Girls have something to sing about

But in the musical haven of Oxford, there's another group of women who are preparing to try out their vocal chords and tune up their instruments for the city's Women's International Festival.

The women are taking part in an evening of blues, folk and jazz.

Vocal Women takes place at the Northgate Hall in St Michael's Street, on Friday at 8pm. Entrance is £3 for non-members and £2 for members.

GEMMA SIMMS spoke to some of those taking part... 1. NAOMI MORAN, 20, is a student at Oxford University. She has been singing and playing the guitar since she was a child.

"I have been in lots of different bands and at the moment I am doing singer/songwriter stuff - I normally write about things from my life.

"There is not that much opportunity to do this kind of thing and I get the impression the gig for the Oxford International Women's Festival will have a really warm atmosphere," she said.

When she is not burying her head in textbooks and study notes, Naomi is a disc jockey for student radio station, Oxygen, and also for restaurants.

Her favourite music is R&B, rap and reggae.

"I lived in the Caribbean for a while which is why I love reggae music. The music I play is more upbeat than folk - it's more like pop music with words that mean something."

2. JOSIE SLOCOCK, 24, of Bullingdon Road, Oxford, plays in the all-female band Tiger Moon who will be playing at the gig.

By day she works as an administrator for Oxford Music Company and by night she plays the cello in the band.

Josie explained: "It's more of an acoustic band. We are more a band with a folky influence than something like Brit Pop. I was in a band in London when I was there studying music and psychology.

"I went to Indonesia and Africa for a while and then moved to Oxford where I joined the band.

"We get together about once or twice a week and we all contribute to the songwriting." 3. SUZI THURSTON, 23, of Morrell Avenue, Oxford, is the drummer for Tiger Moon. She is also an administrator when she is not playing gigs.

She said: "I think our music is not about girl power and the Spice Girls image. It's more 'Look at us, we are beautiful women'.

"Our music is about what is going on with women and from the gigs we have done in the past, we have had a really good response."

4. GIRL is the name by which Maureen Gray is simply known. She is a singer/songwriter by trade. "Music is what I do and what I have always done. I have done it professionally since childhood.

"When I am in a band we are called Girl and the Boys." said Girl, who lives in east Oxford and has a 13-year-old daughter, Nikko.

Her music varies in style and she plays the piano and guitar. Her new EP Girl and The Boys has four songs on it. 5. MAVIS BAYTON, a musician, writer and lecturer at Ruskin College in Oxford, is responsible for the event.

She is the founder member of the first all-women rock and indie band at the time of punk.

"I was in a band called The Mistakes. We did hundreds of gigs, had two record contracts, a single and album, went to Milan and also travelled around the country," she said.

She played with Penny Wood, sister of the TV comedienne Victoria Wood.

"I have never met Victoria but Penny was a very important member of the band," she said.

Mavis , who lives in Beckley, will be playing blues on guitar and harmonica as well as singing. TRACEY COLLINS, 33, from north Oxford, originates from New Zealand. By day she is a teacher working on an education project. By night she plays guitar and sings.

Tracey said: "I joined a folk club when I was in New Zealand and I have just brought out a tape as well. I have sung with other people in the past and was once in an all-female band called Simon Says.

"I really enjoy singing and took part in this event two years ago. I think it is really important and a real celebration."

SARA POORE, 31, of Didcot, will be playing Summertime on the trumpet. The department liaison officer for people with drug, alcohol and other addictions, started playing brass instruments at the age of six.

Now Sara plays with the band Force 18. She has played with the BBC Big Band, played in a band at a garden party at actor Rowan Atkinson's house in Waterperry and used to be in the local band Soul Devotion. "I think the festival will be great fun and thought I would support women's things as well as being able to play musical instruments - and maybe I will be able to get in a new band by meeting other people," said Sara, also known as Hot Lips.

JACKIE SINGER is the lead vocalist in all-female band Tiger Moon. The 28-year-old from Witney is a drama therapist and freelance community music worker, currently working with people with learning disabilities.

She said: "Creating Tiger Moon has been miraculous for me. There is nothing more wonderful and satisfying than finding people who can share in the music of your soul.

"I also play fiddle in a funky medieval outfit called Jabberwocky. There I'm the only woman so I get a glimpse of the other side!"

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