A number of events, both musical and non-musical, are taking place across Ireland next week to celebrate International Women’s Day.

In Cork, the Sexual Violence Centre will host a fashion, music and African dance show tomorrow from 12.30pm, while Monday will see the Irish Sopranos provide the entertainment at a charity lunch in aid of Concern at City Hall from noon. A number of similar events will take place in Dublin and around the country, as well as exhibitions, talks and readings. For more, see internationalwomensday.com.

This week also saw two specific musical events take place to honour the day. Cork’s Freakscene club night becme Femmescene for one night only on Wednesday, with an all-female line-up that included several all-girl bands, a Kylie impersonator, and female DJs. “We were inspired by Ladyfest Cork,” said promoter John O’Leary. “We just loved the self-help ethos of it all. In a male- dominated industry we liked the feminist undercurrent, but mostly we liked it because it was something fresh and new.”

Dublin’s SoundCheck club night also became SoundChick last night, with a large number of female DJs taking to the wheels of steel. “International Women’s Day is especially important for us to mark,” said Una Mullally of SoundCheck.

“The music is probably at its peak on SoundChick nights because it’s fun and nerdy and eclectic.”