BRINGING together and celebrating female folk and acoustic musicians from across Yorkshire, York’s Little Festival of Live Music will showcase six hours of live music performed in the intimate setting of the Black Swan Inn (Peasholme Green, York) on Saturday, March 4.

Having received 103 applications from female talent from across the North, all keen to play at the event, the festival, which was recently announced as York’s Outstanding Festival of the Year, spent three weeks whittling the numbers down to six acts. Curator Ellen Cole says: “This mini-fest is probably one of the most exciting that we have ever done – we’ve tailored it to showcase the work of female talent and the sheer amount of talent that applied has been incredible. Our event is running alongside the York International Women’s Festival, which we’re incredibly proud to be a part of.”

The line-up will feature Gracie Falls, a country and folk performer, who recently won UK Unsigned Songwriter of the Year; alternative Celtic, gypsy band Leather’o, which will feature a one-off full female line-up; folk and blues harpist Sarah Dean; acoustic singer-songwriter Rachel Croft; folk musician Holly Taymar from the band The Bronze and renowned prog-rock folk performer Heather Findlay, who fronted the well-known band Mostly Autumn.

Entry into the event is free, however a suggested donation of £5 to the Kyra Women’s Project – a local charity which supports women to overcome challenge and make changes in their lives – will be greatly appreciated.

This one-off girl power event takes place from 3pm-9pm (doors open 2.45pm).

  • York’s Little Festival of Live Music will be staging its annual festival at the York Food and Drink Festival, on Parliament Street, from September 22 to October 1 and submissions from musicians wishing to apply to be part of the event will open on Sunday, March 5.

For more information on both events go to: facebook.com/YorksLittleFestivalOfLiveMusic, follow on Twitter: @live_music_fest or email: yorkslivemusicfestival@gmail.com.

  • York’s Little Festival of Live Music is a community music event which fundraises for local community groups/charities only.

It was created with three weeks’ notice for the York Food and Drink Festival in 2013. Ellen Cole, who runs the event was recently awarded with the titles of York’s Outstanding Promoter of the Year and York’s Outstanding Contribution to the Community in the Yorkshire Gig Guide Awards.