This weekend a group of women will met in Durham for the very first 'Brassettes Bottomless Brunch' (BBB).

It marked the official launch of the 'Brassettes Podcast', with founder Joanne Behan telling 4BR, that the get-together was not just a great opportunity for celebration, but that it also marked the formation of a supportive network of women in music who aim to inspire and uplift each other.

Catalyst

Jo told 4BR that idea came at a very wet Durham Miners Gala last July. Huddled together outside in the rain the women from different bands passed the time chatting, laughing and sharing experiences.

"We were absolutely soaked to the skin, but the energy and warmth we shared was amazing and the time flew by. That was the catalyst — the shared experiences and the support that came from it.

The promise to meet up again was made and now we have done just that."

Grown

Such has been the success that what started as an online group of just five people has now grown to over 130 — creating a space where women can connect and support each other.

"Now I'm planning more events in 2025," Jo added. "Now the invitation is simply to forget about banding problems and let's get together for coffee, lunch or a Brassette's brunch. They are for all ages and all levels of banding. We want to support female players and foster a strong sense of community."

I've always been fascinated by people's stories, and I love to chat, so it made sense to start a podcast. It's the perfect platform to share knowledge and inspire other playersJoanne Behan

Podcast

The Brassettes Podcast is part of that as Jo explained. "I've always been fascinated by people's stories, and I love to chat, so it made sense to start a podcast. It's the perfect platform to share knowledge and inspire other players.

I'm also excited to build a little history with these recorded episodes — it'll be amazing to have something for the archives, for posterity. I'd love to run the Podcasts for the whole of 2025 — and after that, anything else is a bonus."

First episodes

The first two episodes of the Brassettes Podcast are already online, featuring chats with women in banding.

The first episode features Jillian Dixon, Band Manager of EverReady Band, and the second is with Kat Bentham, a flugel player who has relocated to Japan with her family to teach music.

https://youtu.be/soHusbCwZG4?si=gD3ieV3L_D5JK0Rk

https://open.spotify.com/show/1b74BWlLXprRi8Pbkgqkfw

Get in touch

The Brassettes Podcast is available on YouTube and Spotify, and Jo is always on the lookout for more guests to join the conversation. You can contact Jo at: jo@encoredesignpublicity.co.uk