Last week, new Canberra music festival Spilt Milk caused a stir when it announced a line-up with only one female act – and it's hardly a new problem in the music industry.
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Local musician Kristy Anderson decided it was time to try to change that.
"Even back to the triple J Hottest 100s for the last few years, when they come out there's always an uproar that there's not enough female musicians. So I wanted to do something," she said.
Drawing inspiration from a similar event in Sydney, Anderson is launching She-Riff, performance nights of original Canberra solo artists and bands featuring female musicians.
Anderson, the lead singer and guitarist of local band Sally Chicane, said she wants to encourage more young women to pick up a guitar.
"I don't think it's a very attractive pastime for women. Because to be really good on the guitar you sort of have to sit in your bedroom for hours as a teenager practising – and I think a lot of girls have something better to do," she said.
"You do occasionally see a female playing guitar but I think mostly record companies and promoters are more just looking for a female singer or front person."
The first event is on July 21, with plans to hold the events every few months. The next event scheduled for September.
"There aren't a lot of bands with female musicians in Canberra to draw on at the moment but hopefully when we've done a few [She-Riffs] it will encourage people to start forming bands and want to get up and do their originals and have a performance space to do that," she said.
Any female musicians who are keen to get involved can contact Anderson at facebook.com/sallychicane.
The first She-Riff is on July 21 at 8pm at Transit Bar with performances by Betty Marshall, Adelaide Jones, House of Strangers and Sally Chicane. $5 entry at the door.
