YORK'S Little Festival of Live Music curator, Ellen Cole, is to hold a Girl Power mini-fest on March 4 from 3pm to 9pm.
"Bringing together and celebrating female folk and acoustic musicians from across Yorkshire, we'll be showcasing six hours of incredible live music performed in the intimate setting of the Black Swan Inn in Peasholme Green," says Ellen.
After receiving 103 applications from female talent from the North of England all keen to play at the spin-off event, the festival spent three weeks whittling the numbers down to six acts.
York singer-songwriter Rachel Croft
"This mini-fest is probably one of the most exciting festivals that we've ever done," says Ellen. "We’ve tailored it to showcase the work of female musicians and the sheer amount of talent that applied has been incredible. Our event will be running alongside the York International Women’s Festival, which we’re incredibly proud to be a part of.”
The March event will feature country and folk performer Gracie Falls, who won the UK Unsigned Songwriter of the Year award; blues harpist Sarah Dean; acoustic singer-songwriter Rachel Croft; folk musician Holly Taymar from the band The Bronze and prog-rock/folk singer Heather Findlay, who fronted the York band Mostly Autumn before turning solo. Alternative Celtic gypsy band Leather’o will perform with a one-off all-female line-up assembled specially for the festival.
Admission will be free of charge from 2.45pm, but a suggested donation of £5 to the Kyra Women’s Project, a York charity that supports women to overcome challenges and make changes in their lives, would be greatly appreciated, says Ellen.
York prog-rock/folk singer Heather Findlay
York’s Little Festival of Live Music will stage its annual community music festival for charity at the York Food and Drink Festival on Parliament Street from September 22 to October 1. Submissions from musicians wishing to apply to be part of the event will open on March 5.
For more information on both events, go to facebook.com/YorksLittleFestivalOfLiveMusic, follow on Twitter @live_music_fest or email yorkslivemusicfestival@gmail.com.
Did you know?
Ellen Cole, organiser of York’s Little Festival of Live Music, was awarded the prize of York’s Outstanding Promoter of the Year in the 2016 Yorkshire Gig Guide Awards, while the festival won the award for York’s Outstanding Contribution to the Community.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here