FIRST LIGHT · Montauk
✦

FIRST LIGHT

an all-women East End songbook
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A proposed opening set for
BRANDI CARLILE
Montauk Point Lighthouse  ·  July 23, 2026
Prepared for Brandi Carlile, Murmrr, and the Montauk Historical Society

So many female musicians…

There is a wave of women releasing original music on the East End of Long Island in numbers like never before.

~55
experimental bands
formed in 9 years
~10
bands
that stuck
~5
publishing original
music this year

“Where else can you find this many female musicians forming this many bands, in one place, at one time?”

— Kathy Hendy

They came from somewhere amazing.

Holly Li & Christine Sciulli founded The Battle of the Fantasy Girl Bands as a fun fundraiser. Since 2016 it has quietly become an incubator for women in music on the East End.

Battle of the Fantasy Girl Bands

Battle of the Fantasy Girl Bands

Since 2016 at the Stephen Talkhouse, the Neo-Political Cowgirls’ rite-of-passage has turned East End women into bandmates — and friends.

Pallapalooza all-female lineup

Local stages say yes

The Talkhouse, the Clubhouse, the Green Room, TAUK and more — a few of the local haunts that welcome these musicians.

Press coverage: The East Hampton Star, WLIW-FM, The East Hampton Press, LTV Studios, and The Express Magazine feature on M Takes the Mic

A press that’s watching

The East Hampton Star, Dan’s Papers, 27east, James Lane Post, LTV and a strong community have chronicled the scene all along.

Not just one, but many voices.

And for Brandiland, that means choices:

Path 1

Backing tracks

Singers/songwriters perform against their own backing tracks — the easiest set-up.

Hear some songs →
or
Path 2

The house band

One tight house rhythm section backing a rotating cast of East End women singing original music.

Meet the band →

In both cases, each songwriter performs Brandiland-approved originals.

The house band

Four players. One pocket. They hold the night together.

Mila Tina

Mila Tina

Drums & Percussion
@milatina.official
Kathy Henderson

Kathy Henderson

Bass
@fistfkband
Rebel Elle

Rebel Elle

Guitar & Voice
@Rebel.Elle.Music
Katherine King

Katherine King

Keys & Voice
katherineking.nyc

Original songs: choose 1, some or all.

The women bringing their own originals to the Lighthouse — press play to hear each one.

Your Deep Heart cover

Emily Weitz

Voice & Guitar
♪Your Deep Heart
♪Brave Girl, New World
Birthday Suit cover

Rebel Elle

Guitar & Voice
♪Birthday Suit
♪Blind Eye
Creed cover

Katherine King

Keys & Voice
♪Creed (demo)
♪Las Olas (demo)
The Fistys

The Fistys

 
♪I Dissent
♪Pickle
Maybe they’d be glad to collab? →

Maybe they’d sing too!

Other East End names we’d be honored to welcome.

Inda Eaton

Inda Eaton

indaeaton.com
Annie Trezza

Annie Trezza

@annietrezza
Nora Conlon

Nora Conlon

@Nora.Conlon

The set

A tight, celebratory 35–45 minutes — paced like a relay, building to one shared finale.

1

Lights up

The first song sets the groove, and the first songwriter steps up to the mic.

2

Women bring originals

Each performs their song(s) and then seamlessly introduces the next songwriter — keeping it scripted and simple.

3

Seamless segues

No dead air — well-designed transitions; the baton passes, voice to voice.

4

All of us, one song?

The full collective on stage for a crowd-friendly closing anthem — “What’s Up” by 4 Non Blondes, anyone?

Black wide-brim fedora
✦

The ask

Offer these East End musicians the opening slot.
Katherine King  ·  on behalf of The First Light Playbook  ·  +1-212-804-8766 (mobile)