When I wrote the song Rouse Ye Women about the Cradley Heath Chainmakers’ strike, I knew it needed a singer of super strength and spirit to sing it. I was so pleased when Elizabeth J. Birch accepted my invitation and delivered a powerful and emotive vocal performance that really captures the fighting spirit of Mary Macarthur and all the women striking for equal rights back in 1910.
Rouse Ye Women – LISTEN I first met Elizabeth almost 10 years ago via the community music program Mac Makes Music based out of Midlands Arts Centre and it has been a pleasure to work with her and witness her artistic development. In recent times her art has been celebrated nationally with an award from Youth Music and now the Brit awards have named her as a Trailblazer – a fitting term to describe both Elizabeth and Mary this international Women’s Day.