Second stop of the Tour de Ruena at The Fighting Cocks in Kingston-upon-Thames cured my post-festival blues almost instantly. But that’s only a small part of what this tour is about. Ruena is cycling between every venue on the tour, joined by her husband and drummer Tom. That’s more than 500 miles across the hilly UK countryside to raise money for Metal For Good.
We all know music can be healing. It builds communities, connects us to others and to ourselves, helps us escape while also grounding us. Whether you enjoy listening to music, making music or working behind the scenes like me, it can have a life-changing impact. But it isn’t always accessible to everyone. That’s where charities like Metal For Good step in, providing grants to organisations that use music to reach people who might otherwise miss out. They can only do that if we continue to support them.
So Ruena taking on this logistical and physical nightmare of a challenge – which I have to point out she seems to genuinely enjoy as a sports enthusiast – to give something back to the community is hugely admirable. If you can, please donate here, or even better, go and see her on tour.
We talk more about her motivations in our interview, filmed just before the music starts.
While Ruena has been part of the music scene for a long time, this is her first tour as an independent artist, and if every show is anything like the London date, she’s absolutely smashing it. Supported by a full line-up of women, she made the room light up with energy before she’d even got on stage. Every time another artist performed, she was right there at the front, dancing and cheering them on. It’s clear this isn’t just a job for her; it’s a genuine passion, and it shines through.
And that’s not even mentioning her new song, ‘Feel The Fear (and do it anyways)’, which captures the mantra that has allowed me to have so many unique experiences I would otherwise have shied away from. Hearing someone spread that message and getting the crowd to shout it back created a sense of connection that only a handful of artists have ever made me feel. Her vocals speak for themselves, filling the room with just the right amount of grunge, power and emotion.
Ruena at The Fighting Cocks – photo by Alise Elberga 
Ruena at The Fighting Cocks – photo by Alise Elberga 
Ruena at The Fighting Cocks – photo by Alise Elberga 
Ruena at The Fighting Cocks – photo by Alise Elberga 
Ruena at The Fighting Cocks – photo by Alise Elberga 
Ruena at The Fighting Cocks – photo by Alise Elberga 
Ruena at The Fighting Cocks – photo by Alise Elberga
In London she was supported by three excellent acts: Mercy Falls, Night Thieves and Henka, all of whom did an incredible job warming up the crowd and getting everyone engaged from the start.
First up was Mercy Falls, a female-fronted metal band who knew exactly how to grab attention and deliver the goods. Having recently released their debut album, The Forest of Decay, they’re clearly on the right path and well worth catching live.
Next came Night Thieves, a band we’ve seen before and, I’m sure, will see again. The alt-metal outfit is fronted by Jess Moyle, whose impressive vocal range draws you in before exploding into grunge, screams and raw energy. Electric guitar riffs, heavy drum beats and thunderous bass lines combine to create a memorable sound rooted firmly in metal.
They were followed by Henka, who I’d been seeing pop up on my feed for a while, so I was excited to finally catch her live. Wearing a top reading “better a faggot than fascist”, Henka celebrated Pride Month throughout her set, which was more than appreciated. After falling in love with the depth of her music, I discovered that “henka” is the Japanese word for change or transformation. From what I’ve seen and heard so far, that seems a pretty fitting name
Support Ruena by seeing her on tour HERE or donate HERE
Also make sure to follow along this crazy journey on Instagram | YouTube | TikTok