Songs written and performed by women will be played on Ipswich Community Radio throughout International Women’s Day, Friday 8 March.

The station will be run entirely by women from 7 am to midnight on that day.

On Friday Breakfast from 7 to 9 am, the playlist will be “Finest worksongs: 100 years of popular music by women.” Old favorites will be mixed with new earworms in this roster of songs of activity, courage and hope. Guests on the show hosted by Izzy Lane and Diana ben-Aaron will be University of Suffolk Vice Chancellor Professor Helen Langton and UoS economic sociologist Dr Olumide Adisa.

Mayor Jane Riley, artist Charlotte Newson, the Ipswich Girl Guides and the Women’s Institute will be guests during drive time from 4 to 6 pm, also hosted by the breakfast team.

Fiona Jessica Wilson, presenter of Get Classical with FJ, will explore the lives of female musicians on her show from 2 to 4 pm, along with playing music composed, conducted and performed by women.

Violinist Nicola Loud, winner of BBC Young Musician of the Year 1990 will discuss her love of film scores with Wilson. Harriet Bennet, founder of Music in Felixstowe will talk about her forthcoming book of interviews with female musicians, and student trumpeter Grace Harman will talk about her experience and expectations of being a female musician. Wilson has been twice shortlisted for Female Presenter of the Year in the National Community Radio Awards.

Several shows will present women’s music with an explicitly global theme. World Wide Women with ex Wednesday Breakfast presenter Nelleke van Helfteren and Pippa Banham will follow the breakfast show from 9 to 10 am. Jane Dawson will play roots music from the United States and elsewhere on Blues Train Express and Vintage Soul Station from 10 am to noon. The Chinese Hour will be broadcast from noon to 1 pm with presenter Lydia, followed by Yelena Seale’s Homeland Radio (Ukraine) from 1 to 2 pm.

Evening programming kicks off with Vinyl Connection at 6 pm. Host Rowena Miller has chosen a specific theme for her playlist of female artists, which listeners will try to guess. At 7 pm, Sadie Mac brings an expertly curated lineup of women in soul to her weekly Soul Party. Regular Sunday morning presenter Tomisha Kersey will do a special night version of Voice of Victory starting at 9 pm. Guest presenter Gilly Burgoyne, known to fans of Gerry G’s jazz show, will round off the day spinning two hours of late night jazz.

“We’re delighted by the support and enthusiasm for the lineup,” said Izzy Lane, director of the Women’s Day programming at the station. “We encourage everyone to tune in and help us celebrate the day with music.” Listeners can participate in the conversation by e-mailing [email protected] and through social media.


IPSWICH COMMUNITY RADIO – INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY7 – 9 am Friday Breakfast with Izzy and Diana
(guests UoS VC Professor Helen Langton, Dr Olumide Adisa)
9 – 10 am World Wide Women with Nelleke and Pippa
10 am – noon Blues Train Express / Vintage Soul Station with Jane
Noon – 1 pm Chinese Hour with Lydia
1 – 2 pm Homeland Radio with Yelena
2 – 4 pm Get Classical with FJ
(guests violinist Nicola Loud, author Harriet Bennet, trumpeter Grace Harman)
4 – 6 pm Drive Time guests
(Girl Guides, Mayor Jane Riley, artist Charlotte Newson, Women’s Institute)
6 – 7 pm Vinyl Connection with Rowena
7 – 9 pm Soul Party with Sadie Mac
9 – 10 pm Voice of Victory with Tomisha
10 pm – midnight Jazz with Gilly