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THE 4TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY, CURATED BY 18//88 PRODUCTIONS, WAS CELEBRATED ON MARCH 4, 2026 AT THE HOTEL CAFE, WITH SOME TALENTED FEMALE ARTISTS, BY DON MACELO

On Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 18//88 PRODUCTIONS celebrated its 4th annual International’s Women’s Day at the renowned music venue, The Hotel Cafe. On this night we were introduced to 9 talented women artists who defined what it meant to be a strong independent woman/artist by performing LIVE in front of an intimate audience, celebrating this…

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On Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 18//88 PRODUCTIONS celebrated its 4th annual International’s Women’s Day at the renowned music venue, The Hotel Cafe. On this night we were introduced to 9 talented women artists who defined what it meant to be a strong independent woman/artist by performing LIVE in front of an intimate audience, celebrating this occasion.

Written and Photo Gallery by © Don Marcelo Photography 2026

Robert of 18//88 PRODUCTIONS (https://1888media.wordpress.com/) has been in the PR business for several years now, started curating this event 4 years ago for a chance and “opportunity to give back [and] to also gather friends and associates to enjoy an evening together to listen to songs and stories as a way to create relationships with the public.”

As the night unfolded and the doors were opened to the public, the audience slowly trickled in and were immediately swallowed into the dark lit venue. They were greeted with glimmers of beautiful sights, sounds, and laughter from each artist who performed on this night. Nine of the artists (with some artists who brought a friend along with them to perform) sang and played for us beautifully. One artist did not sing, but rather delighted us with her comedic act. Along with the great presence of each artist, a young female emcee introduced each artist on this night.

Overall, each one presented a powerful performance that showcased their talents and shared their thoughts about International Women’s Day and what it’s like to be a female artist in the field of entertainment.

ACT 1: Nthenya (part one)

“In Canada, I was their Lebron and their Oprah…In America, I am Flavor Fav,” stated by Nthenya. The night was initiated by stand up comedian, Nthenya. Born in Kenya and raised in Vancouver, Canada, her comedic act “explores identity, culture shocks, and the beauty of contradictions.” You can find out more about Nthenya at www.nthenyafromkenya.com .

A performer on stage with a microphone, wearing a black jacket and maroon pants, expressing emotions while standing in front of a red curtain.
A female comedian stands on stage, microphone in hand, gesturing expressively. She is wearing a black jacket and burgundy pants, set against a red curtain backdrop.
A female comedian performing on stage with a microphone, wearing a black blazer and maroon pants, set against a red curtain backdrop.
Comedian performing on stage with a microphone in front of a red curtain.
A comedian performing on stage in front of a red curtain, holding a microphone and engaging with the audience.
A stand-up comedian passionately performing on stage with a microphone, wearing a black blazer and shiny pants, captured in a black-and-white photo.

ACT 2: Juliet Korver and Markie

Philadelphia born Juliet Korver along with her brother Markie on Guitar and Piano, enticed the audience with her strong and angelic vocals wrapped up with spiritual sounds of piano and guitar. Along with her philanthropic and humanitarian cause that she contributes to the world, “Juliet’s creative muse is guiding the next chapter with the release of her memoir/companion album, ‘A SCATTERING OF STARS.’” Find out more about Juliet at www.julietkorver.com .

A performer singing on stage with arms raised, wearing a white suit, accompanied by a guitarist playing an electric guitar.
A female vocalist in a stylish white outfit sings into a microphone on stage, while a male guitarist plays an electric guitar beside her against a backdrop of red curtains.
A woman in a patterned white outfit plays an acoustic guitar on stage, with a red curtain backdrop.
A woman in a stylish, patterned suit plays an acoustic guitar on stage, with a red curtain background, focusing intently on her performance.
A woman singing passionately into a microphone while playing an acoustic guitar on stage, captured in black and white.
A woman singing into a microphone while playing an acoustic guitar on stage, with a red curtain in the background.
A woman singing into a microphone while playing an acoustic guitar on stage, with a red curtain in the background.
A woman performing on stage with a guitar, wearing a floral-patterned outfit, in front of a microphone against a dark curtain background.
A female singer performing on stage with a guitar, wearing a patterned white outfit, in front of a red curtain.
A woman in a white patterned suit sings into a microphone while playing an acoustic guitar on stage, with a red curtain backdrop.
A woman in a stylish white suit with a patterned design performs on stage, singing into a microphone while playing a black acoustic guitar. The backdrop features red curtains.
A singer performing on stage with a guitar, wearing a white suit with a floral pattern, against a red curtain backdrop.

