One of the UK’s most exciting bands and former Glastonbury performers, The Tuts will join an impressive lineup of female music industry professionals at the next Women in Music event.
Women in Music will take place on Wednesday 13 March at Nottingham’s brand new venue, Metronome. With gender imbalance in the music industry still very much an issue, the organisers, DHP Family, have invited the all-female-all-feminist, punk-pop trio; an award-winning UK festival founder and Music Venue Trust’s strategic director to join an open-panel conversation of hot topics.
Opening the evening will be Beverley Whitrick, Strategic Director at Music Venues Trust. The panel, ‘Fightback: Grassroots Promoter Initiative’, will explore opportunities for the next generation of young, female, independent promoters through a new partnership between Music Venue Trust and Music Planet Live. As well as information on why it started and how women can get involved, Beverley will chat with two local promoters who have taken part in the initiative – Kayla Bell and Louise McGovern.
The Tuts are a three-tone trio, of proud Caribbean, English and Indian/Pakistani origin, from London. Described by Louder Than War as ‘one of the UK’s most exciting bands’, they are avatars in the ongoing debate over inclusivity in the music scene and will be in conversation with Jackie P from Kemet FM. Meeting Kate Nash led to a tour support slot and EP collaboration in 2013, bringing them to the attention of Billy Bragg, who invited the band to play at Glastonbury in 2014.
The Tuts said: “Our existence is a political statement in itself. As a female band with members of colour we feel at times it’s a double battle in an industry dominated by the white cis man. For us, it’s about speaking up about what we believe and showing that you can still achieve success even when all odds are against you. We are change.”
With the gender gap in music festival lineups a highly discussed issue, the second panel will focus on and celebrate the leading women working behind the scenes at events. Cassie Fox, founder of Loud Women, Goc O’Callaghan, founder of Arctangent, and Joanna Leljevahl, Event Manager at Snowbox Festival, will discuss challenges they’ve faced, what the festival industry is like for women and how equality can be improved in this sector.
Women in Music is open to people of all genders and at all levels of their careers. There will be networking drinks post-event for attendees to meet each other, chat with organisers and panelists, and continue discussions.
Tickets are available from alttickets.com for the event starting at 6pm. Tickets are £5 or £3 for students or those on benefits or low income. All proceeds will once again be donated to Equation, a Nottinghamshire charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse and sexual violence.
For the most up to date information, like ‘WIM Notts’ on Facebook and follow @WIMNotts on Twitter.
