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Ella Fradgley is the co-founder and creative director of Where are the Girlbands, a Liverpool-based project using social media campaigns, events, collaborations and more to support women in music and open conversations about barriers to access within the arts. Hosting a monthly radio show on Melodic Distraction and creating instagram-based content about the local creative scene, Where are the Girlbands is a go-to space for discovering artists across disciplines and hearing their experiences navigating the industry.
Where are the Girlbands was founded by Eve Machin and Ella Fradgley in 2018 in response to experiences of inaccessibility within the local music scene. Having grown up in Liverpool attending live music events, the two found they could only name a handful of women on the local music scene. In attempts to fill their own knowledge gaps and create a network in which creatives could find each other, talk about their experiences and promote their work, Where are the Girlbands was born. In the 5 years the account has been running there have been countless interviews with local women in music describing all too familiar accounts of gender-based discrimination and a lack of safety within music spaces, showing the urgency for events and organisations that centre the needs and safety of the communities they want to support.
You can find Where are the Girlbands on instagram @wherearethegirlbands and contact them via DM or email at wherearethegirlbands@gmail.com
Where are the Girlbands creates unique social media campaigns, promotion and resources. Using the distinctive hand-drawn illustrative branding, the organisation supports women in music through digital marketing campaigns, using the accessible format of social media to raise awareness and platform the voices of marginalised creatives on the Liverpool music scene.
To see more, click the image or search @wherearethegirlbands on Instagram. DMs are always open for collaboration.
Illustration and branding by Ella Fradgley.
Residency at Melodic Distraction
Where are the Girlbands holds a residency at Melodic Distraction Radio and Magazine. The ‘Where are the Girlbands Catch-up’ is a monthly radio show featuring interviews with local creatives, showcasing the work being done by marginalised artists across Merseyside each month, new releases and more. Alongside their radio show Where are the Girlbands produce a monthly article for Melodic Distraction magazine (including interviews, journalistic reflections on the local music scene, resources and arts education content)
To see more, click on the image or access the ‘Melodic Distraction Residency’ tab in the menu.
Big Condo and Where are the Girlbands present the Women in Music Showcase
Big Condo Records and Where are the Girlbands are collaborating on a quarterly series of live events celebrating and platforming local women in music.
To read more about the project, check out this article; https://www.melodicdistraction.com/articles/big-condo-records-watgb-present-the-women-in-music-showcase?id=58297
Playlists
As an organisation focussed around the local music scene, Where are the Girlbands use Spotify as a tool to showcase local artists in one place. From seasonly themed playlists to the backing track to live events, these playlists are the place to go if you want to diversify your music taste with eclectic local talent.
Check out the Where are the Girlbands Spotify page by clicking on the image or https://open.spotify.com/user/m9jems33l1yptpvvt8ccto5mr?si=YmbjUXnOTSSHwN_3JbC49A&app_destination=copy-link
Alternative Spaces programme at Bloom Building Birkenhead
The Alternative Spaces programme was a year long residency of events at Bloom Building Birkenhead. As the UK returned to live music spaces Where are the Girlbands wanted to ensure that gig spaces were as safe as possible for people to return to. The Alternative Spaces series used community consultation to develop a programme of events challenging the conventions of traditional live music spaces, offering free creative workshops and networking spaces.
For more information click on the image or check out the ‘Alternative Spaces’ page in the menu.
Collaborative events with arts organisations
Merseyside is a thriving creative scene with many arts organisations aiming to remove barriers to access. Where are the Girlbands have formed enriching connections with local organisations, collaborating on events with the likes of Bitch Palace, Bed and Breakfast, Sumati and more.
For more information click on the image or check out the ‘Collaborative Events’ page in the menu.
Photograph by anna-mhairi https://annamhairi.com/
Comics Youth x Where are the Girlbands Safe Spaces Podcast
The Comics Youth x Where are the Girlbands Safe Spaces Podcast platforms organisations and individuals working to create safe spaces within Merseyside and the wider North West. The show collated an eclectic range of voices from arts organisations and local charities to activists, artists and local trailblazers, discussing their understanding of what safety means and how it can be created. From concerns around gender-based discrimination, regional youth violence, the prevalence of queerphobia and more, the podcast circumscribes what it means to feel safe as a creative from an intersectional perspective.
https://open.spotify.com/show/2YUVbATozeIs34uOH4rD9n?si=AK10YAvXRuCOX4DtCGnvgA&app_destination=copy-link
Podcast production and visuals by Ella Fradgley
Kicking Back Podcast x Where are the Girlbands
Through their Kicking Back Podcast Rec Rooms produce high quality recordings of live sets and interviews with musicians. Where are the Girlbands were invited to collaborate with them on a series spotlighting women in music from the Merseyside music scene.
The series spotlights musicians Amber Jay, Kristrun and Karman and is available through YouTube and Spotify.
For links to the full episodes, click the image or check out ‘Kicking Back Podcast’ in the menu.
Where are the Girlbands x Charlotte Southall tote bags
During the Covid-19 pandemic Where are the Girlbands were searching for ways to support local creatives and the community. This led to their collaboration with artist Charlotte Southall, a limited production of tote bags thorough which 50% of profits went to the artist, and 50% of the profits went to Liverpool Food Banks.
For more information about Charlotte Southall check out @skinnychip on Instagram or follow this link to see Charlotte’s portfolio website - https://www.skinnychip.uk/?fbclid=PAAaYEh20TLa-14EovorMwoZhfDoO00JA0y4xywZ-V_b5JjkBMD0PcnvbTrYI
Social Sundays
Where are the Girlbands Social Sundays was a programme of online networking events designed as a space where creatives could meet, collaborate and ask for support during the Covid-19 pandemic. The weekly workshopping space resulted in multiple collaborations and most importantly a safe space where creative conversations could continue during a time in which opportunities for artists and musicians reliant on the gig economy was limited.
Where are the Girlbands are looking to reprise this programme of events soon - more information TBA.
Other appearances
Through the 5 years Where are the Girlbands has been running, the organisation has been platformed by various media outlets, with Ella and Eve being invited onto panel discussions alongside notable figures within the third sector and music industry.
For more information, click the image or check out ‘Other Appearances’ in the menu.
Photo by @glamgigpics - https://instagram.com/glamgigpics?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
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