We’re getting there, but women still under-represented in the music industry. Kate Bush might be back, but other than major names and pretty pop singers, the female presence is lacking – as journalists, photographers, producers, engineers, programmers and performers. So the fantastic supporters of females in music the girls are and Camden venue The Forge have come together to produce a weekend dedicated to supporting female musicians, and women in the music industry. Taking place over the weekend of Friday 17th October – Sunday 19th October 2014 will be a number of events, meetings, gigs and workshops all aiming to increase the inclusion of women in this most exciting of industries.
It kicks off on Friday with Namvula, who combines the folk and urban traditions of her Zambian homeland with her Scottish roots with London’s eclectic music scene, in a blend African sounds and rhythms with Latin, jazz and folk. There’s a Live Music Review Workshop, 12pm – 1pm where editor and founder of the girls are, Annette Barlow, Deputy Editor Cheri Amour and Jazz & Classical Editor Rosie Hanley offer advice and tips on how to write an engaging live music review, followed by a Live Music Photography Workshop in which Emily Barker, Picture editor at the girls are guides you through her top tips to taking an excellent live music shot. More music comes from Esther Dee, a singer-songwriter concerned with all things dark and beautiful. Haunting fairgrounds and magical, blood hungry wolves dominate the stories of her musical collective. She has lent her stunning soft silky tones to projects as diverse as chart topping classical act Mediaevel Baebes, gypsy swing jazz favourites Trio Manouche and Grammy award winning spectacle Riverdance The Show. On Sunday morning make sure you are up bright and early to hear the Albany Piano Trio perform three exciting works by contrasting female British composers. Written within a century of one another, the works offer a rich variety in instrumental colours and musical styles.
Whilst later in the day hear some newer, contemporary music, courtesy of ensemble rarescale. They present a selection of chamber works by female composers. putting classic works by Kajia Saariaho, Thea Musgrave and Pauline Oliveros are heard alongside works by a younger generation of composers, demonstrating the breadth of female compositional talent working today.
the girls are is a UK based online magazine championing women in music, posting daily content from a global team of writers and photographers. Feeling that the machinations of the music industry are largely based on antiquated, irrelevant, inherently sexist values, and as a result women working within music are often under – or mis – represented, their coverage aims to redress this imbalance. Founded as a blog in 2009, www.thegirlsare.com has rapidly grown a network of loyal followers with over 100 contributors and an editorial team of ten. Without the collaboration and support of this team of creatives and music-lovers, the site simply would not exist.
