(CelebrityAccess News Service) — On July 27, there will be "A Tribute to Janis: A 60 Year Celebration of the Birth of Janis Joplin — Big Brother and The Holding Company and members of Kozmic Blues Band with very very special guests" at Central Park's SummerStage in New York. "Janis Joplin" is the guest vocalist and instead of one "Janis Joplin," SummerStage booked 14 females to participate in this one-time only event.
The vocalists are Annisette, N'Dea Davenport, Baby Jane Dexter, Nina Hagen, Milini Khan, Lena Lovich, Chan Marshall, Christine Ohlman, Judith Owen, Kate Pierson, Little Queenie, Genya Raven, Simone and Phoebe Snow.
This is the first time that Joplin's original recording and tour bands have ever been on the same bill together. Big Brother now consists of original members Peter Albin, Sam Andrew and Dave Getz along with new member Tom Finch.
Annisette (singing Kozmic Blues) She is known as the Danish Janis Joplin for her work with The Savage Rose, and Bjork has named her as one of her major influences.
N’Dea Davenport (singing Try a Little Bit Harder) This former Brand New Heavies singer has collaborated with Malcolm MacClaren, Natalie Merchant and Guru of Gang Starr.
Baby Jane Dexter (singing Turtle Blues)From her earliest days at the famous Reno Sweeny, Dexter has been a performer with a gutsy voice. a longtime cabaret performer whose booming pop contralto is one of the more formidable on voices on the New York nightclub stage.
Nina Hagen (singing Move Over, Women Left Lonely) Germany’s flamboyant Hagen has recorded six records and is considered a cult favorite in both Europe and America.
Milini Khan (singing Half Moon) Chaka Khan’s daughter Milini has seen success as the lead singer for Pretty in Pink. She has now embarked on a solo career with the release of What Can I Do?
Lene Lovich (singing Coo Coo, Ball and Chain) One of the most off beat and memorable figures in New Wave, Lovich was signed to Stiff Records and in the ‘80s gained recognition with the hits Lucky Number and New Toy.
Chan Marshall (singing Down on Me) Marshall’s band is named after one of her aliases, Cat Power. She is considered to be the quintessential plain spoken emotional indie-rocker.
Christine Ohlman (singing Call on Me, Raise Your Hand) She is a founding member of The Scratch Band and is currently with the Saturday Night Live Band.
Judith Owen (singing Woman is Losers, Bye Bye Baby) Her songs have been used in films and TV shows including in the Simpsons, where she is shown performing her song To Hell and Back. She is also married to Harry Shearer.
Kate Pierson (singing Me & Bobby McGee)Pierson is the B-52’s lead female.
Little Queenie (singing MaybeThis) New Orleans blues belter has won the prestigious Big Easy Award for best female performer in 2000 and has also appeared in the John Sayles film Passionfish.
Genya Ravan (singing Cry Baby, Good Time Roll) Raven founded Ten Wheel Drive, whose signature tune, Jerry Ragaovoy’s Stay With Me was featured in the film The Rose.
Simone (singing Little Girl Blue, Summertime) She is Nina Simone’s only daughter and has recently performed the lead in the hit Broadway musical Aida.
Phoebe Snow (singing Piece of My Heart) Snow began playing Greenwich Village clubs in the 1970's and had a huge hit with "Poetry Man." Thirty years later, she has still has all the power of her rafter-tickling earth-mama vocal persona.
A national tour of Big Brother and the Holding Company/members of the Kozmic Blues Band is in the planning stages.– edited by Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen
