Conspiracy of Venus

San Francisco-based vocal ensemble sings the music of Joni Mitchell, Tom Waits, Bjork, and much more!

Conspiracy of Venus is a 30-woman vocal ensemble based in San Francisco that explores
the creative frontiers of music under the artistic direction of Joyce Todd McBride. We interpret Joyce’s daring and inventive covers of beloved songs, ranging from popular classics (Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi” and David Bowie’s “Life On Mars”) to edgy contemporary pieces (Bjork’s “Possibly Maybe”), as well

as original compositions by Joyce, with dazzling technical verve and tons of personality. Drawing inspiration from medieval music, jazz, funk, and new music, Conspiracy of Venus takes vocal music into territories not often explored by more traditional choirs or college-style a ca****la groups (though we are inspired by them too!). Our first album, Muse Ecology, will be released in February, 2016. The album was recorded at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley with producer Lolly Lewis. We conducted a successful crowdfunding campaign to finance the album, which showcases Joyce’s intricate arrangements and the group’s diverse voices. Since our formation in 2007 as the sister group to the all-male Conspiracy of Beards, we have delighted sold out crowds at many San Francisco venues, including The Great American Music Hall, The Palace of Fine Arts, The Independent, The Swedish American Hall, The Rickshaw Stop, The Make-Out Room, and others, sharing bills with John Vanderslice, The Mountain Goats, The Mother Hips, Blame Sally, Emily Jane White, and Rupa and the April Fishes, to name a few. We have performed twice on the radio show West Coast Live, and we participated in Undercover Presents’ full album cover of The Pixies’ Doolittle in 2011. In spring of 2012, we participated in the San Francisco Music Video Race. Conspiracy of Venus believes that creating and sharing music has social and political impact, and we are active in community service. We have performed at Dublin State Correctional Facility and played benefits for the Awamaki Peruvian Women’s Weaving Collective, The Gulabi Gang, The Ursa Freedom Project, In Search of Good Food, and the Fairmount Elementary FestiVal. We were awarded a grant from the San Francisco Arts Commission to perform on the street during the Mid-Market Two Blocks of Art ARTery Project Art Walk in 2013. Conspiracy of Venus speaks out through our music about political issues from feminism to environmentalism. We believe that there is meaning behind the music we make, and we strive to share that with the world. Sometimes singing is like extreme spelunking, and sometimes it’s like outer space
exploration. We take seriously the idea that change and growth happens through the process of meeting each week and working really hard. And we have been known to have some serious fun while we work, since, after all, isn’t singing about enjoyment? That’s what we seek to share with the world with our unique blend of wildness and grace.

29/11/2023

We are so excited to sing Brian Belknap's song "Highwire" Friday at The Lost Church - San Francisco 🧡🖤!

Our director Joyce Todd McBride made a special arrangement of it- Friday is the debut!

Brian Belknap is opening the night!

We are so excited to share the bill and sing what has become a meaningful song to many of us, our first time covering a local artist's work too.

Brian has been playing music in SF for years, on the street and in all sorts of venues. A documentary was even just made about him for not only his musical work, but his political work.

We are honored to do this show with him. He is moving to New Orleans in the spring, so now's the time!

If you haven't been to the new Lost Church in North Beach yet, this is a great occasion to make the trip. It's a beautiful listening room.

Hope to see you there!! Doors 7:30pm.

(Video from the Make-Out Room 10/18/23! Meredith Edgar on backup vocals!)

21/11/2023

We would love to see you Friday December 1st, when we return to The Lost Church - San Francisco in North Beach.

We'll be singing songs by PJ Harvey, Joni Mitchell, Tom Waits, Bjork, and one by our dear friend and local artist Brian Belknap - who is opening the show!

TICKET LINK: https://tinyurl.com/ConspiracyofVenusBelknapDec1

If you haven't been to the new Lost Church location, it's a beautiful oasis listening room in SF. You could make a night of it and have dinner in North Beach before, even. Doors at 7:30pm. ❤
TICKET LINK: https://tinyurl.com/ConspiracyofVenusBelknapDec1
FB EVENT LINK: https://www.facebook.com/events/902383974649646/

Thank you to Misisipi Mike Wolf for the incredible poster!

(PS - catch Brian before he heads to New Orleans next year!)

17/05/2023

HI! We are singing Sunday, and are so excited to explore the new The Lost Church - San Francisco in North Beach. Join us!

Tix: http://thelostchurch.org

We're excited to sing some PJ Harvey, Joni Mitchell, Bjork, Chris Cornell, Bowie, Pixies, Roger Miller, & an original by our director Joyce Todd McBride.

08/11/2022

Happy belated birthday to Joni Mitchell!
We are so grateful for her and her music!!!

Conspiracy of Venus - A Case of You - Joni Mitchell

04/11/2022

We will be singing this one tonight - one of our faves! And some new ones too!

Hope to see you at Old First Concerts at 8pm PT. (Get there early & dress warm!)

Livestream will be up for a week, for those tuning in that way.

Tix start at $5 for students.
http://oldfirstconcerts.org

RSVP/Details: Conspiracy of Venus at Old First Church (In-Person Or Livestream!)!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgfTkti_KsU

Conspiracy of Venus - A Case of You - Joni Mitchell Conspiracy of Venus performs Joni Mitchell's "A Case of You" live at The Dance Palace in Point Reyes California.Conspiracy of Venus, a women’s a ca****la cho...

03/11/2022

Friday Night! Our first show since the pandemic!

We would love to see you in person at Old First Concerts.

Conspiracy of Venus sings Suzanne by Leonard Cohen

17/10/2022

Conspiracy of Venus at Old First Church (In-Person Or Livestream!) Friday November 4th!

Here's us singing Suzanne by Leonard Cohen from our last show there in 2020!

Conspiracy of Venus sings Suzanne by Leonard Cohen Old First Concerts February 2020

12/10/2022

06/10/2022

04/10/2022

Another fantastic video from Conspiracy of Venus, which is one of the ****la ensembles that will be in our masterclass and workshop with Dashon Burton, Bass-Baritone on October 16! Register now at dashon-burton-2022.eventbrite.com

P.S. Go ahead and register an account on A440 so you can watch this one on repeat after the 16th!

01/10/2022

Conspiracy of Venus is delighted to be part of this masterclass sponsored by the Amateur Music Network, led by Dashon Burton, Bass-Baritone!

Conspiracy of Venus – Friday, November 4 at 8 pm

21/09/2022

We're back! Conspiracy of Venus has weathered the pandemic, (but we're still following the protocols!) and is excited to share new work, music by PJ Harvey, Bjork, arrangements by Joyce Todd McBride, and the wonderful voices and vibes of CoV! This event will be a hybrid event, with both in-person tickets and a live-stream option. General Admission $25, Seniors $20, Students $5, live-stream suggested donation $20 Friday, November 4th, 8 p.m. Old First Church, 1751 Sacramento St., SF.

Conspiracy of Venus – Friday, November 4 at 8 pm *** LIVE STREAM LINK HERE *** The "intoxicating" San Francisco-based women's vocal ensemble premiere new work created during the pandemic, including arrangements of music by PJ Harvey and Iris DeMent alongside works by Björk, Joni Mitchell, Roger Miller, Leonard Cohen, David Bowie, Chris Cornell, a...

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We are so excited to sing Brian Belknap's song "Highwire" Friday at The Lost Church - San Francisco 🧡🖤! Our director J...

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http://www.conspiracyofvenus.com/