Our Day Will Come Celebrates Legendary Women Rock Artists from Cleveland and Akron, presented by Thomas Mulready and Vanity Crash

From The Poni-Tails to the Pretenders; from Ruby and the Romantics to Tracy Chapman and beyond; this original presentation hosted by Thomas Mulready and Vanity Crash honors women rockers from Northeast Ohio with interviews, testimonials, live original music and historic covers by area female artists and women-led bands Girl Cologne, Tracey Thomas, Charity Cunningham, LILIEAE, The Super Babes, Kristine Jackson, Elliott Carter and many others.

It's no secret that Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders hails from Akron, Ohio. Fewer people are aware that Tracy Chapman, who's hit song "Fast Car" reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in 1988 and #1 on the Country charts in 2023, was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio.

But it turns out there's more to the story of rock & roll women from Cleveland and Akron. The Poni-Tails, an all-girl trio from Cleveland suburb Lyndhurst, Ohio hit #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1958. And that's not all. In 1963, Ruby and The Romantics, an all-black R&B group from Akron, Ohio fronted by Ruby Nash, scored several pop & R&B hits, topped by the #1 hit, "Our Day Will Come," later covered by Amy Winehouse and released just following her passing. The Secrets, an all-girl group from Cleveland, Ohio took their hit, "The Boy Next Door," all the way to #18.

And the list of female rock & rollers from Northeast Ohio goes on and on. Debbie Smith and Sue Schmidt formed The Poor Girls while attending Firestone High School in Akron, Ohio in 1963, and before graduating had opened shows for The Who, Cream and Steppenwolf, then went on to form Cinderella's Revenge with the legendary Peter Laughner, before touring the US as post-punk pioneers Chi-Pig. Another Firestone alum, Chrissie Hynde spent her formative years on the fringe of the music scene in Akron and Cleveland before decamping for England to form the Pretenders. Although led by Akron-based Chris Butler, The Waitresses were fronted by singer Patty Donahue and hit #23 on Billboard's Top Tracks with, "I Know What Boys Like."

Through a series of live music events and exclusive interviews, Thomas Mulready presents the story of the region’s female artists and women-led bands who made an impact on rock & roll. The live show presents interviews with some of the legendary figures who achieved success in their heyday from the 1950's through the 1980's, along with others who observed the scene.

The live shows will also feature women-led ensembles and solo artists from the region performing live at Jilly's Music Room in Akron and The Beachland Ballroom & Tavern in Cleveland in May, 2024. Additional dates may be announced. Contemporary women artists on the rock & roll scene today in Cleveland and Akron will perform some of the hits that their predecessors made famous, along with a selection of their own original songs, soon destined for history. A second set each night will feature live original music by musical hosts, Cleveland's glam punk heroes, Vanity Crash.

For example, tentatively, Cleveland's LILIEAE will perform the Pretenders' "Tattooed Love Boys," Cleveland-based Girl Cologne will present Tracy Chapman's "Give Me One Reason," Akron's The Crones will sing The Waitresses' hit, "I Know What Boys Like," and Clevelander Charity Cunningham will perform the Ruby and The Romantics' smash "Our Day Will Come." Each artist will also present their own original material.

Confirmed women-led bands and artists from Northeast Ohio performing live over the course of these events include Girl Cologne, LILIEAE, Moon Echo Garden, The Super Babes, Charity Cunningham, Kristine Jackson, The Crones, Chrissy Strong, Eaten By Kittens, Patty No!, Queue Up with Alison Garrigan, Tracey Thomas, Jinni Fontana and Elliot Carter. Additional artists may be announced.

Performances will take place at 8PM on Friday, May 10, 2024 at Jilly's Music Room, 111 N. Main Street, Akron, OH 44308, and at 8PM on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at Beachland Ballroom and Tavern, 15711 Waterloo Road, Cleveland, OH 44110. Ticket information available upon request.

Performances and lineup will differ each evening. Everything is subject to radical change.

More information: https://VanityCrash.com

Photo of Chrissie Hynde by Anastasia Pantsios