“We are beyond excited to have En Vogue as our headliner and to share the stage with our amazing local talent, the Cunningham Sisters,” said Wendy Waters-Connell, CEO of YWCA Hamilton. “It’s truly a special moment for our community to have both an international music icon and hometown favorites in one unforgettable and inspiring evening.”
The HERstory and HERitage festival is free and set for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 8 at the Champion Mill Conference Center at Spooky Nook, 600 N. B St.. The En Vogue concert is a ticketed event and set for 7 p.m. that evening. Tickets for the concert go on sale after Feb. 1, but a price point has not yet been announced.
The Cunningham Sisters said they are excited about the opportunity to not only meet En Vogue but open for what’s being described as an intimate concert.
“Our dad and mom always taught us about music and certain artists that were performing when they were our age,” said Marie Cunningham, 17, who said opening for En Vogue “is insane” because they have been fans growing up. We relate to some of their music, and sometimes we don’t relate, but we act like we do and we just be jammin’.”
Marie and her sister Macie have the same favorite En Vogue song, which is “Don’t Let Go," Marie said she and Macie “always sing together. It’s definitely a banger.”
Macie called the opportunity to perform at the HERstory & HERitage event “quite the opportunity” as they will perform during the six-hour festival in five weeks and before En Vogue goes on stage that evening.
“These women have paved the way. It’s just real exciting to be just be a part of this, honestly, and they’ve created such a timeless catalogue, and they’ve made music that was poppin' years ago and it’s still being played today.”
The Cunningham Sisters came to prominence when they appeared on NBC’s The Voice, first appearing at the end of the fourth episode of Season 21 in September 2021. The girls made it to the round of 32 known as Knockouts.
Though the girls said the national television experience was an “insane” opportunity, the March concert will be a little more special because En Vogue was a big part of their childhood.
The HERstory & HERitage festival will honor 10 women, which include Eva Lande, Ann Antenen, Nellie Craig Walker, Virginia Ritan, Shakila Ahmad, Jackie Phillips Carter, Kathy Klink, Katherine Rumph-Cole, Kelli Kurtz, and Dr. Julia Goodman, the first female physician in Hamilton and the founder of the YWCA Hamilton.
HERstory & HERitage
Date: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 8 (En Vogue concert at 7 p.m.)
Location: Champion Mill Conference Center at Spooky Nook, 600 N. B St.
Admission: Festival admission is free and open to the public. Concert tickets are available for purchase after Saturday, Feb. 1.
More: Tickets and schedules, visit www.ywcahamilton.com/herstory-heritage.
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