On Wednesday 8th March we held Hands Up for Trad’s first Twitter Chat with special guest Rachel Newton. Back in November Rachel raised the issue of the lack of women nominated in the Live Act of the Year category in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards. The discussion went on from there with a meet up at Celtic Connections and a newly formed collective. We decided to celebrate International Women’s Day by hosting this twitter chat using #womenintrad. Below is some of the posts and points made,
On Wed 8th March – International Women’s Day join Hands Up for Trad with special guest @rachel_newton_ for #womenintrad Twitter chat!
— Simon Thoumire (@handsupfortrad) March 3, 2017
Well done @rachel_newton_ on getting everyone talking about #womenintrad. What’s next for the group?
— Simon Thoumire (@simonthoumire) March 8, 2017
.@simonthoumire Thanks! I’ve been meeting up with @jennbutterworth & Mikaela Atkins and we’ve decided to start up a collective #womenintrad
— Rachel Newton (@rachel_newton_) March 8, 2017
@rachel_newton_ @jennbutterworth and what do you see as the collectives role? #womenintrad
— Simon Thoumire (@simonthoumire) March 8, 2017
@simonthoumire @jennbutterworth firstly we’d like to facilitate get togethers to discuss the issues raised #womenintrad @BITcollective1
— Rachel Newton (@rachel_newton_) March 8, 2017
@handsupfortrad @kathryntickell I think we need more female role models who play instruments. Our role is not only as singers #womenintrad
— Rachel Newton (@rachel_newton_) March 8, 2017
@handsupfortrad lots of female led bands, but I’d like to see more female singers employing women musicians in their bands. #womenintrad
— Rachel Newton (@rachel_newton_) March 8, 2017
What about quotas. Should promoters / festivals be considering this? #womenintrad
— Simon Thoumire (@handsupfortrad) March 8, 2017
@handsupfortrad I was unsure about quotas at first, but actually wonder if a bit of pressure might be what’s needed #womenintrad
— Rachel Newton (@rachel_newton_) March 8, 2017
@simonthoumire ideally what I’d like is for those in positions of power to just be more aware without having to impose quotas #womenintrad
— Rachel Newton (@rachel_newton_) March 8, 2017
@handsupfortrad promoters often forced to book crowd pleasers for financial reasons..maybe not always an artistic choice?#womenintrad
— Rachel Newton (@rachel_newton_) March 8, 2017
@handsupfortrad @rachel_newton_ If they see the gender before hearing the music then there’s an issue. #womenintrad
— Jenn Butterworth (@jennbutterworth) March 8, 2017
@rachel_newton_ I agree. Although are we already stuck in a mould we didn’t create? Female music seen as a genre… #womenintrad
— Jenn Butterworth (@jennbutterworth) March 8, 2017
@handsupfortrad How do women market themselves? The way women are marketed in the mainstream – idolised but not respected? #womenintrad
— Jenn Butterworth (@jennbutterworth) March 8, 2017
@rachel_newton_ @BITcollective1 I’m taking a note of the gender ratio at every trad/folk gig I’m attending until next Jan #womenintrad
— carlaonsound (@carla_on_sound) March 8, 2017
I play with predominately females, for their musical ability & not gender. I sometimes wonder if that puts me at a disadvantage #womenintrad
— Claire Hastings (@ClaireHastings1) March 8, 2017
@JosieDuncanSong @handsupfortrad totally! While we’re at it: Do you feel that there is more pressure on #womenintrad to look a certain way?
— carlaonsound (@carla_on_sound) March 8, 2017
The singer-songwriter community seems to be where the majority of my girl guitar playing pals are. #WomeninTrad
— Josie Duncan (@JosieDuncanSong) March 8, 2017
I think I am very fortunate to have been surrounded by inspirational female and male role models all my life. #womenintrad 1/2
— Gillian Frame (@gillianframe_) March 8, 2017
2/2 #womenintrad I feel equally comfortable and drawn to working with both.Anyone else agree?@AlihuttonPipes @findlaynapier @saystheking
— Gillian Frame (@gillianframe_) March 8, 2017
Also interesting to look at the gender make up of the bodies that support & organise trad music events and opportunities #womenintrad
— TMSA (@TMSAScotland) March 8, 2017
And the conversation goes on! Follow it on Twitter at #womenintrad