Stuck for something to do this month? Then why not take ride up to Leeds for the Ladyfest preparations. Much more interesting than February's traditional romance, says Sarah Charms.
Usually, February is rubbish. You fail your resolutions, you've stopped going to the expensive gym you joined and given up all healthy eating pretences. It's still cold, even though it's almost nearly kind of spring. Then the card shops, the supermarkets, your colleagues and chat shows start telling you that the only important date is Valentine's Day.
Well, forget romance. There are plenty of other reasons to get out of the house this February. In particular preparations for the first ever Ladyfest Leeds, a music and arts festival celebrating gender equality and taking place on the 10th to 15th April in Leeds.
First up in February there is a fundraiser on Friday 9 February at the Brudenell Social Club (33 Queens Road, Hyde Park, Leeds LS6 1NY), a benefit gig which will see performances from Manic Cough – a band who've supported the likes of The Hot Puppies and The Slits – and are described by Sound XP as "a glam rock Wizzard as seen through X Ray Spex". They'll be sharing the stage with Bonsai Kittens – “some folk say we sound like Nintendo… others says we deserve to be shot in the face with a large gun”); then there's the return of the ever-lovely Fake Tan and their Raincoats/ESG-inspired rock; Manchester's Vile Vile Creatures – with noise guitar and Erase Errata bass lines and aversion to male-dominated practice rooms; and the debut of Leeds-based queer heroes Sailor Tongue. 8pm start, £5 in, don't argue, just come. Sleep is for losers. One day later, on Saturday 10th February, Todmorden Cricket Club (Centre Vale, Burnley Road, Todmorden L14 7BS) will be hosting their girls-only Women's Disco to raise more funds for Ladyfest Leeds. Some people might consider cricket to be the height of excitement, but those people are wrong. With a roster of DJs, it starts at 9pm and by 11pm you'll be spinning around, dosed up on cider, to 'Deceptacon'. You know you will.
And last but by no means least, monthly club night Suck My Left One, which last month raised over £300 for Ladyfest Leeds, will be taking place on 23 February. Soul Circus has burned down (that's where electricity gets you), so keep checking the MySpace page – www.myspace.com/suckmyleftonedisco – for more information. Whether it's at the Common Place, a revived Soul Circus or the front room of one of the members of the Manifesta feminist and queer collective, it'll be £3 in. There will be a tat raffle (with old Shampoo CDs, mid-90s seven inches, rubbish videos, broken mugs and whiskey to be won), and it'll all kick off at 10pm.
Right. That's your lot. Keep an eye out for more events in March – with the International Women's Day film night fundraiser on March 8th and a FemFest fundraiser on the 10th, it's only going to get more exciting. Also coming up will be the launch of the official programme of events for Ladyfest itself!
Visit www.ladyfestleeds.co.uk to find out more.
Sarah Charms is editor of Uplift magazine.
