Rianne Downey plays The Grace. Photo: Sam Crowston

WHO said there are no strong female headliners out there? It didn’t take long to find a rich selection of women and female-led musical acts of every genre in the listings of our many small venues. So, here’s to the incredible women out there – the music world is awash with talent, you’ll find emerging artists all over the internet and many of the most formidable rock, folk, indie and soul vocalists are women. So, while some of our festivals have yet to catch up, these musicians rightly have top billing in this column and you’ll find the men way down at the bottom or online (unless they’re in a mixed band!).

• Glaswegian cool kid Rianne Downey put her heart into recent release Alright – a realisation that there was light in the darkness of her mental health struggles. See her at The Grace on March 21.

• Say She She, led by three phenomenal women Piya Malik, Sabrina Mileo Cunningham and Nya Gazelle Brown, lead a seven-piece band through a set of discodelic soul at Jazz Café on Mar 17 with support from Saint Kochi and Dom Servini. Stay on for a late-night set at the intriguing Disco Tehran, a multicultural dance party connecting today’s NYC to 1970s Tehran discotheques. Celebrating Nowrouz, the arrival of spring and the Iranian new year in solidarity with Woman Life Freedom, the collective are joined by producer Nabihah Iqbal, co-founder of the Beirut Collective.

• Born to a family of music royalty, the Womack Sisters are granddaughters of Sam Cooke, daughters of songwriters Cecil and Linda Womack and nieces of Bobby Womack – so expect them to know a thing or two about soul, R&B and pop. The sibling trio play Jazz Café on Mar 17. Also coming up are Brazilian vocalist Agnes Nunes + Mari Froes (March 19), three sets from revered 70s and 80s chart-topper, composer, producer and jazz pianist Patrice Rushen (Mar 20-21).

• Raw rising rock star Cassyette has amassed a cult online following. She plays Electric Ballroom on Mar 22 with support from Lozeak and Calva Louise.

• Then there’s the aptly-named Ladytron, the Liverpool vintage synth and techno-pop four-piece (two women / two men), play Koko on Mar 12.

• In a departure from the types of venues more used to her high-energy sets, pop star and X-Factor and Strictly runner-up Fleur East showcases her solo funk-soul tinged music at Union Chapel on Mar 16.

• Award-winning guitarist Ana Popovic brings her blend of electric funk, slide guitar, and soulful vocals to Islington Academy on Mar 10.

• Three-time Grammy nominee and queen of neo-soul Angie Stone makes a special appearance at Koko on Mar 19 with support from Omar. Before her, on Mar 17 Amazon Music’s 2021 breakthrough artist of the year Olivia Dean brings her thoughtful ballads and pop anthems to Koko, while Swedish four-piece Little Dragon play the venue on Mar 23.

• Chicago-born, Nashville-based, Americana / Bluegrass, singer-songwriter Rachel Baiman, a champion fiddler and multi-instrumentalist plays The Green Note in support of her new album Common Nation of Sorrow on Mar 19.

• Gloria Scott was discovered by Sly Stone before working in Ike and Tina Turner’s backing vocal group The Ikettes and touring with The Supremes, she has collaborated with the late great Barry White and carved out her own solo soul career. She plays 229 on March 17.

• Green Note has revealed the line-up for their “secret show” on Mar 13 – Bernard Butler (Suede / McAlmont and Butler), Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub) and James Grant collaborate to perform a selection of each other’s songs, each musician fronting their own songs, accompanied by their co-players.

• Mercury Prize nominated jazz-funk trio The Comet Is Coming, play Koko on Mar 16-17. Support from Joshua Idehen.

• The Union Chapel hosts Vivian Stanshall’s 80th birthday party from Bonzo Dog Doo / Dah Band) featuring Michael Livesley, “Legs” Larry Smith (Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band), Rodney Slater (Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band), John “Barry Wom” Halsey (The Rutles), Susie Honeyman (The Mekons), Kevin Eldon, Andy Frizell and special guests to be announced on Mar 23.

• More upcoming gigs:
Mar 10 – CKTRL, Union Chapel; Mar 10-11 – Souls of Mischief, Jazz Café; The Hold Steady, Electric Ballroom; Mar 11 – Current 93, Union Chapel; An Orchestral Journey into Drum & Bass, Barbican; London Rap Fever, Scala; The Wilderness Yet, The Camden Club; Hishek Bishek, The Garage; Mar 14 – The Slow Readers Club, Lafayette; Mar 14-15 – Richard Bona Trio, Jazz Café; Mar 15 – Melody’s Echo Chamber, Scala; Mar 16 –The Backseat Lovers, The Forum; Fall Out Boy, Heaven; Mad Yella + Enne, The Forge; Kids, Camden Assembly; Mar 17 – Jorge Arago, Islington Assembly Hall; FUZZ + HOOVERIII, Electric Ballroom; Enter Shikari, HERE at Outernet; Atmosfear, The Forge; Fight Like Apes, The Garage; Mar 17-18 – Beth Hart + Connor Selby, The Palladium; Mar 18 – Nick Hakim + Léa Sen, The Forum; The Lathums + Ruby J, Roundhouse; The Van Pelt, The Garage; Mar 19 – Peatbog Faeries, Islington Assembly Hall; Joesef, Roundhouse; Hinako Omori, Kings Place; Mar 20 – Cian Ducrot, Koko; The Answer, 100 Club; Mar 21 – The Pharcyde + Imani + Fatlip + Slimkid3, Islington Academy; Marcus King + Ida Mae, The Forum; Rick Buckler (The Jam) in conversation with Eddie Piller, 100 Club; Sevdaliza, Outernet; Mar 22 – St Lundi, Lower Third; Mar 23 – Tiggs Da Author, Jazz Café; Nick Mulvey, The Forum; Tide Lines + Quiet Houses, Electric Ballroom; Lisa O’Neill, Barbican; Beverley Knight, Lafayette; Dean Lewis, Roundhouse.