The Banjo Babes Calendar & Album has released two beautiful editions of the project (2014 and 2015), each edition combining an artistically crafted wall-calendar with a professionally produced, mastered, and packaged compilation album. The 12-inch-square calendar showcases an artist above each month, with a thematic photo, bio, website, and a reference to her track on the CD below it. The compilation album features one music track from each artist or band, and comes in a beautiful eco-package with a multi-page insert. 



The project is about much more than just a calendar or compilation album - featured artists are welcomed as an integral part of this fun and empowering project, a banjo sorority of sorts. Featured artists enjoy publicity from collaborative distribution of the calendar and on the album, opportunities to distribute (and make a profit from) the product at their own shows, as well as participate in multi-bill shows with other performers.

Artists featured in the project are women who play the banjo full- or part-time professionally - women of all ages, backgrounds, styles, body types, etc. Artists featured in the past have included, in no particular order: Moira Smiley, Laurie Shook (of Shook Twins), Lindsay Rilko (Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys), Evie Ladin, Kendl Winter (of The Lowest Pair and Winter Winter), Erin Inglish, Megan McKamey (of The Velvet Blue), Donna Lynn Caskey, Grace Van't Hof, Maggie MacKay (of Chasing Blue Band), Janna Kim (based in Uzbekistan), Katie West (a.k.a. Katie Euliss of Truckstop Honeymoon and 40 Watt Dream), Hayley Thomas (of Tarweed Two & the Two-Time Boys, and Hayburner), Chloey Davis, Megan Saunders (of The Driftless), Chris Avetta, Sharon Martinson (of The Littlest Birds), Susie Monick (formerly of Buffalo Gals), Laurie Michelle Caner (of Hey Mavis), Jami Lynn, Dani Aubert (of Patchy Sanders), Amber Rogers (of Scenic Roots), Allison de Groot, and Emily Dowden.



Thanks to the annual pledge campaigns and the help of advertising partners, the project is able to distribute hundreds of CD's and calendars, at no cost, to radio stations, reviewers, media and promoters around the world. The first two editions of the compilation CD's have been heard on radios and distributed to fans all over the world; the beautiful full-color wall-calendars are hanging on thousands of walls of banjo music fans. It is a very worthy project, with admirable goals, and a talented sisterhood of featured artists.



In the late Fall and/or early Winter of each Calendar season (October through March), the Banjo Babes Calendar & Album project releases their calendar and album, as well as produces a tour featuring double- and triple-bill shows of incredible lady banjo artists, including their featured artists, alumni, and members of the greater extended family of banjo-wielding women.



Between now and June 19th, 2015, the Banjo Babes Calendar & Album organizers and alumni invite all professional lady banjo artists to apply to become a featured artist. They look forward to welcoming a new group of artists to be a part of their 2016 project! Interested parties are kindly invited to apply at www.banjobabescalendar.com.