“I just want to show people no matter what art you want to do, there’s a
safe space for you”

Tapwater Records’ own Regan Charteris and Eszter Vida certainly idealised
the safe embrace they spoke of at her women’s day gig, painting Hyde Park
Book Club’s atmosphere in a gorgeous shade of empowering pink. ‘IWD’, as
advertised on Instagram, exemplified the very best of Leed’s tight-knit
grassroots community, coming together to shine a rose-coloured spotlight on
women artists and gently celebrate the abundance of feminine talent in all its
shapes.
From the get go, Sunday afternoon at Book Club ensured the aura reflected
not only love, but a sense of fun and whimsy too. Warming up the space
before the line up was a women’s day themed bingo event, with Clitspit’s
Ashleigh Froud and Kiosk’s Bella India calling out the numbers to an excited
audience. Prizes to be won included merch and records celebrating women in
music, both local and beyond.
Downstairs, lining the far wall of the basement venue, was a small art
exhibition exemplifying a range of female-crafted artwork. Adorning the tables
there was a vast range of print-based art including handmade postcards, diy
fanzines, petite stickers and glossy photos – an eclectic assortment of artistry.
Prices ranged from 60p to £20, allowing everyone a chance to support local
talent. Hung above were tapestries showcasing the female form in an abstract
manner, as well as more photographs and postcards to further accessorise
the basement’s atmosphere.
The evening’s opener Angelina greeted the audience with her rich melodic
streams of consciousness. Intertwining covers and originals within her set, she
graced the stage accompanied only by an acoustic guitar – a stripped back
opening set to shape the wholesome vibe amongst the audience. In awe of
her impassioned belts, the audience’s gaze was permanently set on her as
she sailed through her music with melismatic ease. ‘Take It Slow’, a
heart-wrenching original of hers, followed a rendition of Amy Winehouse’s
‘What Is It About Men’, and felt appropriate for the night’s theme – “take it
slow”, reflect on the day’s message.

Following was Yasmin Coe, noisy and energetic in the commanding of her
melodies and backed by a fizzy, shoe gaze-inspired band. Yasmin’s set felt
like the embodiment of girl power. The guitar’s unique effects and the rhythmic
groove held by the bass and drums perfectly accompanied her lyrical strength,
underpinning her commanding stage presence. The attitude of her lyrical
delivery, sung in romantic sighs, felt rather poetic; alongside the soundscape
of the instrumentation, the set possessed a PJ Harvey-like quality. Check out
the recently-released physical copies of her music, which she was selling at
the merch stand throughout the night.
Pict’s folky erratic presence was an impressive whimsical addition to the line
up – a Sonic Youth-like hidden gem. The haunting pairing of the singers’
tasteful harmonies cut through the buzzing texture of the instrumentation,
alongside the frequent impassioned screams. The pummelled drum beat and
frantic ostinatos in the guitar had the full room subconsciously nodding in
agreement, swaying with the crashing waves created by the atmosphere,
headbanging to imitate the band’s rhythmic power. I was pleasantly surprised
by the trumpet feature, and yet it somehow both exemplified the emotivity in
the vocals and juxtaposed the aforementioned folky vibe.
Finally, Eszter Vida’s set was a dreamy soundscape of textures. Fronted by
Eszter’s swirly vocals, her music engulfed the audience with a warm embrace.
Alongside her conversational, light-hearted interactions with the audience in
between songs, she brought both a positive light within the delivery of her
music, and yet also a yearning sadness in the instrumentation’s steady-paced
grooves and in the joyful melancholy of her melodies. The whole band was
locked into underpinning a carefully thought out feel as to carry Eszter’s lyrics.
Sometimes haunting, mostly ethereal.
I was blessed with the chance to talk to Eszter before her set. In our chat, she
opened up to me about using her music to express and explore her identity as
a woman, as a performer, and as a songwriter. “Sometimes the best way to
get out of your head is to just do it”, she explained. This message resonated
with me as it does with many young women in creative industries, and with the
added reflective warmth of the event’s atmosphere surrounding us, her words
felt even more empowering.
She went on to shout out the “hidden gems” that made up the line up, who
“radiated warmth” throughout the entire evening. Keep an eye out for future
collaborative projects with these wonderful artists and herself!

Referencing Virginia Woolf, she compared her music to creating ‘A Room of
One Zone” – a place where women like herself can have their own place to
think. And this basement was truly its physical embodiment. A place for all to
“go with the flow” and reflect on women’s identity.
As well as my conversation with Eszter, I managed to speak to Tapwater’s
Regan Charteris. In talking to her, I noticed myself catching her infectious
excitement about the night. “We should always have spaces like this”, she
smiled. As she recounted how she chose the line up of the night, she told me
that she’s “always wanted to do this as a woman”, especially in the
male-dominated field of music management she finds herself in. “I want to
push out a message, music, art. I want to uplift”.
Having worked closely with Eszter in choosing the line up, she wanted to
prioritise the close knit communal family energy amongst the bands. And that
feeling was certainly palpable throughout the night.
As a fundraiser, all proceeds from the day were donated to Yorkshire Sound
Women’s Network. Regan explained to me that the charity works to provide
tools and training as well as resources for women in music and sound. This
detail was an important underlying addition to the night’s meaning – both
Eszter and Regan recounted the micro aggressions, dismissals and
harassment they’ve each had to endure as female creatives in the music
industry. YSWM as the underpinning charity of the event emphasises how
important it is for women to stand up for themselves and, as Regan put it,
“show men how it’s done”.
The entire experience was a wholesome way to spend a Sunday evening
celebrating women, their art, their music, and the community they can create.
I urge you to keep an eye out for more female line ups in the future, perhaps
an all day festival for local women in music run by Tapwater Records, as
hinted by Regan in my chat with her…
In the meantime, check out her Filtered Series for more themed events by
herself.

Review from Liv McNally – @oliviaaalien