After a bit of a winter nap LOUD WOMEN returns with a massive bang in February – hosting what looks likely to be our LOUDEST night ever! A half-dayer in fact, featuring, in alphabetical order …
anarchistwood
I, Doris
Killdren
Petty Phase
T-Bitch
plus surprises …
Hope you weren’t planning on staying home much this month cos there’s some stunning gigs coming up in December around the UK (not least our CHRISTMAS PARTY on the 14th!) Get celebrating …
1 – Northampton: Syteria @ King Billies
2 – Brighton: Pavlove @ The Rossi Bar
3 – Birmingham: Calva Louise + Gaygirl + Honey @ The Sunflower Lounge
4 – London: Ziemba + New Scenery + Wild Adoration + DuBais @ The Glove that Fits
4 – London: Bessie Turner @ Folklore
6 – London: Scrounge @ Sister Midnight Records
6 – Bradford: Syteria @ The Underground
9 – London: Big Sea Creature + Armada Of Secrets @ The Finsbury
11 – London: Lips Choir – Lipstory: 10 Years of Bangers and B-Sides @ The Clapham Grand
12 – London: Claire Foxx and the Antisocial Justice Warriors @ DIY Space for London
12 – London: Sit Down + Floral Schoppe + Noise Noir @ The Victoria, Dalston
13 – London: Pussyliquor @ New River Studios
13 – Kingston-upon-Thames: Wife Swap USA @ The Fighting Cocks
13 – Brighton: SLADY’s X-mas Party @ The Prince Albert
13 – Southend-on-Sea: Kristina Stazaker + Sophie Burrows + Muddy Summers and the Dirty Field Whores + I, Doris + Tuppenny Bunters + T-Bitch @ The Railway Inn
14 – London: The LOUD WOMEN and Crossroads of Progress Christmas Party –with I, Doris and Gaptooth @ Hope and Anchor, N1
16 – London: Ich Bin Finn @ New Cross Inn
19 – London: Ronnie Spector and the Ronettes @ Shepherds Bush Empire
21 – Hastings: Oh! Gunquit & Das Clamps @ The Royal Standard
22 – Cambridge: Queer-Mas All Gayer w. Lemondaze, Barry, Georgie Femme & more @ The Blue Moon
It’s brass monkeys out there – but how better to keep warm than by getting yourself along to a gig and discovering some awesome new bands. Here’s our pick of November events around the UK (and, just because we are so happy that we are still linked to them for now, Europe!)
1 – London: Nun Habit and Slugs at the Victoria, Dalston
1 – Nottingham: Hellebore Present Hurtling & Clonk
*DO NOT MISS*
2 – London: Solidarity Not Silence Benefit @ DIY Space
Resist Psychic Death presents… A night of excellent punk rock party queer grrrl bands raising money for Solidarity Not Silence . With: Screaming Toenail, Ms. Mohammed, Charismatic Megafauna, BYENARY, I, Doris. LOUD WOMEN merch will be on sale with all money going to SNS. There’s also a solidarity ticket option for those who are able to make an extra donation to Solidarity Not Silence ♥ https://tickets.partyforthepeople.org/events/4993-solidarity-not-silence-benefit-show
6 – London: BERRIES EP Launch Live at Colours, Hoxton. London.
7 – Cardiff: Elen Mai Wyn-Jones Exhibition. With Trigger Warning and the Safe Spaces, Efa Supertramp, Shrouk El-Attar’s Dancing Queer الراقصة المثلية شروق العطار, Glittasphyxia, Beth Sal Greenhalgh, William Dean Ford, Little Eris, Laz Lazarus + more. Cardiff.
8 – London: Get In Her Ears w/ Special Secret Headliner! @ The Finsbury. (Psst it’s a band we love v much, save the date …)
9–10 Belgium: GIRLS GO BOOM (mani)FEST. A music conference for the rest of us! With talks about women in music and arts, and performances by LW favourites: Peach Club from Norwaich and Miss Eaves from New York plus Dutch BRORLAB and Sovay
9 – Staines: Girl in the Garden, Riviera Kid, Ġenn, and I Doris at the London Stone.
