Emerging and aspiring female musicians and music industry practitioners will have the chance to engage with some of Australia’s most inspiring artists and industry professionals at the very first Women in Music (WiM) forum to be held in Brisbane on the 8th March, 2011. Charismatic frontwoman, Patience Hodgson of Brisbane darlings The Grates joins the already stellar line up of speakers. She will hit the forum direct from the studio in New York where she has been writing and

recording The Grates highly anticipated third album due out later in the year.

Joining her is Amandah Wilkinson – vocalist and guitarist for the ARIA Award winning Operator Please. The band formed in high school and then shot to success in Australia and overseas where they have toured extensively and played many festivals including the Reading and Leeds Festivals in the UK and the current Big Day Out.

Well known for her stunning vocals, five-time platinum recording artist Katie Noonan will be taking part and sharing some of her experiences as a successful solo artist and member of the groups george and Elixir.

Other talented musicians joining the WiM lineup include Eliza Lam – bass player for Oh Mercy; Joanna Nilson – bass player for The Butcher Birds; Sabrina Lawrie – guitarist, songwriter and live venue manager; Myka Wallace – drummer for Laneous & The Family Yah, Rene Collett – drummer for Undead Apes, Seja and previously with Gazoonga Attack and Michelle Xen – performer, visual artist and producer for Edge of Colour.
Aspiring music industry practitioners will also have a diverse range of experience to draw from with the addition of:

Sam Cook – Director, The Dreaming Festival
Natalie Bell – Milefire Management (Oh Mercy)
Leonie Yeoman – Manager (Chris Pickering)
Crystle Fleper – Musician and Qld Editor, FasterLouder
Roxy Burt – DJ/Director, Pistol Whipped Events & Promotion
Belynda-Jane Hemmling – Director, Cherry Red Music
Leanne de Souza – Manager (The Medics)
Charlotte Lynch – Writer/Journalist, BATS Magazine
Lori Lee Cash – Promoter, Robot International (Greazefest)
Deb Suckling – Director, SugarRush Records
Elleni Toumpas – Photographer
Silvana Macarone – SMAC Photography
Natalie Dodds – PR for Mucho Bravado

The WiM program will provide a full day of informative panels and practical workshops and a chance to interact more closely with the speakers and explore career options in the Career Path Roundtables.
Tickets for Women in Music are on sale now with generous discounts available for groups of five or more. Pre-registration is highly recommended and can be done online at www.womeninmusic.com.au

Women in Music Announced So Far
Adele Pickvance – The Go Betweens/Robert Forster
Amanda Jackes – Queensland Folk Federation Inc
Amandah Wilkinson – Operator Please
Belynda-Jane Hemmling – Cherry Red Music
Cathy Oates – Original Matters
Charlotte Lynch – Writer/Journalist, BATS Magazine
Crystle Fleper – FasterLouder
Deb Suckling – SugarRush Records
Eliza Lam – Oh Mercy
Elleni Toumpas – photographer
Joanna Nilson – Butcher Birds
Julia Wilson – Rice Is Nice / Borden Management
Katie Noonan – Katie Noonan and The Captains/Elixir/george
Leanne de Souza – Buzz Office
Leonie Yeoman – CP Music
Lori Lee Cash – Robot International/Greazefest
Maggie Collins – Golden District
McKisco – artist
Megan Reeder-Hope – Secret Service Public Relations
Michelle Xen – Edge of Colour
Myka Wallace – Laneous & The Family Yah
Natalie Bell – Milefire Management
Natalie Dodds – Mucho Bravado
Patience Hodgson – The Grates
Rene Collett – Undead Apes, Seja, Gazoonga Attack
Roxy Burt – Pistol Whipped Events & Promotion
Sabrina Lawrie – Beetle Bar
Sam Cook – The Dreaming Festival
Samantha Clode – triple j Magazine
Seja Vogel – artist
Silvana Macarone – SMAC Photography