This Is The “Reel World”
Alongside what is considered the “second wave” of feminism, the 1970s saw a huge rise in spaces and organizations meant solely for women to congregate and enjoy each other’s presence. This was especially prevalent in the world of women’s music during that time. In Kentucky, one of the most well-known of these efforts was the Reel World String Band.
Formed in 1977 by a group of Kentucky women following the International Women’s Year Conference in Lexington, the Reel World String Band blended traditional Appalachian music with original songs shaped by blues, jazz, and country influences. The first members included Sue Massek (banjo, guitar), Karen Jones (fiddle), Sharon Ruble (bass), Belle Jackson (guitar), and Bev Futrell (mandolin, guitar, harmonica). Their performances often served as a vital gathering space for lesbians and fans of traditional Kentucky music from across the state.
More than just musicians, the band was also a driving force for activism — championing causes like coal miner strikes, women’s rights, and other rural feminist issues from Cincinnati to Harlan County. Their music echoed through coffeehouses, college campuses, and festivals nationwide, always grounded in justice and joy.
Their performances also allowed them to collaborate and cross paths with other women’s spaces and organizations throughout Kentucky. For example these amazing Polaroids capture the Reel World String Band performing at Mother’s Brew (a lesbian-feminist bar once located in Louisville, KY). Mother’s Brew operated from approximately 1975-1979 and was home of Louisville’s Lesbian Feminist Union.
Many of their concerts, especially in Lexington, were also organized by Amber Moon, a local women’s production company. Amber Moon would bring incredibly popular women musicians to perform at different venues across the city. This included artists like Holly Near, Kay Gardner, Therese Adell, and of course the Reel World String Band.
Today, their legacy endures through a rich archive of photographs, recordings, posters, and memorabilia, donated to the University of Kentucky in 2016.
Images from Amber Moon Productions scrapbooks (1978-1984) and Reel World String Band records (1971-2016) at the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.