WOW (Women on Wednesdays) is a monthly event held in Whelans, the goal of which is to provide female artists with a platform to showcase their creativity, while also raising much needed funds for Aidlink’s projects in rural Kenya. This week saw the second instalment of the event and promised an eclectic array of performances from some of Ireland’s most impressive female artists.
The night was well-curated. Most acts featured a dark sense of humour, in their lyrics, their storytelling and their musical style. From Rachel Lavelle’s otherworldly voice, to Lisa Casey’s dark comedy and SYLK’s haunting musical tones, the evening was full of deeply evocative performances. Flowing obligingly from one to the other, the diverse nature of the acts worked to entice the audience.
“A woman with a value is in danger” – this compelling statement came from the second act of the night, Deirdre Sullivan, whose storytelling featured witches, princesses, castles, images of blood and urgent warnings against losing sight of your value as a woman. This message complemented beautifully the music of the following act, Leila Jane and the Healers, whose empowering frontwoman knowingly sang “a woman really knows what it means to toughen up”. Even Eve Darcy, the MC for the night, matched the performers with her own brand of self-deprecating, dry humour when she quipped “I’ve no choice – I’m used to that, being a woman in Ireland”.
Although each act brought something entirely different to the last, a strong sense of female strength carried through the night. From the offset, Dublin-based musician Rachel Lavelle, stunned her audience into silence with her distinctive musicianship and powerful lyrics. She howled “I am a lion” as we stood in awe.
Leila Jane and her band lifted the tempo – audience members couldn’t help but smile and dance in response to the sheer passion being shown by those onstage. Lisa Casey struck a chord with audience members as she joked about her life as a single woman, poked fun at the notion of misreading signals and mistakenly believing herself to be in a relationship with her therapist. Her unique style of dark comedy quickly won over the audience and complemented the musical acts well.
The only other non-musical act of the night was storyteller Deirdre Sullivan, who gave a fantastic performance. Her female-centric tales worked well alongside the other acts. The final performance of the night came from SYLK who, like Leigh Jane and the Healers, is led by an unmistakably unique lead singer, but this band’s strength lies in the combination of both their distorted electronic beats and the singer’s powerful vocals.
As a whole, this month’s WOW event was a great success. An eclectic mix of music, performance and comedy, the performers encapsulated what it means to be a strong, creative individual in modern Ireland. The importance of giving female artists a platform such as this cannot be understated. The crowd were respectful and engaged completely with each of the acts on stage, which helped to create a friendly and positive atmosphere.
The night presented an effective way of raising funds and awareness for development issue: the work being carried out in Kenya by Aidlink, to protect the rights of females and provide them with safe and sanitary living conditions and access to education. Attending a WOW event is an easy and effective way to support both this cause and female artistry in Ireland.
