, and online discovery Shae Fiol mesmerized the crowds, Anku said.

"Shae just has great vocals. We brought her on, and she sold over 100 CDs on Saturday," he said. "Black Alley is homegrown and used to be a go-go band. They're like a rock and soul band now. Kacey, who just has a good presence, did some Tina Turner songs, and they did a great job."

Because 200 to 300 acts submit applications to perform, organizers want to have a band competition to choose artists next year.

"We can't put all 200 on, and because there are that many submission just shows that it's a needed event," he said.

Metropolitan Muse will perform with Collette and Abby Dobson at Station 9, 1438 U St. NW, at 8 p.m. Thursday. Admission is $10. The festival will close with the CASRAM Hip Hop Cinema Cafe screening of the documentary "P-Star Rising" at 2 p.m. Saturday. A panel discussion will follow the free screening with rapper Nonchalant at 801 K St. NW. For details about the festival and events, visit http://www.bgirlmanifesto.com/casram/.