Belfast's Annual Celebration of Women in Music 'Women’s Work' 2019 Programme Announced

The Oh Yeah Music Centre in Belfast has announced the details of its fourth Women’s Work festival. The Annual event celebrating women in music takes place across five days and nights. This year's festival is absolutely packed with a wide range of showcases, gigs, special events, panels, talks, and workshops that are open to all genders.

One of the highlights for 2019 includes the Belfast debut of 'The Guilty Feminist'. The award winning Podcast presented by Deborah Frances-White will be recorded live at the Limelight 1 on Saturday 8^th June.

Other exciting festival activities include a performance by cellist and singer Alana Henderson and a Start Together party with Liverpool punk band Queen Zee. Audiences will get insight into the creative process of multitalented musician and producer Hannah Peel as she takes part in Oh Yeah's 'Getting To Know' series.

Derry author Geraldine Quigley, of ‘Music Love Drugs War’, will speak with Women Aloud, an organization dedicated to supporting female writers in Northern Ireland. Weather permitting, country-folk artist Brigid O’Neill will play an intimate rooftop show, and Bird & Bramble will present a tribute to Blondie in this year's ICON night. Don't miss the amazing line-up of MCs in the women of Irish Hip Hop night presented by Elixer, and a screening of Joan Jett documentary Bad Reputation.

The busy programme also includes the Women’s Work Showcase. The showcase will play host to the freshest new sounds from artists including Wynona Bleach, Molly Sterling, DENA, Gemma Bradley, Gender Chores and more!

Several workshops, talks and advice sessions will be held by the likes of Girls Rock School NI, Female DIY Tribe, GIRL and Musicians’ Union. Escuelas de Paz & Beyond Skin will also host a convesation with special guest Genesis, a Columbian Beauty Queen, activist and musician.

Underpinning four of the events this year is ‘Women In Music’, a funding initiative through Help Musicians NI. One of these is FairPlé, a campaign to achieve gender balance in Traditional Music and Folk. They will present a series of talks and discussions at the Duncairn Arts Centre.

Charlotte Dryden of Oh Yeah said “It’s shaping up to be another brilliant year. We’re absolutely delighted that the Guilty Feminist is making its Belfast debut as part of the festival. As for the rest of the programme, the level of collaborative working, shared ideas and ethos is humbling and it makes us proud to be able to facilitate, host and showcase so many initiatives. Thanks to Help Musicians NI for getting behind the festival, their support has been solid and we are proud to partner with them again for 2019.”

Keith Millar, regional manager of festival partner Help Musicians NI said, “We are very pleased to have four of the recipients of our Women In Music (WiM) NI Fund showcasing at this year’s festival. The WiM NI Fund is a bespoke fund specific to NI launched at Women’s Work in 2018, which is designed to support organisations and established collectives working to promote gender equality and the role of women in music. At Help Musicians NI we’re proud and excited to see the fruits of some of our beneficiaries’ labours displayed at the festival one year on.”

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Deirdre Hargey said: “Belfast boasts a vibrant and diverse music scene that everyone can be proud of. Our reputation for developing world- class talent continues to grow from strength to strength and the contribution women make to that success cannot be underestimated.”

The Festival runs 5^th – 9^th June.

For tickets and full details visit www.womensworkni.co.uk