The Women's March In Music
This month, Music Week honours women in music. Being grass roots, TheZineUK would like to applaud the DIY sector of this catalyst year, in a Music Month style.
Our 2017 Women's March day began with electro space punk activists, and tech pioneers, Feral Five (pictured) playing live in the National Portrait Gallery, Trafalgar Square.
This year has been especially relevant to half of the globe's population.
Not always for the most comfortable of reasons.
But that's life. It comes in waves.
In July TheZineUK started #SheRocksFests to support female talent. It's an ongoing hashtag (@TheZineUK will RT your news) towards 2018.
At a time when fuckwittery complains about imaginary "feminazis" but don't seem bothered by actual nazis, many keep speaking up.
Special love for punky pop STARS, The Tuts (pictured at their single launch party, Summer 2016). Their debut album 'Update Your Brain' does what it says.
The band appeared at the highly femme-powered inaugural DecoloniseFest this summer for punx of colour.
Agitate, educate, organise. Continued.
In August, Rachel Brown, head of Northern Exposure, was at Leeds Festival launch where organisers, Festival Republic announed the launch of @Re_BalanceUK, to provide studio recording to core female bands, musicians or solo artist each month of 2018, 2019 and 2020. Vision.
Musicians Against Homelessness (Emma Rule has made such an impact) raises awareness of a growing plight.
Our own Monefa Walker staged a fantastic MAH17 show in September. Northern Exposure's November MAH Sheffield event, sold out.
Emma is also a curator at Off The Record, Manchester on the same day (10th November very much a Women In Music day). Image: #SoccerSixFest - Northern Exposure FC of musicians x TheZineUK party tent of movershakers
L:R Stars of Bang Bang Romeo, photographer, Sandy K. Moz (TheZineUK), Rachel, Monefa (ArtBeat Promo, TheZineUK), Dizzy Spell (TheZineUK music editor) and Kate O'Brien (Northern Exposure)
It's November. Contagious Courageous starts recommended live events in Derby and Some Might Say (sold out in advance) fanzine launch party gig is in London. Hats off to Sophie and Sahera respectively.
Love for the many more allies that interact, share, tip and support each other. Hence the rise of DIY power. Acclaimed (and highly recommended) disco punks, Bugeye, shouting out the movement, in the press.
Huge appreciation for that.
Much respect for the achievements of the fast rising DIY, alternative grass roots, increasingly acknowledged to feed the mainstream.
Haven't You Heard - quality new music magazine, from Shannon Cotton, for instance. Not how well scouted and curated the contents are.
A+R Women?
Yes. Actually. We're great scouts, connectors and tireless recommenders. Mourning Birds introduced us to Abbie McCarthy of BBC Introducing Kent (and increasingly so much more). With the amount of passion she poured into The Good Karma Club launch we attended last year, it's no wonder she's SUCH a genuine rising star.
Big up, also, the supportive partners of artists struggling through the age of gentrification's austerity hell, too. Unlike billionaires, we all gotta take care of each other these days, when we can't even afford to die.
Media/promoters giving early exposure to promising potential have the seminal documentary of this revolution. It's inspiring it is to hear female ringleaders recently reporting readership spikes as fans seek new found faves. Girl Power (bless ya, Shampoo) keeps starting something.
Women give birth to humans AND a wealth of uniting culture. Image; Plack to Claudia Jones; Mother of Caribbean carnival in Britain.
Respect to multitudes of instigators, including, personall; Nanette Rigg's City Showcase blue-printed inner-city, multi venue events.
Miz De Shannon (who involved TheZineUK's on Women In Music panels) curated the noughties MAPS Festival, helping establish the Northern Quarter that Off The Record takes place within.
This is the world of music. With so many songs, it's good not be unsung.
Image: Our statement of intent first cover stars of 2016's picture books; deux furieuses, who have since released their mindblowing rock album 'Tracks Of Wire'. Again, definitely/defiantly at the core of change.
This article isn't asking for a Women's chart.
'Pop' is short for Popular, a variety of genres, as is "Indie" i.e. independent music. In that vein, Garage band, The Regrettes recently had to point out "how many times does one have to explain that "female" IS NOT A GENRE."?
Much love always to the brothers and sisters that unite for equality.
The pic of Smiley with our photographer, Lorna Cort, was taken when the #alive tour called into the Electric Ballroom, in October.
The atmosphere that night, with so many of the now and next industries united, was off the hook.
There was a pit full of the new documentarians who know that the underground rock n roll is so exciting right now in these darker ages.
Promoters like This Feeling, Clit Rock, Kick Out The Jams, Loud Women and more are great breeding grounds for a brace of feisty femme freshnesses that are more about getting their thrills, than just wearing frills.
Oh and do keep an eye out for that interview with Smiley. The rise of political opinion from all genders can only be a good thing, when it brings us together. A key ingredient of equality. Solidarity Not Silence.
This is not a protest, it's a celebration. Much to shout about. For instance, Girl Fiend Magazine won the BBC Best Magazine Brand Award for 2017
Ha ha... How come there are so many legends in our story? (this one is Georgie Charleston at a SHEAFS gig photographed by Sandy K. Moz)
Fun is the future to turn post "Brexit" dystopia, into SEXit utopia, well as close as you can get, these end of days.
Happiness breeds futures, Social inclusion fuels opportunities.
Below; Yola Carter, nominated at February's Americana Music UK awards, headlining an all female showcase at the Gibston Studios launch earlier this week, and then even more snapshots of some #heaven17 moments from the UK's new music movement. Just sending out love, really. Snaps n Chat; Caffy
Ladies - As We WEREN'T!
I
Comments