International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate the achievements of women, and a time to reflect on and evaluate the work that still needs to be done to achieve true gender equality. As you already know, these are some of the core values of Get In Her Ears! We champion women & non-binary folk who make the music that we love every day.
Last year, we put together a round-up of some of the brilliant organisations who work tirelessly to make local music scenes and the wider music industry a safer, more enjoyable place for women to create their art.
Today, we’ve updated that list to include more initiatives and events that are taking place across the month of March. We’ve also included links to some UK based charities who stand up for women’s rights, informative & fun podcasts, and there’s even some reading recommendations too.
We’ve also put together a celebratory IWD Playlist to accompany this information, which you can listen to at the end of this post. You can find plenty of new music on our website and on our Spotify page too.
Solidarity to all of our followers. Thank you for supporting GIHE and all of the wonderful artists & initiatives that we help to promote all year round. x
Level Up! International Women’s Strike (8th)
Where & When: Wednesday 8th March, Trafalgar Square, London 6.30pm
Organised by the Feminist community for gender justice, Level Up, the Transnational Strike of all Women and Gender Non-Conforming folks takes to the streets this IWD to resist capitalist, colonial and patriarchal exploitation. With Trans and migrant rights currently under attack from the far right and the government, it seems particularly important to be drawing attention to these issues right now, especially whilst the police remain a violent institution, protecting the interests of those who systemically continue to abuse us. In the words of Level Up: “Around the world, our sisters shout WOMEN LIFE FREEDOM from Kurdistan to Peru. They fight for liberation and sovereignty against violent and repressive states. We stand with them because this is our fight here too”.
Find out more at Level Up’s Instagram and visit their website
Come Away With ESG by Cheri Percy (9th)
Where & When: Thursday 9th March, Rough Trade East, London 7:00pm
Journalist and broadcaster Cheri Percy has written a new book that champions South Bronx sister trio ESG. Featuring insights from Peter Hook, Karen O and punk professor Vivien Goldman, the book shares how this group of young women and their primal beats paved the way for modern dance music today.
Cheri will be celebrating the launch of her new book with an event at Rough Trade East. She will be in conversation with Hacienda DJ Dave Haslam and Melissa Rakshana Steiner (The Quietus), discussing the album’s decade-spanning influence on modern music some 40 years on from its original release. The panel will be chaired by journalist and Green Man Literature Tent host Michelle Kambasha.
Grab your ticket on DICE here
WOW Festival: Queers On The Map Panel (10th)
Where & When: Friday 10th March, Southbank Centre, London 12:00-1:00pm
Our very own Tash Walker will be speaking at Women Of The World Festival as part of the Queers On The Map panel! The discussion will run from 12:00-1:00pm and you will need a day pass to attend the event (tickets here). Full event details below.
“A look at the story behind the recent census data on the LGBTQIA community. The 2021 census was the first to ask people about their gender identity and sexual orientation, and so revealed for the first time data about queer life in Britain today. We look at the story behind the data, and revisit some of the activism and milestones along the way. Why has it taken so long for the LGBTQIA community to be included in the national story? And what impact does this recognition have for a community that still struggles for equality?
Speakers include host and producer of The Log Books podcast Tash Walker; journalist and presenter Shivani Dave; award-winning trans and queer creative Fox Fisher; Gayathiri Kamalakanthan from the School of Sexuality Education; and writer, producer and presenter Abi McIntosh.”
Safe Gigs 4 Women Event (11th)
Where & When: Saturday 11th March, Bush Hall, London, 3:00pm
“An initiative established by regular gig goers with the aim of creating a safer environment for women at gigs.”
Inspirational and innovative organisation Safe Gigs For Women are hosting an awesome sounding event on Saturday to celebrate International Women’s Day. With live music from the likes of The Pearl Harts and GENN, it’ll be a perfect opportunity to celebrate some incredible women in music and network with some of the incredible people behind the scenes working to create safe spaces for us all.
Tickets on Dice now. Visit their website for more information.
Whose Song Is It Anyway? Panel Event (22nd)
Where & When: Wednesday 22nd March, The House Of Commons, London
A special event to celebrate the launch of ‘Whose Song Is It Anyway’ – a podcast discussing copyright and creativity in the music industry. Hosted by Dr Hayleigh Bosher, it will include panel discussions with the likes of rock legend Brix Smith, songwriter and founder of the OWHL Foundation (Overseeing Welfare, Human Rights and Liberty within the creative industries) Katie Waissel and Charlene Brown. Panel discussions will be followed by live music and networking opportunities.