ACT 3: Lucy Clearwater

According to what is written about Lucy, she was “born in a bathtub in a cookie factory in California.” On this night, Lucy brought to us her talent in playing acoustic folk guitar and her singing voice. Lucy, whose background lies in classical violin, is a multi-instrumentalist singer/songwriter who draws inspiration from artists such as Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, and Lucinda Williams. Find out more about Lucy at www.lucyclearwater.com .

A young woman performing on stage with an acoustic guitar, wearing a black long-sleeve top and light blue jeans, against a red curtain backdrop.
A young woman plays an acoustic guitar and sings on stage, with a red curtain backdrop and musical instruments in the background.
A woman performing on stage with an acoustic guitar against a red curtain backdrop.
A musician singing into a microphone while playing an acoustic guitar on stage, with a dark curtain in the background.
A female singer passionately performing with an acoustic guitar on stage, captured in black and white.
A woman performing on stage with an acoustic guitar, surrounded by red curtains and musical equipment.
A young woman passionately sings into a microphone while playing an acoustic guitar, with a vibrant red curtain in the background.
A young woman playing an acoustic guitar while singing on stage, with a red curtain backdrop.
A young woman singing and playing an acoustic guitar on stage with red curtains in the background.
A woman singing passionately into a microphone while playing an acoustic guitar on stage, with red curtains in the background.
A young woman performing on stage with an acoustic guitar, wearing a black top and light blue pants, singing into a microphone. There is a drum set and amplifier visible in the background, with red curtains as the backdrop.
A young woman performing on stage with a guitar, wearing a black long-sleeve top and light jeans, with a microphone in front of her and a red curtain backdrop.

ACT 4: Mary Scholz

Described as having a haunting voice with evocative songwriting and impeccable guitar playing, her strong presence on stage along with her message of love, give strength and hope to everyone who listens to her music. Mary, a dedicated activist who creates spaces for everyone, has been showcasing her music in the LIVE music circuit for the past 15 years and has made quite an impact in the music scene. On this night she sang a song about a recent bombing that had occurred where 165 kids were killed, “May we keep lifting up our voices for each other…” as she prepared to perform for us. Find out more about Mary at www.maryscholz.com .

A female musician passionately singing and playing an acoustic guitar on stage, with a microphone in front of her. The background features a red curtain, and there are musical instruments, including a drum set, visible behind her.
A female musician performing on stage with an acoustic guitar, wearing a light-colored top and brown pants. The background features red curtains, and there are musical instruments like a drum set visible behind her.
A woman with long hair sings passionately into a microphone while playing an acoustic guitar on stage, with drums and an amplifier visible in the background.
A singer with long curly hair performing on stage, holding an acoustic guitar and singing into a microphone, in a black and white setting.
A singer performing with an acoustic guitar on stage, with red curtains in the background.
A woman with long, curly hair sings into a microphone while playing an acoustic guitar on stage, with a red curtain in the background.
A female musician performing on stage with an acoustic guitar, singing into a microphone, against a red curtain backdrop.
A female musician sings passionately into a microphone while playing an acoustic guitar on stage, with red curtains in the background and musical instruments visible.
A singer-songwriter performing on stage with an acoustic guitar, wearing a light sweater and beige pants, against a backdrop of red curtains.
A female musician performs on stage with a guitar, singing into a microphone under soft stage lights, with red curtains in the background and a drum set visible.
A female musician performing on stage with an acoustic guitar, wearing a white top and brown pants, standing in front of a microphone with a red curtain backdrop.
A singer-songwriter with long curly hair performs on stage with an acoustic guitar and a microphone in front of a red curtain, accompanied by drums in the background.

