(WICHITA, KS) – International Women’s Day is Friday, March 8. KMUW, Wichita’s NPR Station 89.1 will present a special segment on their Crossroads program from 10pm-12am. Crossroads will salute blues women with featured artist Marcia Ball, along with Blues Music Awards nominees Whitney Shay and Vanessa Collier, Maple and Juno Awards nominee Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar, the “Soul Queen of New Orleans” Irma Thomas, Diunna Greenleaf (with a tribute to the “Queen of the Blues” Koko Taylor), Mavis Staples (from her new live album), and more. Then in hour two, it’s a concert special featuring Rory Block, the veteran guitarist and singer who is one of the contemporary masters of classic country and acoustic blues.

International Women’s Day is a worldwide event that celebrates women’s achievements – from the political to the social – while calling for gender equality. It has been observed since the early 1900s and is now recognized each year on March 8. It is not affiliated with any one group, but brings together governments, women’s organizations, corporations and charities. The day is marked around the world with arts performances, talks, rallies, networking events, conferences and marches.