Monday 8 March is an important date in the calendar for women around the world – it marks 110th annual International Women’s Day (IWD).
It’s a day that celebrates the women and the women’s rights movement, raises awareness of equality and justice, and fundraises for some amazing women’s charities.
In some countries the day is a public holiday and is celebrated in the way that we would traditionally celebrate Mother’s Day, with gestures of flowers and small gifts being given to women. Whilst the UK doesn’t quite recognise it on this level, there is normally a big series of events. But as this year’s IWD falls within lockdown restrictions, it’s no surprise that celebrations will be held virtually.
The official theme for this year’s IWD is #ChooseToChallenge. The key message is to “celebrate women’s achievement, raise awareness against bias and take action for equality”. So, to mark the event in keeping with this year’s theme, Manchester-based record label, Do As You Please (DAYP), will be hosting an online showcase of female music talent.
DJ Giles will be playing the event.
The DAYP 12-hour display will be held this Saturday (March 6) from 11am to 11pm. There’ll be eight mixes to enjoy from some of the best women in the business – not just from Manchester but representing the entire UK.
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Joining the lineup is a whole host of radio presenters and DJs including Emma Rose from Pie Radio, Spin City co-founder Tañ, and London’s Kloyd, as well as DJs ThtGrl from Manchester’s Not Bad For A Girl collective, Norfn Gyal, Aletha, Saachi and Giles.
Women have been underrepresented in the music industry for years – especially in electronic music scene which is massively male-dominated. You only have to look at a festival lineup for a bit of proof. But this is the case in all aspect of the industry, as just 21.7% of popular music artists and 2.1% of producers are said to be women.
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Reasons for this are up for discussion – but how long do you have?!
Really, it boils down to limited opportunities, stereotypes and bias – and the stats speak for themselves as just 5 of DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs were women in 2019.
Inclusivity, equality and diversity is paramount to the ethos of DAYP and this is the drive behind their IWD celebration this weekend. The label’s founder, Niall Roche, said: “At Do As You Please, we have a strong outlook on artist development and proper impartial opportunities within the music industry.
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“We’re only a relatively new business but it’s become blatant that there is massive gender inequality within dance music and I’d like to find and support this generation’s female talent so that the next generation have role models to look up to.”
Aletha will be playing the event.
Tune in via the DYAP website here and let’s all celebrate IWD in true 2021 virtual style.
Music
AJ Tracey is playing a VERY intimate gig in Manchester next month
Thomas Melia
London rapper and respected grime artist AJ Tracey is ‘live and direct’ once again, announcing a whole host of UK dates, one of which is a rather intimate gig right here in Manchester.
It’s official: one of UK rap’s leading gents is getting back on the road and he’s showing a ‘Little More Love’ to lots of cities, including Manchester.
In a post on the UK star’s socials, AJ Tracey trades his music persona for that of a sports pundit as he announces the dates for his upcoming tour while impersonating an F1 commentator.
Anyone looking to attend Tracey’s ‘Not Even A Tour’ can catch the star up and down the country on his over 20-date tour with a stop in Manchester as soon as this month.
The rapper has reached phenomenal heights since dropping the unforgettable ‘Ladbroke Grove’ in 2019 and is heading out across the nation to make sure everyone knows about it.
Get ready to spit bars left and right as this rapper’s discography is stacked with serious tunes like ‘Dinner Guest’, ‘West Ten’, ‘Thiago Silva’ and more.
More recently, he collaborated with Walsall’s finest Jorja Smith for a flirty garage beat also known as ‘Crush’ with the video being the two artists talking it out in a good old fashioned caff.
The latest collaboration with Smith marks the start of a new era for Mr. Live and direct as it fell in line with the announcement of his third studio album.
Titled Don’t Die Before You’re Dead, we’re sure he’ll be “building a vibe” wherever he goes and probably previewing a few exclusive tracks from his upcoming project too.
This gig may come as quite a surprise for any hardcore fans of the ‘Ladbroke Grove’ star as the venue in which he’s performing is definitely intimate only, holding just over 250 guests.
This rap giant is bringing his unbelievable beats to none other than the legendary small-cap city centre live music venue, The Deaf Institute, at the end of this month.
It’s safe to say you won’t get many more chances, if any, to see him in such a tight-knit space again.
AJ Tracey is bringing ‘Not Even A Tour’ to Deaf Institute in Manchester on 30 April, with tickets on sale Friday 4 April from 12 noon.
Manchester City’s Nathan Aké donates piano to grassroots music venue
Thomas Melia
Footballer and Manchester City star Nathan Aké has donated a piano to an iconic city centre grassroots venue in Manchester.
To celebrate ‘International Piano Day’, the Dutch defender has teamed up with legendary instrument-makers Casio by donating a state-of-the-art piano in one very lucky music venue.
Aké and Casio are donating pianos across the UK through their joint project titled ‘Playing For Change’.
The iconic grassroots venue that’s receiving this prestigious instrument is none other than Band on the Wall, which has been pumping out live music under this name since 1975.
Processed with VSCO with kp5 presetProcessed with VSCO with kp5 presetCredit: Supplied
This new addition will help the venue as a whole, but more importantly, it will come in very handy for their Saturday Music Club.
Running every weekend, this session helps young people discover music and develop their skills, now via the fantastic PX-S7000 Casio piano.
Band on the Wall is a much-loved and adored Manchester city centremusic institution, and they aren’t the only place benefitting from the Manchester city star and Casio.
So far, 12 disadvantaged schools in the UK have benefitted from this joint effort from Aké and Casio, all of which were surprised with their very own digital piano.
This newest partnership won’t come as a surprise to fans of the Man City centre-back, as he’s been known to play the piano since teaching himself in 2020, and now he’s spreading his love of music to communities nationwide.
Neil Evans, Head of Casio EMI, commented:“It’s exciting for us to support Band on the Wall with a gift of a brand new Privia piano.”
“We’re hoping it’s used often and inspires people into learning the piano and increasing their access to the joys of music, which is at the core of Playing For Change.”
As for Aké, while he might be sidelined for the foreseeable following surgery on a fractured foot, the Netherlands international will hopefully be able to get lots of practice playing those keys.
Hannah Starkie -
4th March 2021 