ACT 5: Ava James with guest/friend Layne Olivia

The young teen vocalist and guitarist of the band called KNOCKOUT, Ava James rocked the house with a solo act without her bandmates, Yoyoka Soma, the phenom drummer, who was in Japan and guitarist Candy Zhang who was in China on this day. Despite the absence, Ava once again performed a flawless set entertaining the crowd, especially her hit single called “Sakura Mochi” which features some verses in Japanese along with English lyrics. I found out from her mom on this night that she speaks Japanese fluently. On this night, Ava brought a friend named Layne Olivia who performed alongside her for one song. You can find out more about Ava James on her instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/theavajames .

A young woman passionately singing into a microphone on stage, wearing a black off-shoulder top and a skirt, with her hair flowing and a dynamic expression.
A young woman singing passionately into a microphone on stage, wearing a black off-shoulder top and a skirt, set against a red backdrop.
A female singer performing on stage, holding a microphone and engaging with the audience, against a backdrop of red curtains and musical instruments.
A young female singer performing on stage, holding a microphone, in a black and white setting. She wears a cropped top and a skirt, with a microphone stand beside her.
A singer performing on stage with a microphone, dressed in a black crop top and skirt, standing in front of a red curtain, with musical instruments visible in the background.
A young female singer passionately performing on stage, holding a microphone and expressing emotion, with a red curtain backdrop.
A young woman performing on stage with a microphone, dressed in a black crop top and skirt, with red curtains in the background.
Teenage girl singing into a microphone on stage, wearing a black top and skirt, with a red curtain in the background.
A young woman performing on stage with a microphone, smiling and wearing a black off-the-shoulder top and a skirt, with a drum set visible in the background and red curtains behind her.
A young woman performing on stage with a microphone, wearing a black off-the-shoulder top and skirt. She has a cheerful expression and is standing in front of a red curtain with musical instruments in the background.
Two female singers perform on stage with microphones, expressing emotion while singing. They are dressed in black outfits and surrounded by musical instruments, set against a backdrop of red curtains.
A female singer passionately performing on stage, holding a microphone, with her eyes closed and wearing a black dress and bracelets, captured in black and white.
Two female singers performing on stage, with a red curtain in the background and musical instruments visible.
Two young female singers performing on stage with microphones, one singing passionately while the other stands beside her, both wearing black outfits, with a red velvet backdrop.
Two young women performing on stage with microphones, wearing black outfits, against a red curtain backdrop.

ACT 6: Nthenya (part two)

Once again we were entertained by the comedic acts of Nthenya: “I’m Nthenya from Kenya who grew up in Canada that’s why I’m nice.” Find out more about Nthenya at www.nthenyafromkenya.com .

A female comedian performing on stage in front of a red curtain, holding a microphone and smiling. Musical instruments like drums and a piano are partially visible in the background.
A comedian performing on stage with a microphone in a comedy club, wearing a black blazer and burgundy pants, with red curtains and musical instruments in the background.
A performer on stage holding a microphone, wearing a black blazer and leather pants, with a focused expression, against a dark background.
A comedian performing on stage, wearing a black jacket and burgundy pants, holding a microphone with a red curtain backdrop.
A comedian performing on stage, holding a microphone, with a lively expression. She is dressed in a black jacket and burgundy pants, standing in front of a red curtain.
A performer with long braided hair stands on stage holding a microphone, wearing a black blazer and maroon leather pants, with a surprised expression, in front of a red curtain.
A female comedian performing on stage with a microphone, wearing a black blazer and maroon pants, standing in front of a red curtain.
A stand-up comedian performing on stage with a microphone, wearing a black jacket and burgundy pants, against a red curtain backdrop.

ACT 7: Maisy Owen

“This is my first time in LA,” says Maisy Owen. Maisy is from Nashville, TN who has been surrounded by music for most of her entire life and was raised by a musical family. With strong influences from Nick Drake, Bert Jansch, and Mazzy Star, Maisy creates her own unique style of melancholic sounds that draws listeners to paint dark poetic images and scenes about life. Her father Gwil Owen is an Academy Award nominated songwriter. She will be releasing her debut album this spring called “Dark On A Sunny Day” which is produced by Robin Eaton on Tompkins Square Records. Find out more about Maisy at www.maisyowen.com .

