Narrator
Beth Caurant (b. 1952) is a musician, best known as a founding member of one of the first all-women bands, Lilith. She grew up in the small towns of Lenox, Lee, and Granby in Western MA, with her parents, stepfather, sister and brother, and is now 73 years old. She identifies as a “radical lesbian feminist” who has taken part in social movements such as the second wave feminist women’s movement, the anti-Vietnam War movement, and lesbian and gay movements. Politically, Beth is passionate about equality, and feels a strong sense of connection to her working-class background. Lilith originated in Northampton, but spent about one year in Columbus, GA in the mid-1970s and then moved to the Boston area. The band, one of the first of its kind, was active between 1972-78. According to Beth, Lilith was an important element in establishing early lesbian gathering spaces in Northampton. Since Lilith, Beth has played music in a few other contexts, including as half of a duo in Boston in the 1980s, and more recently as a member of a local band called Girl Gang. Beth has been back in Northampton since 1994 and currently lives with her partner, Sheila, and their cat, Sandy.
Abstract
In this oral history, Beth Caurant reflects on her childhood growing up in Western Massachusetts. She discusses her relationship to gender and sexuality, as well as spirituality, chronic illness, politics and feminism. Beth expands upon her journey as a musician, the story of Lilith, and the burgeoning lesbian feminist community of Northampton in the early 1970s. She talks about her experiences in hippie counterculture of the 1960s-70s, the local music scene, and the national music scenes of the 1970s-80s. She also shares about her involvement in anti-war and gay/lesbian movements in the past, as well as her perspective on the current political climate. Additionally, Beth provides insight into how Northampton, the LGBT+ community, and the music world have changed over the years.