DAREFest @ The Wee Red Bar, Edinburgh, 23 Sep

Inspired by their time at Girls Rock School, Edinburgh musicians Ashley Stein and Lou Mclean have set up DAREFest, a day of workshops, talks, and music for women working in the music industry. The result is an empowering event that balances practical business tips with affirmative feminism – we are given tools to tackle the everyday challenges of promoting one’s work whilst acknowledging the emotional labour involved in being a woman in music.

The day is heavily rooted in grassroots activism and women creating their own networks to support each other. “We are all about DIY. If there is something you are missing, you can do it yourself,” says Mclean. The first badge-making workshop, hosted by Scottish Women’s Aid, sets this tone for the day. Badges have always been central to spreading protest messages, used both by the suffragettes and riot grrrl musicians, and the activity gives its participants a chance to talk. Stories about work and about sexism in the industry are swapped, creating a sense of solidarity and camaraderie.

The workshops given by Mclean and Stein are packed with information for artists doing the legwork themselves. Stein’s crash course in touring breaks down booking a tour into manageable steps, covering topics like budget and promotion, as well as the importance of self-care. With her tips based on personal experience, touring sounds like an achievable goal for the self-starting musician.

Mclean’s talk, entitled How To Be a Badass, addresses self-confidence for women making music, drawing from her background in psychology and working in prisons to advise on building self-esteem and dealing with confrontation. An acclaimed musician herself, Mclean points out that we do not ordinarily get to see the other side to success stories, one involving a lot of “work on yourself” alongside the hours spent on music. By admitting to previously suffering stage fright, and sharing candid stories about how she overcame it, Mclean imparts confidence that we can all fake it until we make it.

There is a cosy feel to the day. Women feel comfortable sharing their stories and questions with the group, and nod in assent when Mclean conveys her own experiences that are so typical of the industry – cliches like “Is that your boyfriend’s guitar?” or “You play well for a girl” to name a few. Later at DAREFest’s closing party in The Wee Red Bar, we're treated to a line-up of feminist and LGBTQ musicians who tackle these experiences through their music. We hear Mclean’s wry lyrics against her signature acoustic dream-pop, the blazing fury of riot grrrl band Fistymuffs; Misc. Meat’s punk sound with a biting sense of humour, and the multi-textured melodies of The Violet Kind. Despite some trouble with a faulty amp, the crowd is forgiving of all the performers, focussed as we are on learning what other women in the industry are up to. Amelia Bayler from Misc. Meat compliments the supportive tone of the night: “It’s a really cool vibe with cool people,” she says. “We’re really happy to be here.”

Mclean and Stein hope that the day will inspire people to host their own events and projects. DAREFest itself will have an afterlife, as its co-founders begin to look at options to make it an annual event. Stein also has ideas about giving women in more distant locations the tools to run their own DAREFests. There is a sense of wanting to start a movement that will help women take up their fair share of the music industry. We are encouraged to look at male-dominated spaces, feel the fear, and push our way forwards anyway. “I dare you to do what you want to do,” Mclean challenges us.