A CELEBRATION of women in music aims to turn around statistics that suggest the vast majority of gigs and festivals are failing to shine a spotlight on female musicians.

Last year, BBC statistics showed that 84 per cent of headliners at music festivals were men, with recent research identifying a similar trend in UK-wide gig listings.

A 2015 study also found that around 90 per cent of music technology students in Britain were male, with the outcome being “that the creative field becomes dominated by male practitioners, male lecturers and male authors” according to the organisers of Noisy Daughters.

Music collective Tracks Darlington has organised the upcoming all-day event in response to the startling statistics, also highlighting a story from The Northern Echo about a Middlesbrough pub’s ban on female performers on the grounds that they “can’t sing rock”.

Darlington’s Theatre Hullabaloo will play host to a day of activities, including a song-writing workshop for women delivered by Liz Corney from The Cornshed Sisters where participants are encouraged to bring along their instrument and seek guidance from the respected musician.

There will also be a panel discussion with prominent figures from the North-East music industry addressing the issues that face women in the field and what can be done to make a change.

The event will culminate in a gig on the evening, with singer-songwriter Eve Conway and Teesside hip-hop artist Leddie MC joining Twist Helix and The Van T’s in the line-up.

Sarah Wilson, from Tracks, said: “With all these negative headlines and a male dominated industry, it’s easy to see why women are underrepresented in the world of modern music.

‘It’s vital to give women in music credible, female-led music events nationally and it’s brilliant that we can do this in our hometown of Darlington.

“We are hoping to inspire the next generation of female musicians whilst giving a platform to the current batch of female artists that are leading the way.”

Noisy Daughters, suitable for over-12s, will take place on Saturday, March 3, with the workshop open to women only but all welcome at the panel and gig. Money raised will fund future events.

The panel and workshop are free with tickets for the gig priced at £6 or £4 for concessions.They can be booked from The Pennyweight pub in Darlington or from skiddle.com/e/13131578.