A singer-songwriter performing on stage, playing acoustic guitar while sitting on a chair. She has long dark hair and is wearing a black tank top and jeans, with a backdrop of red curtains and musical instruments in the background.
A woman sitting on a stool, playing acoustic guitar and singing. She has long dark hair and tattoos, wearing a black tank top with the text 'mazzy star.' The background features red curtains, and musical instruments are visible behind her.
A female musician sitting on a chair, playing an acoustic guitar and singing into a microphone, wearing a black tank top and jeans, with a blurred background of instruments and stage lights.
A musician sitting on a chair, playing an acoustic guitar on stage, wearing a black tank top with a graphic design and blue jeans, with a red curtain backdrop.
A musician with long dark hair, wearing a black tank top, playing an acoustic guitar while sitting on a stool in front of a red curtain.
A musician performing on stage, singing and playing an acoustic guitar. The backdrop features red curtains, and various musical instruments are visible in the background.
A woman playing an acoustic guitar while seated on a chair at a music venue, with a red curtain in the background.
A female singer-songwriter performing on stage, seated on a stool with an acoustic guitar, wearing a black tank top and jeans, with a red curtain backdrop.
A female musician playing an acoustic guitar while singing into a microphone on stage. She is seated on a chair, wearing a black tank top and jeans, with a red curtain backdrop.
A woman plays an acoustic guitar while sitting on a stool, performing in a dimly lit setting with a microphone and amplifiers in the background.
A woman playing an acoustic guitar while singing on a dimly lit stage with red curtains in the background.
A musician playing an acoustic guitar while sitting on a stool, with a focused expression, in front of a red curtain backdrop.

ACT 8: Abby Posner

“Love each other. We’re on this planet for a freakin’ very short time,” says Abby Posner on this night. Abby is a multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter, producer whose work has been featured on NPR, Netflix, Hulu, The CW and CMT. Signed with Blackbird Record Label, she’s touring nationally. On this night she was accompanied by her friend/singer Paula Fong. And on the last song of the night, she invited Mary Scholz to come up on stage and sing along as a trio. “We’re going to be a boy band with the three of us here on stage,” says Abby. “Don’t you mean a girl band,” exclaims either Mary or Paula, as a burst of laughter was had by everyone on stage and the audience. Find out more about Abby at www.abbyposner.com .

Two musicians smiling and embracing on stage, one holding an acoustic guitar, with a red curtain in the background.
Musician performing on stage with an acoustic guitar, wearing a hat and casual attire, gesturing with one hand. Red curtains in the background.
A performer playing acoustic guitar and singing on stage, wearing a hat and a light jacket, with a red curtain backdrop and musical instruments visible in the background.
A singer performing on stage with a microphone, wearing a black outfit, in front of a backdrop of draped fabric.
A singer playing acoustic guitar while performing on stage, accompanied by a female vocalist, with a backdrop of red curtains.
A female singer performs on stage, holding a microphone with one hand and gesturing with the other, against a backdrop of red curtains. A band setup is visible in the background.
A woman singing passionately into a microphone on stage, wearing a black dress, with red curtains in the background.
A musician performing live on stage with an acoustic guitar, wearing a hat and a light-colored jacket, against a red curtain backdrop.
A performer singing passionately into a microphone while playing an acoustic guitar on stage, captured in black and white.
A male singer wearing a hat performs with an acoustic guitar, while a female vocalist sings passionately beside him, both in front of a red curtain backdrop.
A musician playing an acoustic guitar and singing on stage, accompanied by a vocalist, in front of a red curtain.
A singer-songwriter with an acoustic guitar performs on stage while another singer stands beside them, both engaged in a duet. The backdrop is a vibrant red curtain, creating a lively atmosphere.
A musician performing on stage with an acoustic guitar, dressed in a beige jacket, dark shirt, jeans, and a black hat, in front of red curtains.
A male singer playing acoustic guitar and singing into a microphone, accompanied by a female singer who is also singing into a microphone on stage. The backdrop features dark curtains, creating an intimate performance atmosphere.
A musician playing acoustic guitar and singing on stage while a female vocalist performs alongside, with a red curtain backdrop.
A musician performing on stage with an acoustic guitar, wearing a hat and a light jacket, in front of a red curtain with a microphone and drum set visible in the background.
A musician performing on stage with an acoustic guitar, singing into a microphone. The image is in black and white, featuring a dramatic backdrop and musical instruments in the background.

