Angry Moms make their voices heard
A new group aiming to create better inclusiveness for women in the arts is hosting its first music event tonight.
The Angry Mom Collective will host a night of acoustic music tonight Thursday 6 June at 8pm in Plugd Records at The Roundy.
It is the first music showcase from the group, which was formed by musician Abbey Blake earlier this year in an attempt to tackle discrimination in Cork’s arts community.
The gig, which will see performances from Elaine Malone, Laura Duff and Electric Limes, will also include a collection in aid of the Sexual Violence Centre Cork.
“I’ve gigged around the place with my band and sort of noticed a gender divide in the Cork arts scene and how I was treated differently by sound guys and other people,” said the group’s founder Abbey, the guitarist in Cork band Pretty Happy.
“Once, I was collecting my gear after a gig we had just played, and a bouncer came in and said it was bands only and to get out. He didn’t believe me and one of my male bandmates had to come up and tell him I actually did play the gig.
“It was that kind of thing, or sound guys going over my head to talk to the guys in the band, and generally not respecting me as a musician, thinking ‘oh you’re just a girl’, that got me thinking.”
Recruiting friends Caoimhe Coleman, Ellen Franklin and Shirley Lam, Abbey started the Angry Mom Collective aiming to promote better inclusion in the arts scene for women, non-binary and LGBTQ+ artists and musicians.
The group hosted its first event, Coffee and Chats, in April, and Abbey said the feedback has been great.
“It’s such a shame because I’ve had mostly great experiences in the Cork arts scene, it’s only the odd person. Everyone who’s spoken to us has said it’s really needed.
“It’s about creating safe spaces for people too. I know a lot of girls who won’t go to gigs on their own.”
As the guitarist in Pretty Happy, Abbey herself is rooted in the music side of things, but she hopes the group will branch out to other forms of art in the coming months.
“Caoimhe’s a good writer so she’d love to do bits of that, I know some of the girls want to do spoken word as well. I know Ellen knows about the drag and burlesque scene too, so there’s loads we want to do.”
“Mary Crilly and the Sexual Violence Centre Cork do such great things for the people in the city, so hopefully we can raise a bit of money at the gig too.”
Angry Mom Collective’s acoustic music night takes place at Plugd Records tonight Thursday 6 June at 8pm. Tickets are €7.