Last week, I pointed out the lack of women on a small dance music festival’s lineup as an example of how music still has a long way to go in order to see more women on the lineup of festivals of all-stripes: electronic, Electric Picnic, whatever.
Promoters tell you that they don’t see gender when booking, defensive punters tell you there’s not enough women “interested in dance music”, that they have the same opportunities, that harrassment at gigs or perception of “being the token bird or promoter’s girlfriend” doesn’t come into it, but if you talk to women DJs, it’s painfully obvious, that yes, it is harder for women to establish themselves when coming up against all of the misogyny, comments and double standards. This also applies to those that identify as LGBTQ. So there has to be some consideration about what we can do about it.
One of the ways which is a good way forward in addressing this massive issue, is women-only workshops, where women can learn in a safe encouraging environment, which is exactly what the Gash Collective and Dublin Digital Radio are planning on April 1st in Jigsaw with 3 workshops looking at production, vinyl and CDJ DJing, followed by a discussion panel around the issue.
GASH COLLECTIVE X DDR PRESENTS:
CDJ workshop w/ Eve
Vinyl workshop w/ Aoife Nic Canna
Production workshop w/ ELLLL
A three workshop extravaganza, followed by discussion with women involved in events and promotions in Ireland, as well as music by Staxx Lyrical. All taking place in Jigsaw on Saturday April 1st.
The workshops are free but they are accepting donations to Jigsaw.
To attend the workshops you need to register at: GASHCOLL.COM
No experience is necessary. The production workshop is sponsored by Ableton who will be providing some licenced software for attendees and other swag. These events are curated by women for women and LGBTQ.
An afterparty takes place in Wigwam that night with sets by Lolz, Cáit, Dreamcycles and Elll.
Now is a good time to check out Aoife Nic Canna’s Folklore from the Dancefloor series