ACT 9: Kate Grahn

With so much raw power, emotion, and performance coming out of Kate Grahn’s vocals and guitar playing skills, Kate has solidified herself as an LA icon for quite some time, playing different stages around town. An accomplished musician, Kate graduated  from USC’s Thornton School of Music. I have seen tremendous growth the past 4 years since meeting her for the first time performing as a backup singer for a Pink Floyd Cover band on a rooftop of a back house in Beverly Hills as a makeshift stage. Right there and then, I have always believed that she has that “IT” factor. Since then, I have seen her perform at least 7 times in the LA Local Music scene. Kate’s influences come from great artists such as Hayley Williams, Alanis Morissette, and Janis Joplin. Her no-nonsense, unapologetic sense of independence, strong will, and power to women can be heard and felt in all of her lyrics and music. Find out more about Kate at www.kategrahnmusic.com .

A female musician with an acoustic guitar performs on stage, pointing to the audience, wearing a black outfit and sparkly silver boots, in front of a red curtain.
A female musician performs on stage with an acoustic guitar, wearing a black outfit and silver boots, while raising one hand and singing into a microphone, with a red curtain and drums in the background.
A female musician singing into a microphone while playing an acoustic guitar on stage, with a vibrant red curtain as the backdrop.
A female musician performing on stage with an acoustic guitar, smiling and singing into a microphone, against a backdrop of red curtains.
A woman wearing a black leather jacket performs on stage with an acoustic guitar, singing into a microphone, with a red curtain background.
A woman performing on stage with an acoustic guitar, wearing a black leather jacket, against a red curtain backdrop.
A musician passionately performing on stage, holding an acoustic guitar, with a microphone in front. She is wearing a black outfit and cowboy boots, singing with emotion under stage lights.
A musician performing on stage with an acoustic guitar, wearing a black outfit and silver boots, against a red curtain backdrop.
A singer performing on stage with an acoustic guitar, wearing a black outfit and shiny boots, against a backdrop of red curtains.
A woman performing on stage with an acoustic guitar, wearing a black jacket and a short dress, with sparkling boots, in front of a red curtain backdrop.
A singer performing on stage with an acoustic guitar and microphone, wearing a black outfit and shiny silver boots, against a backdrop of red curtains and musical instruments.
A singer performing on stage with an acoustic guitar, wearing a black outfit and silver cowboy boots, against a backdrop of red curtains.
A musician performing on stage with a microphone and an acoustic guitar, wearing a black leather jacket against a red curtain backdrop.
A female singer passionately performing with an acoustic guitar on stage, wearing a black outfit and a leather jacket, against a backdrop of red curtains.
A female musician performing on stage with an acoustic guitar and a microphone, wearing a black jacket, against a red curtain backdrop.
A female musician sings passionately into a microphone while playing an acoustic guitar on stage. She has shoulder-length hair and wears a leather jacket, set against a dark backdrop.
A female singer performing on stage with an acoustic guitar, microphone in hand, against a red backdrop.
A singer performing on stage with an acoustic guitar, showcasing a passionate expression while singing into a microphone, with a red curtain backdrop.
A female musician performing on stage with an acoustic guitar, wearing a black outfit and sparkling silver boots, with a microphone in front of her and a red curtain backdrop.
A female musician performing on stage with an acoustic guitar, wearing a black outfit and sparkly silver boots, against a backdrop of red curtains and musical instruments.

ACT 10: Sofia Gomez and guest artist Nolan Heilman

Sofia Gomez ended the night along with her friend Noan Heilman with an explosive acoustic duo set. Sofia’s infectious smile and energetic set showed us her unique style as an indie-pop singer/songwriter whose strong emotive expressions on stage give the sense of an almost theater act-like performance. Sofia’’s résumé includes performances as an opening act for American rapper JID, The LA Memorial Coliseum, and GrammyU Soundstage at the Recording Academy’s Grammy House in DTLA. With over a million streams, Sofia has garnered a following in her social media account. Find out more about Sofia on her instagram account at https://www.instagram.com/sofiagomez_music .

