In honor of Women’s History Month, we sat down for a coffee with Ladia, FXBG’s all-women band that’s redefining the local music scene. Ladia exclusively covers songs by female artists, bringing a fresh, powerful twist to iconic hits. During our chat, KP, Carly, and Joanna shared insights into their journey, the experience of being an all-female band, and how they’re honoring the incredible women who’ve shaped music history. Their performances are all about celebrating women’s voices and creating an empowering space for their audience to connect and feel inspired.
Tell us a little about Ladia.
- LADIA is an all-women band that’s celebrating the contributions of women in music. Exclusively covering women artists and women-led bands, Ladia has carved out a special place in the Fredericksburg music scene since its inception in 2022.
- Each performance offers a chance to see different Ladias in action! You may recognize our acoustic trio (KP, Carly, and Joanna), our amazing drummer, Kaitlin Gimm, and our fabulous friend Julia Christian on piano and singing backup. We also sometimes perform with a horn section featuring Sarah McCown on saxophone and flute, Sarah Thompson on trombone, and Taylor Losey on trumpet. We’ve also had the pleasure of working with guitarist Lisa Lim and sound engineer Cheyenne Tenda.
What inspired you to form an all-women band and focus exclusively on covering songs by female artists?
- After years of gigging and noticing too many Kens and not enough Barbies on stage, we decided to carve out a space of our own. Our shared vision was to create a space where women’s voices and musical talents are front and center, offering a fresh and inspiring perspective in the local music scene.
How did you choose your band name?
- We wanted to signal to the world we are here for the ladies, the girl squads, the high school friend group chat, etc.
Who are your musical inspirations?
- Joni Mitchell, Robyn, Tracy Chapman, The Chicks, Chappell Roan, Indigo Girls, The Highwomen
What is your favorite song/artist to cover?
- The artist we cover the most is Chappell Roan, she’s got all the things we love- fun vocal harmonies, energy, cheekiness- her stuff works in our acoustic trio as well as the full band, so you know the material is strong.
What message do you hope to share with your performances?
- We hope to breathe some new life into the local music scene and showcase the talent we have right here. Ladia is all about having fun being yourself and encouraging others to do the same!
If you could assemble an all-women “dream team” of musicians, dead or alive, to collaborate on a song, who would be in your lineup?
- Brandi Carlile, Taylor Swift, and Dolly Parton.
Stay tuned to their Facebook for upcoming performances and original song releases.