ANDREA MAGEE

She Rises Fest IV — Review

Taos, New Mexico · DALEEE at KTAOS Solar Center · July 16–18, 2026

For three days in July, the DALEEE at KTAOS Solar Center became the beating heart of Taos, as She Rises Fest returned for its fourth year and delivered its most powerful edition yet. Founded by Irish-born, Austin-based singer-songwriter Andrea Magee, the all-female international festival has grown from a bold idea into one of the Southwest's most singular gatherings — a weekend where the entire lineup, from main stage to acoustic bar, belongs to women.

And what a lineup. Ruthie Foster turned a mountain field into a congregation with that once-in-a-generation voice. Mary Gauthier delivered the kind of hushed, hard-won songwriting that stops a crowd mid-breath. The Rainbow Girls closed the weekend in a blaze of harmony and pure joy, while Patrice Pike, Rosie Flores — whose two-stepping party had the whole tent dancing — Wonder Women of Country, Honey House, and PAACK kept the energy soaring from afternoon into night.

But She Rises has always been about more than headliners. The festival's spirit lived in its edges: the Indigenous Choir and Taos Pueblo's Mirabal Sisters grounding the weekend in the land it stands on; the intimate Acoustic Bar Stage, where the She Rises Songwriters — Christine Albert, Susan Gibson, Jaimee Harris, Suzanna Choffel, Bri Bagwell and more — traded songs and stories late into the evening; and a VIP concert that felt less like a ticketed event than a room full of old friends.

More than 500 fans made the journey to Taos, and the sense of community was unmistakable — sponsors, volunteers, artists and their families all woven into one warm, buzzing crowd. Anchored by Magee's community-first ethos and her Music Helps mission, the festival proved once again that a stage built entirely for women isn't a niche — it's a movement.

She Rises Fest IV wasn't just a success; it was a statement. And with She Rises V already announced for July 2027, Taos has a new midsummer tradition worth planning a whole year around.

Andrea Magee's third solo album is here. Twelve songs written from the inside out — raw, honest, and driven by the ancient pulse of bodhrán drum. Wild Woman is the record Andrea was born to make.

Join us for the release party Saturday, May 2nd at The 04 Center, South Austin. Doors 7pm. All ages. An unforgettable night of music with The She Rises Songwriters — Rosie Flores, Gina Chavez, Christine Albert, and Cari Hutson.

2:2:26  “Define You”

“Define You” is an intimate, emotionally honest ballad born from a moment that stayed with Andrea Magee long after the music was written.

The song emerged after Andrea spent a day at Helping Hand Home, a residential treatment center for children, where she met a young boy whose quiet resilience and inner strength left a lasting impression. Despite the challenges he faced, his spirit was steady, open, and unmistakably powerful. That encounter became the emotional foundation for the song—and the inspiration behind its chorus: a reminder that our circumstances do not define who we are.

Rooted in compassion and purpose, “Define You” is more than a song—it’s a testament to the healing power of music and the belief that no matter where you come from, you get to define who you are.