Register to attend by emailing whosesongisitanyway@gmail.com
Decolonise Fest
“A London-based festival created by an for punx of colour.” They’re taking a break from organising their annual festival this year, but visit their website for more information on upcoming events and how you can support them in their future efforts.
First Timers Fest
A DIY music festival encouraging people to pick up instruments for the first time and learn how to play in a low pressure, friendly environment. We spoke to some of the team on our February Soho Radio show, which you can listen to here. Visit their website for more information about this year’s edition of the festival.
Girls Rock London
A charity based in Hackney who focus on increasing access to music for young and adult women, trans and non-binary people. Visit their website
LOUD WOMEN
London-based promoter, blog and radio show “putting women on stage and turning up the volume!” Visit their website
Girls Against
Organisation fighting against sexual assault at live music events. Visit their website
OMNII Sound Collective
A London-based collective “aiming to inspire women, trans and non-binary sound enthusiasts to operate in all aspects of audio production.” Visit their website
Music Production For Women
“A global movement, community and online education platform which aims to encourage and empower women who are taking their first steps into music production.” Visit their website
Ladies Music Pub
A London-based community open to all women, non-binary and gender variant people in music. Visit their website
WXMB 2
A “community of womxn connecting and coming together with a shared mission: to take on inequality within the music industry.” Visit their website
WITCiH
“An inclusive platform supporting Women in Tech. WITCiH is an online and real world platform for research, creation, performance and networking.” Visit their website
Content Is Queen
A “podcasting agency and community that’s been amplifying minority voices since day dot.” Visit their website
The Log Books
An award-winning podcast telling the untold stories from Britain’s LGBTQ+ History. Founded by fellow GIHE grrrl Tash Walker. Listen here
Black and Gay, Back In The Day
Black and Gay, Back in the Day brings to life a photo archive of Black LGBTQIA+ life in Britain, from the 1970s through to the early 2000s. This podcast is about the experience of Black LGBTQIA+ communities with open discussion about racism, homophobia, transphobia and sexual discrimination. You can listen here
Black and Gay, Back in the Day is an Aunt Nell Production (who GIHE Co-founder Task Walker also works with!)
We Wear Black
A fun podcast that focuses on what it’s like for women & non-binary people living an alternative lifestyle, talking about everything from “sex, racism and gigs to Myspace and emo fashion.” Listen here
Girls Twiddling Knobs
A podcast “for female identifying musicians eager to start self-recording their music” hosted by Isobel Anderson, featuring interviews with Gazelle Twin, Jessica Paz and Emily Nash. Listen here
Unglamorous Music Project
This Leicester-based local initiative, founded by Ruth Miller back in 2021, aims to mentor, coach and support women of all ages to start playing a musical instruments. This year, they encouraged women to get involved, form a band, and then perform live for their International Women’s Day gig!
Find out more about the gig & what they do by visiting their website
Sisters Uncut
UK based charity “taking direct action for domestic violence services.” Visit their website
Why Solange Matters by Stephanie Phillips
Author, Journalist, Activist and one third of GIHE faves Big Joanie, Stephanie Phillips’ book looks at more than just the career of Solange Knowles. Why Solange Matters is a book about “what freedom could look like for Black women, in which Phillips provides a framework [and] a vision of a new world, one she hopes Solange would be proud to be a part of.”
Buy your copy here
Lead Sister: The Karen Carpenter Story by Lucy O’Brien
Mari Lane (GIHE Co-Founder & Managing Editor)
“Having had somewhat of a fascination and tender spot for Karen Carpenter since first hearing that unique crystalline voice on ‘Close To You’ as a child, I was extremely happy to hear that one of my favourite authors/journalists Lucy O’Brien was releasing a new book about the late star. With Lead Sister, O’Brien looks to shine a light on the often overlooked strength, talent and humour of Carpenter, whilst of course delving in with poignant insight into the musician’s infamous tragic fate.
The Karen Carpenter song on our IWD Playlist is taken from her solo album (which was sadly never released in her lifetime due to the record label not approving of her change in direction), which she recorded in New York during the last few years of her life. Although it’s a Paul Simon cover, I love how you can hear the joy in Karen’s voice – free to experiment creatively, and delve into her love of disco and blues.”
Buy your copy of Lucy’s book here
GIHE: IWD Playlist 2023
We’ve put together another eclectic playlist of new music and classic tunes from women who we love for personal and political reasons. Featuring genre pioneers SOPHIE, ESG, Queen Latifah, The Runaways and Jackie Shane, pop heroes Lady Gaga, Shania Twain and Lizzo, and GIHE faves such as ARXX, Problem Patterns, Circe, Maria Uzor and Fraulein…we hope this mix provides the perfect soundtrack to your activism and your after-party this International Women’s Day!
Get In Her Ears 