CityLife

Ladyfest takes over Zion Arts Centre

Jenny Van Der Ploeg, Adam Wiseman, Anna Smith, Victoria Conway, Paul Forster, Rachael Neiman and Susan O'Shea

THIS weekend is set to be a very exciting moment for those who appreciate the DIY aesthetic as the team behind Ladyfest Manchester put all their organisational skills to the test in a weekend of music, art, cinema and politics taking place at Hulme’s Zion Centre.

And at a time when so much art and entertainment comes prepackaged it’s wonderful to know that so many people out there in the city are willing to put time and effort into an event simply for the reward of it happening at all.

Ladyfest is a DIY festival that takes its cue from the Riot Grrrl scene - born out of Olympia - but moves it forward creating a space where a largely female audience can shape its own culture and music stoically outside of the mainstream.

And this in itself would be good enough if it wasn’t for the fact that the headlining act for the weekend is none other than the influential female punk benchmarks The Slits who make a rare appearance on these shores.

“It’s been such an interest journey for all of us to make this work,” explains one of the organisers Victoria Conway.

“Getting The Slits to play on Friday is such a wonderful thing.

“I just e-mailed Ari Up from the band out of the blue to see if they were interested after explaining what we were doing.

Flights

"I didn’t think we could even afford the flights so when we found out that they were playing a gig in Europe suddenly it seemed like it must just work.

"Ari and the band are really into the DIY aesthetic and I think that made them want to make it work too. I think also the fact that they have been so influential over us all means this is very special.”

Ladyfest is not just about music however – despite having attracted a legendary headline act  - as the weekend’s schedule attests.

Music and art collide with a whole range of activities. There’s cabaret compered by Rosi Lugosi which features dance and burlesque alongside a heap of other activities alongside politic discussion and feminist debate.

Meanwhile Saturday will host workshops running from 10am including self-defence and a panel discussion about women in the cultural industries featuring famed socialist feminist Sheila Rowbotham.

Manda Rin (ex-of Bis) makes a rare solo appearance in the city on Saturday night playing solo material from her new album. In other words a veritable feast of art and ideas.

Inspiration

“I’ve lived in Manchester all my life,” says Victoria, “and many friends of ours went over to a Ladyfest event in Leeds last year. There was no reason why we couldn’t do the same thing over here which was a very simple inspiration to make this all work.”

This year’s festival is also hosting one of City Life’s favourite lost films Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains an obscure punk film from 1981 that tells the tale of a disenfranchised group of female teens who form a band to break out of their humdrum lives only to find the music business less the idealistic.

It’s a cracking film bursting with energy and has served over the years as a film to inspire new generations of female artists including Kathleen Hannah and Kim Gordon.

Hopefully this weekend it will work its magic again on a whole new generation inspiring more free thinkers to get out there and create for its own sake.

For more information go to www.ladyfestmanchester.com.