WHEN the findings of the Misogyny in Music inquiry – set up by the House of Commons women and equalities committee in June 2022 – were published earlier this year, it confirmed for many of us working in music what we’ve always known to be true.

The report found that the industry perpetuates a culture in which discrimination, sexual harassment and unethical practices are rife – and intervention is urgently needed to tackle the systematic disadvantages faced by women in the sector.

On International Women’s Day, it’s important to emphasise the work that is still needed in the fight for gender equality – as the report so thoroughly does – but it’s also an opportune moment to shine a light on the artists that are presently contributing to the vibrancy and diversity of the music industry.

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In my role as music programme manager at Edinburgh’s Summerhall, I’m extremely blessed to work with some incredible women, both locally and further afield. But I recognise that this side of the industry – booking artists, promoting gigs and managing venues – tends to be male-dominated. Could more women in these positions potentially help foster greater levels of gender balance within the live music sphere? It’s certainly one element of the puzzle – but another is that we as music fans need to make a conscious effort to support women on line-ups and bills by seeking out shows, buying tickets and being present.

In the spirit of IWD – and to give a shout-out to some of the best and brightest talent we currently have in Scotland – I wanted to draw attention to a handful of gigs coming up over the next few months.

All of these shows are well worth attending, but even more so if you’re interested in seeing the country’s finest emerging artists. First up, at Summerhall, we have some phenomenal names scheduled to be in the building, starting with BBC Introducing Scottish Act of the Year 2023, Terra Kin, who supports the Rebecca Vasmant Live Ensemble on March 9.

Folk-roots singer-songwriter Roseanne Reid plays the Dissection Room on April 4, while Highlands musician Niamhy Mac takes over the venue’s Old Lab on April 27.

The following evening, it will be experimental smallpipes player Brighde Chaimbeul’s turn to take on the Old Lab, and on April 29, Edinburgh-based French-Cameroonian singer Djana Gabrielle supports American artist Lonnie Holley.

Elsewhere, March is a stacked month for gigs featuring women in the Scottish music scene. Tonight, there’s a special International Women’s Day fundraiser at Glasgow’s Hug & Pint in aid of Back Off Scotland and the Abortion Support Network, with R&B/soul singer-songwriter Becky Sikasa, and support from Glasgow’s Grayling.

Also on Thursday, DJ and producer KAVARI takes on Exit Glasgow as part of Eastern Margins’ debut night in Scotland and tomorrow, protest-pop singer and Popgirlz co-founder Josephine Sillars supports Be Like Pablo at the Old Hairdressers.

Later in the month on March 15, multi-instrumentalist SHEARS, who makes utterly captivating pop, plays a stripped-back set supporting Keir Gibson at Glasgow’s Poetry Club.

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On the same day, alt-pop singer Cortnë supports Charlotte Carpenter at Sneaky Pete’s, and musician Alice Faye takes on Stirling’s Tolbooth as part of the venue’s New Noise nights, then heading to Glasgow’s Cottiers on March 29.

Edinburgh-based singer-songwriter Sophie Penman is also at Sneaky Pete’s on March 20 supporting Picture the Scene, and Rhona Macfarlane supports Chris Brain at the same venue on March 25, moving on to the Glad Cafe the night after.

As part of Aberdeen Jazz Festival, Paisley vocalist kitti joins Seonaid Aitken on March 19 for Great Caledonian Songbook at the Lemon Tree, while Raveloe, the project of Glasgow songwriter Kim Grant, is at Aberdeen Music Hall on April 3 for the True North Sessions. You can also find Raveloe at the Tolbooth in the afternoon of March 30, where she’ll be taking part in the relaxed Tolbooth Cafe Concerts.

A little further ahead in the diary, Glasgow’s brand-new all-day festival HOUSEGUEST arrives on April 6, with plenty of names worth seeking out, including the aforementioned Cortnë, Tina Sandwich, her.picture and Becca Sloan.

There’s also the 10th edition of the award-winning Terminal V Festival at the Royal Highland Centre on April 13 and 14, where you can see Scottish DJs AISHA, Hannah Laing and La La and in May, Glasgow’s Riverside returns with sets from TAAHLIAH, Hayley Zalassi, ona:v, Lezzer Quest and Frankie Elyse.

This is only a snapshot of what’s happening in Scotland over the next two months but even in this small selection, you can get a glimpse of just how many women and non-binary artists are working, innovating and bolstering the nation’s music scene.

In Scotland, we’re lucky to have the likes of Peach, Hen Hoose, Popgirlz, The BIT Collective, Girls Rock School, Miss World, Femmergy, EPiKA, and Fierce Collective, to name just a few, who are all working to advocate for change and increased representation in their specific fields.

But there is a very easy way that we, as audiences, can collectively make a difference and shift the landscape for the better – and that is to simply show up.