In December 2024 the very first LOUD WOMEN Australia was held in Melbourne, organised by the band Lady Lazarus. Zel Baterista was there – as were her girlfriend Blair and housemate Kymin Kaos – and all 3 have sent in reviews of the day! Longterm LOUD WOMEN followers might remember Zel as the incredible drummer of Vodun, who played at the very first LOUD WOMEN Fest back in 2016 (yes, the one that set fire to her cymbals!) Here's the 3 reviews ...
Zel – drummer from Naarm based queercore band Fellview
I remember playing the first LOUD WOMEN fest with Vodun alongside legends like Petrol Girls and Dream Nails. It feels like a lifetime ago now but I still remember how good it felt to be in a safe space surrounded by like minded femmes. I can’t believe there is STILL so much bullshit around ‘not enough bands’ to be booked for major festivals. More of the bigger bands need to jump onboard with the inclusivity rider. ALL festivals should have diversity and ALL festivals everyone should feel included and represented. LOUD WOMEN have been amplifying women and NB voices for a long time – the work is much appreciated and hopefully one day the whole scene will be so inclusive and safe. Lots of rage expressed, lots of jokes that hit right, lots of calling out in the scene. LOVE YOU LOUD WOMEN FEST!
Kymin Kaos – Zel’s housemate and badass bass player is queer dark wave band Blood in the Champagne
Fierce women energy and amazing bands! It was my first time at LOUD WOMEN Fest and it was truly an amazing event! I have been to other high energy queer feminist fests in Europe, but it was great that this happened in Melbourne where there is not an abundance of all-women oriented gigs and we need to take back some space from the cis het boys’ clubs!
The Perseverance in the heart of Fitzroy was a great spot for the Fest because it was close to public transport and folks at the venue were organised and cared about the event.
All the bands were very talented and had left wing politics that shone through in their music and stage presence. Some travelling thousands of miles from Queensland and Western Australia to share their music with us. I saw Daddy Issues, Butterknife, R.U.B, Witch Spit, Boudicca, Worm Girlz, Stabbitha and the Knifey Wifeys, Lady Lazurus, and Ratsalad. I really enjoyed all the bands they gave a great performance and had important messages to share with us on data about experiences in Australia, their own lives and their political and heartfelt ideas. It was so interesting that all the bands had a different sound and there were some unique genres. Special thanks to Lady Lazurus who organised the gig and welcomed everyone through the door.
There were also some great vendors sharing their homemade and DIY creations. The bands had some great merch that was colourful and fierce showing their own unique style. Silkscreened and painted shirts as well as funky earring were also on offer from artists. Shout out to Feminista Vinyl collective who have a shop in Coburg and support women and queer musicians and artists; they had a great selection and are a non-profit!
Being at LOUD WOMEN Fest felt like being in an accepting community that offered support and affirmation that women can take the stage and the space and make it our own. It was a safe and empowering woman and queer oriented space, that brings a certain joy and pride. The bands and audience created a dynamic space where women and lgbtqia-nb rainbow folks were included, revered and visible; as in we are here and participating in creating our own safer spaces!! From my experiences in the punk scene this is a special feeling and not an experience that happens at every gig. In fact, many of the bands courageously shared their personal stories of having affronted sexist aggressions in the music scene and in their lives and how they strove to end these situations by. This was inspiring and re-affirming! I met some friendly people, made friends and rocked out. I would love to see this happen every year in Melbourne! I would definitely return and be keen to volunteer for such a worthy cause which can improve the music scene and make it more vibrant and inclusive!
Blair
My first time at LOUD WOMEN Fest was like 10 therapy sessions in one! (My therapist is on leave over Christmas so this is exactly what I needed.) I felt like I found my people and I wanted to be best friends with everyone. To feel so safe, and for all the bands to be so politically vocal and be in a crowd screaming, crying, laughing and sharing in our shared pain, anger and joy, to scream about femicide, to scream about our bodies being ours. To scream and sing and dance freely and safely in a space that was OURS without fear of men harming us. I felt safe, I felt powerful, I felt like I was in a room full of queer, feminist, lefty, witchy, gender non-conforming badass bitches who had my back and I didn’t even know them. To hear voices of indigenous women, for queer femmes on the mic to be calling out to our incarcerated sisters, to dance with my trans, NB, gay as fuck community. I just wish I could have this festival in my life every week. These were my people. I don’t belong in this world – but I felt like I came home at LOUD WOMEN. Those are my people.