A young female musician performing on stage with an acoustic guitar, expressively singing while gesturing, accompanied by a male guitarist playing beside her, with a red curtain backdrop.
A young woman performing on stage with an acoustic guitar, singing into a microphone against a backdrop of red curtains.
A young woman and a young man performing music on stage with acoustic guitars, smiling and singing. The background features red curtains, creating an intimate concert atmosphere.
A young female musician performing on stage, playing an acoustic guitar, with a microphone in front of her and a red curtain backdrop.
A young female musician performing on stage with an acoustic guitar, singing into a microphone, against a backdrop of red curtains.
A young woman with curly hair smiles while performing on stage with an acoustic guitar, against a backdrop of red curtains.
A musician performing on stage, singing into a microphone while playing an acoustic guitar, with a vibrant red backdrop and a drum set visible in the background.
A young woman with curly hair performs on stage, singing into a microphone while playing an acoustic guitar. She wears a fashionable top and a plaid skirt, with a red curtain as the backdrop and drums visible in the background.
A female singer performing on stage with an acoustic guitar, wearing a plaid skirt and a top, set against a backdrop of red curtains and a drum set.
A female singer performing on stage, holding an acoustic guitar while singing into a microphone. She has curly hair and is wearing a sleeveless top with a patterned skirt. The background features red curtains and musical instruments, including drums.
A female musician performing on stage with an acoustic guitar, while a male musician accompanies her on another guitar. The background features red curtains, creating a warm, intimate atmosphere.
A woman and a man performing live music on stage, both playing acoustic guitars in front of a red curtain.
A female musician playing an acoustic guitar while singing, with a male musician accompanying her on another acoustic guitar, in front of a red curtain backdrop.
A musician performing on stage, singing into a microphone while playing an acoustic guitar, seated on a stool against a dark curtain backdrop.
A male musician seated on a stool, playing an acoustic guitar while singing into a microphone, set against a backdrop of red curtains.
A young woman singing passionately into a microphone while playing an acoustic guitar, dressed in a brown top and a plaid skirt, with a backdrop of red curtains and musical instruments visible in the background.
A singer performing on stage with an acoustic guitar, wearing a sleeveless top and plaid skirt, expressing emotion while singing under red stage lights.
A musician passionately singing into a microphone while playing an acoustic guitar on stage, captured in black and white. She has curly hair and is wearing a sleeveless top with a plaid skirt, expressing emotion through her performance.
A woman singing into a microphone while playing an acoustic guitar on stage, with a drum set visible in the background. The image is in black and white.
A female singer performing on stage with an acoustic guitar, smiling and engaging with the audience. The background features red curtains and musical instruments, including a drum set.
A female musician performing on stage with an acoustic guitar, speaking into a microphone. She has curly hair and is wearing a brown top with a plaid skirt, against a backdrop of red curtains and musical instruments.

EMCEE: Lex Aguilar

With her strong sense of leadership, Lex Aguilar led the way with all the introductions and presented to us each artist on this evening. 

A young woman reading from a paper while standing on stage, holding a microphone, with a dark curtain in the background.
A young person delivering a speech at a microphone while holding notes, set against a dark curtain background.
A young girl speaking at a microphone on stage, holding notes, with a red curtain and musical instruments in the background.
A young individual reading from a piece of paper while standing on stage with a microphone, in front of a red curtain, with an amplifier visible in the background.
A young girl speaking into a microphone on stage, holding a piece of paper, with a red curtain and musical instruments in the background.
A young girl speaking into a microphone on stage, holding a piece of paper, with red curtains in the background.
A young female speaker reading from a paper at a microphone on stage with a red curtain backdrop.

One response to “THE 4TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY, CURATED BY 18//88 PRODUCTIONS, WAS CELEBRATED ON MARCH 4, 2026 AT THE HOTEL CAFE, WITH SOME TALENTED FEMALE ARTISTS, BY DON MACELO”

  1. Don Marcelo Avatar
    Don Marcelo

    Thank you Sir

    Reply

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