A slate of local female singers come together for one night to benefit the Pacific Grove Art Center.

Dozen Deep: “When you’re a working artist, you don’t get don’t get to see other women artists often,” MaryLee Sunseri says. Oct. 14 she joins 11 others.

A slate of local female singers come together for one night to benefit the Pacific Grove Art Center.

By Adam Joseph

Thursday, October 13, 2011

A few years back, Jaqui Hope collaborated on female showcases at now-defunct outlets Bixby’s in Carmel and Ol’ Factory Café in Sand City. After those shows, she became hooked – even as those venues evaporated.  

“I really enjoyed connecting with other women, lead vocalists,” Hope says. “It can be a solitary experience and was really lovely to bond with other women musicians and share.” 

The audience seemed to dig the format just as much as Hope. 

“The shows were always standing room only,” she says. “Maybe there’s something more intimate about a woman sharing a few pieces. People are sitting and listening to lyrics and it’s a different experience than watching a bar band.” 

In her role as Pacific Grove Art Center executive director – which she claimed last January – Hope is eager to bring a Lilith Fair-esque spirit to Pacific Grove with a Wine, Women and Song fundraiser Friday night.  

While the event’s main objective is to raise money to allow the Art Center to continue providing free exhibits year round, it will also be a platform for the female vocalists of the area, which, beyond Hope, include folk singer-songwriter MaryLee Sunseri and Andrea Carter of the jazz trio Andrea’s Fault. 

“It is so rare and so special to get to see other wonderful women performers,” Sunseri says. “You’re out there on Friday and Saturday night but they’re also out there doing something wonderful.” 

Tender-voiced local fave Laura Dare, bluesy Lori Hofer, British folkie Jana Heller (of Grumbling Ginger) and impassioned rocker Linda Arceo (of Trusting Lucy) are among the other women singers slated to perform at least two songs.  

Sunseri plans to perform a jazzy original along with a cover of a Broadway show tune accompanied by Mike Marotta on accordion.  

“It’s really about expressing one’s self from your core, being authentic and the song is a vehicle in which to do that,” Hope says. “It’s a challenging thing because when you’re performing you feel this judgment from the audience and you have to kind of prove yourself, but when the music’s right and you’re connecting with the songs, you can share something that’s so delicate.” 

Adds Sunseri, “We’ve all heard each other’s names and now we’ll all be together in one room.”  