These incredible women have contributed to some of the most memorable moments in Brooklyn Bowl history. In honor of International Women’s Day, we give you our top list of fierce females who inspire us to celebrate the importance of women in music. 1. Ms. Lauryn Hill Always an inspiration to watch live, Ms. Lauryn Hill returned to Brooklyn Bowl this past January and performed a powerful crowd-stirring “Fu-Gee-La.” Her ability to captivate the audience while conducting her band is truly magical.
2. Lucius The lovely ladies of Lucius appeared for CMJ’s Conflict of Interest showcase at Brooklyn Bowl in 2013. Commanding the stage as a mesmerizing sister act, Lucius made this CMJ one to remember forever.
3. M.I.A
From crowd surfing to performing atop our emergency exit doors, M.I.A. made being a fierce female look easy. Her show-stopping performance at Brooklyn Bowl in 2010 had the crowd raging with raucous energy.
4. Stevie Nicks Fleetwood Mac’s very own Stevie Nicks surprised all when she rang in the New Year alongside Deer Tick in 2014. Her everlasting ability to make crowds swoon will go down in history. 5. Nai Palm (Hiatus Kaiyote) Multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Nai Palm of Hiatus Kaiyote consistently masters the role of the ultimate rock star. Her ability to blend hip-hop, jazz, and funk with soul-crushing rhythms easily made her one of Brooklyn Bowl’s best. 6. Sister Sparrow
Arleigh Kincheloe — the spirited leader of Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds — takes charge of any stage. And with her rambunctious grooves plus her saucy combination of blues, rock, and soul, she’s a serious a queen of rock and roll. 7. Susan Tedeschi A true rock and roller, Susan Tedeschi accompanied Soulive for their fifth annual Bowlive and made the night a full-blown blues rager. From her lusciously raspy vocals to her impressive guitar shredding, she would inspire anyone to switch to a life of rock.
8. Nicki Bluhm Nicki Bluhm effortlessly leads her gang of Gramblers with plenty of country soul. Her strong passion and soft vocals command any room. Take a listen and sing along with her captivating “Dire Wolf” live at Brooklyn Bowl. 9. Maya Rudolph SNL’s very own Maya Rudolph paid tribute to Prince while backed by the Roots at Brooklyn Bowl in 2012. Her comedic impersonations spoke volumes as she performed classic Prince songs as the one and only Princess. 10. Charlotte Kemp Muhl
A world-renowned supermodel and badass bassist, Charlotte Kemp Muhl, of the Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger, mixes fierce fashion with rock and roll and makes it look so good.
11. Erykah Badu
Erykah Badu, widely known as the Queen of Neo-Soul, never fails to captivate audiences with her passionate, stimulating R&B. More than a Grammy Award–winning performer, Badu is also a practicing doula, and she visits and sings to patients at nursing homes and hospices.