Bristol trio ScareBears make aggressive post-punk fuelled by melancholy, rage and a healthy suspicion of performative feminism and the far right. Ahead of their appearance at LOUD WOMEN Fest Newport, we caught up with Abi to talk accidental songwriting, putting their first EP on vinyl, and why sometimes you have to form a band simply because you’ve already thought of the name.
First things first: why ScareBears?
The name came first and the band was a necessary evil so that the name could belong to something.
Who’s in the band?
Abi on bass and vocals, and occasionally drums; Meg on guitar and vocals; and Kim on drums and vocals, and occasionally bass.
We call Bristol home, geographically and musically. We’re lucky to have so many good friends within our local scene. It says a lot when most of your favourite bands are also your friends’ bands.
Tell us about Worse for Everyone.
Our EP Worse for Everyone dances between melancholy and rage, exploring topics including performative feminism and the rise of the far right in mainstream UK politics.
Do songs ever come from ridiculous places?
Quite a few of our ideas have started out as jokes and made it into tracks as final ideas.
I think Meg is scared to make jokes now in case they make it into the finished song.
What’s made you proudest so far?
Putting out our EP on vinyl with Brassneck Records.
What’s next for ScareBears?
We’ve just recorded EP number two, so expect some more releases from us in the next few months, as well as touring further afield.
Find and support ScareBears here.
Catch ScareBears at LOUD WOMEN Fest Newport at Le Pub on Saturday 3 October, alongside 1blackfrend + Cape Orange + Eilis Frawley + emmy woods + Hairdye + I, Doris + Lady Garden + Local Rainbow + SheBeat + The NaNaz. Get tickets here.
