For International Women’s Day 2019, Manchester will host an inspiring number of celebratory events supporting and rejoicing in women for their incredible contribution to our city and the world. Even if you’re not a feminist, it’s our time to shine girls, so lap it all up!
Suffragette City, The Sequel at The Refuge
Saturday 9th March
Last year’s Suffragette City Party was a huge success and will now be returning for its Part 2 instalment on Saturday 9th March. Organised and curated by Abigail Ward, Rina Ladybeige, The BBC’s Kath McDermott and Chris Massey, female artists from far and wide will gather to show the world just how bloody talented women can be. Love is The Message will be hosted at The Refuge and will see 10 amazing female DJ’s play between 2pm and 1am, completely for free. Move Ya Body will feature in Refuge’s basement between 10pm and 4am and will host five more talented women including Kim Lana and Danielle Moore. Entry is free, but visitors will be asked to give a small door donation that will go to Women’s Aid.
She Slays: A Buffy The Vampire Slayer Marathon
Sunday 10th March
90’s kids rejoice- our favourite badass bitch, Buffy Summers, is making her way back onto our screen for this years’ International Women’s Day. Hosted at the Stockport Plaza on Sunday 10th March, Pilot Light TV Festival will be showing a huge section of some of the best Buffy episodes ever between 1pm and 10pm. The episodes have been specially chosen by the Pilot Light team and include some cult classics such as: ‘Innocence’, ‘Hush’ and ‘Chosen’ and at only £11 for general admission or £8.80 for concessions, how will you possibly be able to resist?
All Female Gig and Tap Take Over at Hatch
Friday 8th March
Friday 8th March will see a special all female line-up head to Hatch, featuring some of Manchester’s most talented songwriters, singers and all round great woman-crush-worthy females. Monthly Open Mic curator Izzie Walsh will be on hand to welcome Toria Wooff with her ‘brilliantly crafted, unique, vintage folk ballads’ and local singer-songwriter Chloe Jones’ acoustic country and Americana inspired sounds. It’s all FREE and as a little cherry on top, there’ll also be an International Women’s Day Tap Takeover in Ol using breweries with all female brewing teams for the whole weekend, while Takk will be showcasing coffee roasted by female roasters.
International Women’s Day Pub Quiz! at Dive NQ
Monday 11th March
Is there anything better than a pub quiz dedicated to women and how amazing they are? Nope. That’s why Dive in the Northern Quarter has reserved the evening of Monday 11th March, for just that. Child.org’s latest campaign, Teen Mum, will be receiving all donations given by visitors to support their bid to help pregnant women’s support groups in rural Kenya. Even if you’re crap and know nothing about women (after all, who does?), it’s for a really good cause and is a great excuse to hang out with pals. Entry is free, but don’t be a stingy so, help your sisters out and make a donation.
Bloody Women’s Day @ Trof NQ
Friday 8th – Sunday 10th March
From Friday 8th March, Trof NQ will be donating £2 from every Bloody Mary sold to charity. They’re teaming up with Bloody Big Brunch and Every Month to aim to end the stigma around menstruation, promote period positivity and most of all end period poverty in the UK. So head on down and get yourself all bloody for a good cause.
Boogietown Babes
Monday 11th March
Every Month is calling on all women to unite as one at CUBO to tackle period poverty surrounded by strong, independent females alike. This all female DJ set will not only get you up and shakin’ what your momma gave ya, but it’ll also be a chance to mingle and make BF’s for life at this super girly event. At just £5 a ticket, I don’t know how you’ll resist…
SHE PWR
Friday 8th March
Two of Manchester’s favourite clubs, Gorilla and Deaf Institute will be getting fully on-board with International Women’s Day this year by hosting a celebration of women. On Friday 8th March, both venues will be taken over by a panel of inspirational women, female jewellers and bakers, illustrators, florists, artists, DJ’s and loads more. Whilst some events are free, most visitors will be invited to purchase a £5 wristband that will give them access to Gorilla’s Q&A, performances by word artist Elise Hadgraft and Poets/feminist duo, GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS, The Deaf Institutes Fat Out’s Late Night Karaoke and loads more!
Meet the amazing female artists & entrepreneurs at Affleck’s
Friday 8th March
Affleck’s has been home to a wealth of kick-ass women over the last 30 years and was actually founded by local businessperson and entrepreneur Elaine Walsh in 1982. This International Women’s Day you can meet the women behind many of the stores and spaces in the world-famous independent emporium, as well as enjoying a range of exclusive discounts in many shops. There’ll also be the chance for one lucky winner to have their own personalised WOMANCHESTER art piece commissioned.
Legacy
Until Sunday 24th March
Chuck Gallery in Ardwick is launching a #BalanceforBetter exhibition created by Manchester-based artist, Josephe Cocles. The event will discuss and debate issues surrounding women in today’s society, particularly the challenges they face in regards to bias. Artist Jospehe, who was selected to work at the prestigious Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris at the tender age of 19, will present her moving collection of work but will also discuss – along with panel of distinguished men and women – the theme #BalanceforBetter. The exhibition will start on March 3rd at 5pm and will be open every day until Sunday 24th March.
Girlz Rawk!
Saturday 9th March
When you think about how many famous female musicians there are in comparison to men, it really puts into perspective how patriarchal the world was and in some respects, continues to be. With this in mind, Factory will be hosting the Girlz Rawk! Weekender on the 9th March which will celebrate women from all over the world who rock at, well, rocking! This two-day event (which is split across two cities) will welcome artists from Sweden, Scotland and even Italy for a musical rock extravaganza. The music will all be written and performed by women and will cover genres including indie, punk, symphonic, progressive and of course, rock!
Balance for Better (University of Manchester)
Wednesday 6th March
Equality campaigner, Dr Jess Wade, will be visiting The University of Manchester on Wednesday 6th March to deliver an empowering speech about gender equality. Addressing popular topics such as Wikipedia’s under-representation of women and the science gender gap, Jess will present years of research and study gathered during her time as a Research Associate at Imperial College London. The talk will kick off at 1pm and will be followed by coffee and cake at 2pm and will be completely free!
International Women’s Day Quiz at The Bar
Monday 11th March
There’s always an excuse to host a quiz, but this Women’s Day Quiz hosted by The Bar in Fallowfield has really got me excited! Hosted by the Women In Media Society at MMU, attendees will be expected to answer questions regarding pop culture, music and all things women related, so make sure you get online and do some studying. You can either pay £4 on the door for entry or, in true feminist style, donate a box of tampons or pads on arrival. All proceedings will go to Every Month MCR charity so don’t come empty handed!
Afternoon Period Party!
Saturday 16th March
It’s 2019 everyone – it’s about time we start realising that periods are a gift given to women, not a disgusting, unhygienic curse. On Saturday 16th March, Fuel Café Bar in Withington will be hosting a friendly afternoon event featuring art, discussions, plenty of booze and lots of period empowerment! There’s no need to be grossed out lads, because without periods, you wouldn’t be here pissing off your girlfriends and mums! Sounds like a bloody good time to be a woman, if you ask me.
