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Women's History Month March 29, 2025

This month was Woman’s History Month and I took part in two events related to it. A few years back I found myself exhausted because there were so many events for International Women’s Day that I was invited to or signed up to take part in. I swore off doing things for IWD for a little while because I felt that why should I have to do all this work, it’s my day! Maybe my tweet about it got round because now it’s Women’s History Month and the events are more manageable.

One of the glorious parts of being a musician in Newfoundland is the opportunity to be able to say things like: I can’t come to your party, I’m playing Dildo on Saturday. That’s what I did on actual International Women’s Day. I played at the Celebration of Newfoundland & Labrador Women musicians at the Dildo Brewery (in the town of Dildo) organized by Dean Clarke of Jigs and Reels Radio in Kitchener Waterloo. He’s a DJ who’s been very supportive of music made by Newfoundlanders, and he’s been very supportive of me and my music. It was really lovely to meet up with and hear the other women on the bill. Some were names I knew but hadn’t met, and others like Dana Reid were folks I’d met and heard and was delighted to hang out with more. The highlight of the day for me by far though, was meeting Sarah Legge, better known as the reigning Miss Newfoundland & Labrador! She gave a speech right before my set and I fell over myself getting her to come back to the stage area for a selfie. Kyla Tilley (long brown hair, brown floral blazer) snapping a selfie with Sarah Legge, the reigning Miss Newfoundland and Labrador! Sarah has long blond hair and is sporting a crown, sash, and burgundy gown. Both have big beaming smiles. Speaking of selfies, I never visit Dildo without getting a shot with the giant squid. Me in my glasses wearing a brown floral blazer standing next to a sculpture of a red metal sculpture of a giant squid. We're on a pier in Dildo Newfoundland, and you can see that it is a blustery day as my hair and the waves are being whipped around by the wind. And yes, it was a stormy ol day.

The second event I took part in was the Legendary Women Twitch Raid Train to benefit the Melba Foundation organized by Missy Alcazar (@MissyAlcazarMusic) on Twitch. It was a two day raid train and it was really lovely. We raised $3698.70 of the $3000 goal. The Melba Foundation raises money to put musical instruments and musical education in the hands of folks in Romblon Philippines, where Missy’s mother Melba deJoya Alcazar was from. I was very pleased to be involved in an event whose goal is to help more people make music. The Melba Foundation is always accepting donations and you can read more about the good work they do here: The Melba Foundation

— Kyla