Join the Gay Women of Rehoboth for an extraordinary evening of music, history, and community with folk icon, feminist pioneer, and activist Holly Near.
Sunday September 13th at Epworth Church (19285 Holland Glade Road) in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Doors open at 4:00 PM and the show starts at 5:00 PM. Get your tickets below.
About Holly Near
Born in 1949 in Ukiah, California, Holly Near began performing as a teenager, initially pursuing acting and musical theater. Her path shifted dramatically in the early 1970s when she joined the Anti-War movement and toured with the Free Theater Associates alongside Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland.
Recognizing music as a vital vehicle for social change, Near dedicated her life to blending art with activism. Across a career spanning over five decades, she has released more than 30 albums, collaborated with legends like Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, and Ronnie Gilbert, and performed across the globe advocating for peace, LGBTQ+ equality, women’s rights, and environmental justice.
Her Influence on Women’s Music
Holly Near is widely recognized as one of the founding architects of the Women’s Music Movement in the 1970s.
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Pioneering Independent Recording: In 1973, Near founded Redwood Records, one of the earliest independent, women-owned record labels in the United States. Redwood Records bypassed mainstream record industry gatekeepers to produce, promote, and distribute music by women artists, multi-cultural acts, and progressive musicians.
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Anthms for the Movement: Following the assassination of Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone in 1978, Near penned “Singing for Our Lives,” an anthem that became an enduring hymn for the LGBTQ+ movement worldwide and was later included in the official Unitarian Universalist hymnal.
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Building Feminist Cultural Spaces: Alongside peers such as Cris Williamson, Margie Adam, and Meg Christian, Near transformed music venues into safe, empowering spaces for women, lesbians, and feminist activists to gather, celebrate, and organize.
Her work established a blueprint for DIY independent artistry and proved that music could simultaneously build community, challenge power structures, and heal hearts.
Don’t miss this opportunity to experience a living legend whose voice and vision continue to inspire generations of artists and activists. Space is limited—secure your tickets early!