Festival with feminine twist

LadyFest Preston is one of a number of similarly themed events being held around the country and also offers a diverse mix of talks, films, lectures and exhibitions.

Kicking off the three-day event at the Harris Library on Friday will be Preston’s upcoming singer-songwriter Katie Ryan, and poets Lauren Bolger and Anna Percy. They’re be part of Get Loud in the Library, which begins at 1.30pm.

Among those appearing at venues around the city will be Liverpool singer-songwriter Jane Weaver who has performed as part of the Britpop group Kill Laura, the Farfisa-fuelled girl group Misty Dixon and as a solo artist. Jane will be appearing at The Continental on Friday from 7pm.

And on both Friday and Saturday the Korova Arts Cafe and Bar will host an evening of rising female artists from around the North West.

LadyFest has been organised by Preston lass Millie Lavelle, a 32-year-old mum with a passion for promoting talented women.

As well as the musical gigs she was determined to offer up a more serious side - so there will also be a talk entitled The Future is Feminine by entrepreneur Rachel Elnaugh, the founder of Red Letter Day.

Rachel will be in the Darwin Lecture Theatre at UCLAN at 1.30pm on Saturday and tickets are £10.

Any money raised from ticket sales will be donated to Preston Domestic violence service.

And on Sunday the Preston chapter of Science Grrlz will be encouraging girls to consider careers in science in a free event in UCLan’s M&K Theatre.

The event winds up on Sunday at the Frog and Bucket with performances from Kiri Pritchard McLean, Louo Conran, Katie Mcall and Allyson June Smith.

For information and tickets go to http://www.ladyfestpreston.com/