IN the first event of its kind in York, six of Yorkshire’s finest female folk and acoustic musicians come together on Saturday to perform at the Girl Power Mini-Fest, run by York’s Little Festival of Live Music.

Taking part in this weekend's event at the Black Swan Inn, in Peasholme Green, will be Gracie Falls; Leather’o; Sarah Dean; Rachel Croft; Holly Taymar and Heather Findlay.

Organiser Ellen Cole says: "I'm really excited about this Girl Power event, which is going to offer our audiences the opportunity to see a wide range of folk and acoustic acts, not just from York but also further afield.

York Press:

Harpist Sarah Dean

"The aim of the mini-fest is to celebrate female talent in music and enhance awareness of the acts playing at the festival, as well as offering our audiences a fantastic musical experience.

"People always ask me why I continue to run York’s Little Festival of Live Music year after year and I always say the same thing: I want the festival to inspire people to support and attend gigs run by unsigned talent in and around York, whether that be in a pub or small venue. If the festival can just encourage a small handful of people each year to attend gigs on a more regular basis around York, then I will feel as though it's all worthwhile.”

Gracie Falls is a Bridlington country and folk singer, who has won the UK Unsigned Songwriter of the Year award; alternative Celtic gypsy band Leather’o will feature a one-off all-female line-up and Sarah Dean is a folk and blues harpist.

York Press:

York singer-songwriter Rachel Croft

Acoustic singer-songwriter and illustrator Rachel Croft has a regular jazz spot at The Phoenix Inn in George Street with The Croft Mullen Band; folk musician Holly Taymar is part of the York band The Bronze and prog-rock folk performer Heather Findlay is carving out a solo career after fronting Mostly Autumn for many years.

The Girl Power Mini-Fest will run from 3pm to 9pm on Saturday. Entry is free, but a suggested donation of £5 would be greatly appreciated. "The money raised will go to the Kyra Women’s Project, an independent York charity at Central Methodist Church, St Saviourgate, which supports women to overcome challenges and make changes in their lives," says Ellen.

Looking further ahead, York’s Little Festival of Live Music will stage its annual festival at the York Food and Drink Festival, in Parliament Street, from September 22 to October 1. "Submissions from musicians wishing to apply to be part of the festival will open on Sunday," says Ellen, winner of the York’s Outstanding Promoter of the Year prize in the 2016 Yorkshire Gig Guide Awards.

For more information on the Girl Power and Little Festival events, go to facebook.com/YorksLittleFestivalOfLiveMusic, follow on Twitter @live_music_fest or email yorkslivemusicfestival@gmail.com