this 250 person event is SOLD OUT. if you would like to try for a ticket, join the private FB page to seek one from someone who might not be able to make it after all. and/or you can join us for our online listening party on 9/22/24, tickets here. 


Saturday, September 21, 2024
at a West Seattle location (exact address provided upon ticket purchase)
12pm-10pm (see schedule below)

Come celebrate the long awaited release of the album WAILS: Songs for Grief by artist Alexandra "ahlay" Blakely. Join ahlay and her song family** as we listen to the album (silent disco style) amongst Old Growth Forest, share a meal and ignite a Fire with ritual and spell casting as we sing these songs up with Smoke into the world with intention.

** supporting song family: Lyndsey Scott, Kele Nitoto (on drums round Grandfather Fire!!!), Laurence Cole, Aaron Johnson, Earth Practice, Chelsea Meney (our WAILS Whale Whisperer), Todd Boston, Aimee Ringle, Carey French... and moreeeee!!!



Merch available day of: Wails 100+ page book on grief and song, the album! posters, blankets, stickers, grief journals and more...

Actual album release: 9-24-24 via Bandcamp.



WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:
Tickets for each individual are required to attend. (see note on kiddos below)

This event is outdoors rain or shine. Please set your intentions with us for clear skies this day.
In the unlikely case of wild fire smoke, we will postpone the event.

You will arrive at a beautiful location on Coast Salish Territory in South Seattle, home to Sweet Water and Old Growth Forests. Here you will be witnessed by Western Hemlock, Sitka Spruce, Western Red Cedar, Bracken, Salal, Oregon Grape, Salmonberry, Trillium, Poison Oak, Maple, Osprey, Barred Owl, Great Blue Heron, Northern Flicker, Black-Capped Chickadee, Spotted Towhee, Downy, Pileated Woodpecker, Bald Eagle, Coyote, Raccoon, Squirrel, Beaver, Otter and so (oh so) many more!

Think of it like camping, where you will need to bring what you will want for your body to feel comfortable. Perhaps a camping chair, a picnic blanket, blankets to stay warm… for we will spend this time together outside from 12pm to 10pm. Some established seating will already be at location.

12pm arrival, hellos, settle in: when you check in, you will be assigned a pair of headphones. Please arrive before 1:30m if you would like to join the listening party.

1:30-4pm our listening party. Each person will have their own pair of headphones and we will listen to the album WAILS: Songs for Grief together in the cocoons/nests that we have made for ourselves beneath the Trees.

4-6pm Potluck. Please bring a dish to share and all the utensils you would need for serving and feeding yourself and serving your dish to others. (NOTE: there is no power or electricity at this location - no refrigeration, OFFGRID)

6-9pm Ritual and Song Circle. This is the most important part: to ignite the Sacred Fire. this Fire has been under artist ahlay’s protection since July 31, 2023 containing the Coals gathered from various WAILS attendees across diverse communities and corners of Earth. This Fire holds Rosemary who co-created with us in our human cleansing ritual at WAILS and dried Rose petals from grief retreats ahlay and beloved Elder Laurence Cole have been co-facilitating.

together, we will breathe life into this Fire and sing the WAILS songs, blending our voices with the rising smoke, our incantations, and our shared sorrow and reverence. there is so much yet to metabolize...


Reciprocity: $44-$222** ($66 covers baseline costs)
Limited tickets available.

All ticket sales are final. no refunds. you may transfer your ticket to someone else. please email [email protected] by 10am on September 20th to let us know the name change on your ticket so we can update our attendee list.

(THERE ARE PAID VOLUNTEER POSITIONS - SEE BELOW)

**if this is financially inaccessible to you, we have limited "pay what you can spots" for Seattle based folks (prioritizing low income, activists on the frontlines, Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous and People of the Global Majority). request here.

If you prefer, or would additionally like to join us for the online listening party on September 22, 2024 - check out tickets here. (tickets: $1-$111)



Volunteers Needed:
 - Volunteer coordinator and lead:
10 hours prep leading up to the event, 3 hours post event, 11 hours during the event (11am-10pm) = 24 hours total. $1000 stipend

Day of the event:
-2 volunteer task runners during the live event (support with any on site tasks that may arise during the event, support with elders, making sure people have seating, are warm, have food, are well cared for + the community does this anyway for each other). Arrival at 11am. $100 stipend each.
-4 volunteer positions for setup and breakdown of the event, check in and check out of attendees and headphones. Arrival 11am for set up. Breakdown 9pm to depart before the park closes at 10pm. $100 stipend each.
-4 volunteers to set up, run during the event and break down the WAILS merch table (you will be able to switch off in shifts and be fully present for the listening party) Arrival 11am for set up. Breakdown 6pm after potluck (you will likely miss the opening of ritual/song circle during breakdown). $100 stipend each.

If you are interested in a volunteer position in exchange for a ticket and a stipend, please fill out this form.


MORE IMPORTANT INFO:

Ideas for what one might bring: Chair, blanket, handkerchief for potential grief, water bottle, water, mug with your tea (the aim is to have an elixir bar where people can purchase hot drinks - are you this person? email us!), squish, journal, watercolors, altar items (we will have a communal grief altar and also a gratitude altar), flowers, extra blankets and chairs to share with others who might be traveling from out of town, your potluck dish to share.

A note on accessibility: If you have difficulty walking 5-10 minutes to our location from where you park, or are unable to carry your own seating to this event, please contact us so we can make arrangements for how to best support you. Thank you.

A note on kiddos: Of course young people are welcome, AND we will be in a verbally quiet space during our listening party from 2-4pm. If that feels challenging for the age of your child, please join us for potluck and the ritual and song circle afterwards. (If this is you, you will also receive a free entrance to the online listening party on Sunday September 22 - please email [email protected] to request this after you purchase your ticket to the in-person party). Anyone arriving with children for the listening party from 2-4 must purchase a ticket for each person in your party. Anyone arriving to the potluck and ritual only, needs to purchase tickets for children 10-16. 17+ are adult tickets.

ALL ARTWORK BY: Jessie White @seedsofspells (IG)