Static Live Magazine February 2019

The Swamp Sistas Look Forward to Spring 2019
Every year has dates that we all anticipate. A few big ones rise
above of the fray of daily routine and looking forward to them
gets us through lusterless days. When we’re young, the lucrative
holidays hold our attention, because those are the ones
that come with gifts and cake. As we get older, we find ourselves
anticipating certain dates for different reasons - the joy
of gathering with friends and family, sharing stories, enjoying
good music, drink and food and, of course, lots of love.
We are the Swamp Sistas, a group of creative women who believe
that, working together, we can make a positive difference
in our community, and we are hosting some events this spring
that will provide all of the benefits listed above and the joy of
giving, too. We are terribly excited about all of them and they
will culminate on the date we’re anticipating the most, Saturday,
May 18, when we present our 8th annual Swamp Sistas La
La at the Orlando Fringe Festival Outdoor Stage in Loch Haven
Park.
by Beth McKee and Amy Robbins
and Chef-winemaker Jamie McFadden (Cuisiniers Catering and
Snowbirds Vintners) who have both made it a mission to give
back to the community whenever they can. All the proceeds
from the brunch will go directly to Second Harvest Food Bank
of Central Florida as part of our La La Summer Hope fund raising
effort.
The Swamp Sistas performance ensemble, consisting of founder-leader
Beth McKee, Gailanne Amundsen, Amy Robbins,
Renee Arozqueta and Hannah Harber will perform an acoustic
set for guests as they dine, family style, at large tables for a $75
donation per plate. Of course we hope those that can afford
to will chip in more. We are very much looking forward to the
brunch which will most likely sell out very quickly.
As we’ve described in this space previously (and maybe you
missed it) “La La” is a Creole term for a party that also serves a
community purpose, and that is exactly what happens when
the Swamp Sistas gather to present a day’s worth of performances
and raise money to help Second Harvest Food Bank of
Central Florida feed hungry kids over the summer months.
Because we want it to be accessible to everyone, the Swamp
Sistas La La is free to attend, we will collect donations that day
and during the weeks prior to it, with our La La Summer Hope
fund drive, making it easy for folks to give what they can afford
to give, online and in person.
On Sunday, March 24, we will prelude the La La and initiate the
spirit of giving when we present our first ever La La Summer
Hope Spring Brunch at Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts in Winter
Park. Cookbook co-authors Heather McPherson and Pam
Brandon, two Swamp Sistas at the forefront of Central Florida’s
burgeoning food scene, are coordinating the brunch with
James Beard nominee, Chef Kathleen Blake (the Rusty Spoon)
There are other exciting events that we are hosting as part
of our La La Season. On one Wednesday night in late April or
early May (TBD) we will invite friends and family to join us for
a volunteer jam at the Food Bank, where we will sort and box
donated food items then celebrate with snacks and music by
some of our singer-songwriter Sistas. On the week before the
La La, we’ll present a warm up concert at a local venue as a
teaser for the big event. Don’t worry, we’ll share information
about these gatherings, and more, in upcoming columns, but
for now we want to make sure you mark your calendar for the
La La on May 18th, and the brunch on March 24. We also want
to spread the word that we are excited about what Spring 2019
holds for us and for the good we can accomplish right here in
Central Florida.
All Photo Credit:
Angel Lalumondier
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