All female artists need be free to place their stamp and identity on the world.  Around the world – country by country, community by community – there are many women with burning aspirations, enormous talent and limitless courage who are eating their fear and their hearts are on fire. And visibility and performance access are critical to achieving real equity they need to share their music to the world.

For International Women’s Day in 2023, the Grand and Ribble Valley Jazz and Blues are showcasing great music leadership from women teachers and composers based in the North – redefining, reinventing and reigniting musical creativity and promotion with groove, beat, tunes that take you to another world and more.

Featuring ….

Emma Johnson

Emma Johnson is a Leeds based saxophonist, composer and the bandleader of Emma Johnson’s Gravy Boat.

Gravy Boat perform Emma’s melodic, cinematic jazz compositions and have been described as ‘one of the most refreshingly imaginative and perfectly configured acts in contemporary jazz’.

Originally hailing from Lancashire, Emma has recently written a new set of music ‘Northern Flame’ commissioned by Lancaster Jazz Festival, which will form the basis of her second album.

Sarah Heneghan

Originally from South Wales, Sarah Heneghan is a Sheffield-based drummer and composer involved in numerous collaborations across the North. Her solo project, ‘Power Out’, tells a story of entrancing electronic music contrasted with improvised live drumming, blowing apart expectations of what solo drumming can be. It has received funding from Arts Council England, and performed at Shambala Festival, London Jazz Festival & Manchester Jazz Festival, to name a few. 

About Ribble Jazz Valley International Women’s Day:

“Sometimes I stop and reflect on what I do for a living. Being asked to contribute to this event, an ethos which I deeply care about, is an absolute dream. I’m so grateful and excited to be supporting other women in music.”

Elbow Room

Elbow Room is a music project based in Clitheroe nurtured by the Ribble Valley Jazz and Blues Club.

It provides regular rehearsal and development sessions especially designed to help women increase their musical skills in a relaxed and supportive atmosphere.   

The sessions provide a respite from the extra energy required to take musical risks in mixed settings.  We aim to empower women with the confidence and pride to hold the stage and communicate with an audience so everyone can enjoy music making. 

Elbow Room have delighted in working with three musical giants committed to equity in creativity, Emma Johnson, Sarah Heneghan and Trish Ferrarin and the show for International Womens Day will celebrate music and the journey.