LOUD WOMEN raise the roof (and the dead) at first-ever Scotland gig in Edinburgh’s haunted Banshee Labyrinth

On Saturday 30 August, we made a little bit of history: the very first LOUD WOMEN event in Scotland – at the legendary Banshee Labyrinth, Edinburgh. Billed as the most haunted pub in Scotland, it’s an actual labyrinth of caves and corridors (I got lost within five minutes). Beyond the Halloween props and plastic skeletons, there was definitely… something. Caro broke a string the second she got her guitar out, the lights flickered, I joked “oh no, we’ve angered the spirits” – and right on cue, the merch stand collapsed, untouched. (Though with the weight of our American guests’ merch mountain, we can’t entirely rule out gravity over ghouls.) Either way: willies well and truly put up us.

That said, what a fantastic venue: queer-friendly touches everywhere, Pride and Trans flags among the skeletons, gender-free loos, and a cracking sound engineer in Olivia who wrangled five chaotic bands into pure joy.

And joy it was. Scotland turned out LOUD – the Banshee was rammed wall-to-wall (labyrinth-to-labyrinth?) from start to finish with the friendliest, most up-for-it crowd we could’ve dreamed of.

Helping us run things was our freshly assembled Team LOUD WOMEN Scotland: Jodie (SheBeat) and Iona on the door, and Kerry Steyn photographing down the front despite a broken foot and a chest infection – hopping, smiling, and still capturing stunning shots. Punk as hell.

The bands made sure this first Scottish outing was unforgettable:

🤐 Blonde Secret – kickstarted the party with instant singalongs ‘Ghost Girl’ and ‘Fur Coat No Knickers’. The latter is still in my head now.

🔪 I, Doris – three travelling Dorisses powered up by Edinburgh Dorisses, recruited via Facebook, meeting for the first time on the night with zero rehearsal. Drummy Doris Grant McCorrie deserves a standing ovation for memorising the whole set and smashing it. Caro Kemp (co-founder of Girls Rock School Edinburgh) joined as Second Guitar Doris and threw out jaw-dropping face-melting solos. Add our cowboy guest Dave, and you’ve got Doris mayhem at its finest.

🫆 Pretty Crime – brilliant songs, brilliant set, brilliant stickers. Lovely humans too.

🫟 Shambol!ca – front-and-centre keyboard action, 80s swagger, rocking songs.

🥀 Sorry Darling – fresh off the plane from America and armed with enough merch to open a shopping mall. Jetlagged scowls couldn’t dampen the cheer of the Scottish crowd.

Edinburgh, you were loud, spooky, and beautiful. We’ll be back.