Who We Are
Femmes Fortissimo performed their inaugural concert in 2018 in celebration of York International Women's Week.
We are mainly based around York, a brass band of all female-identifying and nonbinary players from bands across Yorkshire and further afield. We are not a usual brass band, there are no limits on our numbers although we do not get together regularly. Our main focus is our annual charity concert as part of York International Women's Week. We also get a group of players to play carols at the York Christmas Markets and we're hoping to be able to do more events with smaller player groups. We are particularly keen to host and/or support collaboration and development projects that further female empowerment and participation.
We are mainly based around York, a brass band of all female-identifying and nonbinary players from bands across Yorkshire and further afield. We are not a usual brass band, there are no limits on our numbers although we do not get together regularly. Our main focus is our annual charity concert as part of York International Women's Week. We also get a group of players to play carols at the York Christmas Markets and we're hoping to be able to do more events with smaller player groups. We are particularly keen to host and/or support collaboration and development projects that further female empowerment and participation.
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The band is the brainchild of Kate Lock who plays for York RI Golden Rail Band and Shepherd Group Concert Brass Band. Kate is an ardent fan of brass music and has put on previous brass band festivals and concerts in York, including the Tour de Brass for the Yorkshire Festival in 2014. She has also previously presented All That Brass on community internet radio station Two Rivers Radio.
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Although women are now generally well represented as players in brass bands, this wasn’t always the case. There was quite a strong tradition of brass bands supporting Suffragette marches, accompanying the women and playing them off when they went to rallies; but until the First World War, women were only allowed to make the tea, mend uniforms and do fund raising. Brighouse and Rastrick, famous for their 1977 hit with The Floral Dance, didn’t have a woman player in the band until 2010, and neither did the Grimethorpe Colliery Band, which played the fictional Grimley in the film Brassed Off.
Thankfully the situation is now somewhat different and as Kate states “One of the great things about brass bands nowadays is that they are so accessible and give anyone who wants to learn a route into making music, whatever your age, gender or level of experience.” And we all agree when she says “We love being in our bands and we love playing for people. Brass has a way of connecting with audiences very directly and emotionally, and that’s how we make our voices heard.”
Thankfully the situation is now somewhat different and as Kate states “One of the great things about brass bands nowadays is that they are so accessible and give anyone who wants to learn a route into making music, whatever your age, gender or level of experience.” And we all agree when she says “We love being in our bands and we love playing for people. Brass has a way of connecting with audiences very directly and emotionally, and that’s how we make our voices heard.”