10 – London: The Raincoats at EartH – 40th anniversary celebration
13 – Leeds: Suggested Friends / Animal Byproducts / Rebecca Radical
14 – London: Rock Against Violence. With GIRLI, Average Sex, Indian Queens, PETSEMATARY
15 – London: ILL w/ LibraLibra + Therapy Room – Free Entry
15 – London: Sexquisite (feature coming soon … watch this space!)
23 – London: Safe Gigs For Women X #genesisters – live music + movie
24 – Canterbury: Healthy Junkies/ Tokyo Taboo/ Yur Mum/ Polly Pikpocketz/I, Doris/Girls Like Us
30 – London: Brix & The Extricated live at The Lexington, London
30 – Leeds: Pet Crow / Nervous Twitch / Boarder
A blissfully tired and wee-bit-emotional Sunday following what must be one of my very favourite LOUD WOMEN gigs of all time last night – our 4th birthday celebrations at the Hope & Anchor, with performances Hagar the Womb, Rabies Babies, The Menstrual Cramps, I, Doris, The Other Ones, and Smalltown Tigers. Pure punk rock mayhem, cake everywhere, clothes-swapping, crowd-surfing, all-grrl-mosh-pitting, wall to wall good vibes – we thoroughly birthdayed.
Hopefully someone will post some proper photos of the night, but in the meantime here’s my phone snaps!
Our lovely friend Tony Rounce was, of course, in attendance, and wrote this beautiful post about the evening that was too gorgeous not to share …
I’ve mentioned before that I believe we are living in a new Golden Age for live music.
Anyone doubting my word should have been at the Hope and Anchor last night for Loud Women’s 4th birthday party.
It was rammed to the roof, mind you, but you would have been most welcome and I’m sure a space would have opened up for you.
Five hours of fab bands from locations as far apart as Rimini and, er, Bristol.
Some of the best music you could have heard anywhere in the U.K. last night.
Some of the nicest people you could spend 5 hours in a room with.
All coming together to celebrate the fourth birthday of an impressive collective that exists to promote and further the cause of women/womxn/non-binary/LGBTQ+ in music.
In its four years Loud Women’s live profile has progressed from putting on small gigs in small rooms like the Hope to presenting probably the best and best organised one day annual festival on the planet – this year’s September event showcased 21 bands and singers in 10 hours across two adjacent venues in North London. LW has established itself internationally with overseas chapters across the globe, and has inspired many others across the U.K. to promote the regeneration and growth of a vibrant music scene.
My hat and my whole head is off to the indefatigable Cassie Fox for founding and maintaining the high profile of such a fantastic thing as LW. I am inordinately proud of my own very modest contributions to Team Loud Women as a writer and reviewer, and grateful for the opportunities to say nice things about nice people.
The ‘nice people’ on stage last night all brought plenty to the party, and I am delighted to have added The Other Ones and Italy’s Smalltown Tigers to the ever growing list of ‘bands I must see again in a hurry’. It’s a bit unfair to single anyone out for special commendation but the Menstrual Cramps – to my mind, one of the most important bands to have emerged in the last 40 years – were in unbeatable form (as they usually are, to be fair) and ignited an outbreak of pogoing the likes of which the Hope’s cellar probably hasn’t seen since the late 70s. My own pogoing days may be long gone, but I was there in spirit…
Props, too, to Rabies Babies, LW’s own delightful ‘in house’ combo I, Doris and a back from the dead but very much alive Hagar The Womb. They all did their bit to make the evening fun for one and all and it would have been that much less fun for the absence of any of them.
Oh, and I won the raffle. A couple of times! As sure as I’m a Doris I swear to you it wasn’t fixed…
These are great times to have catholic tastes in music. I’m glad that I still have the energy to be a part of what’s going on and, more importantly perhaps, to feel a part of it.
LW is doing God’s work and I am sure she’s totally impressed…
Reblogged from Joyzine – interview by Paul Maps
DIY collective Loud Women has been championing women in music since 2015 and on Saturday 12th October will be celebrating their 4th birthday with a gig at legendary Islington punk venue The Hope & Anchor with sets from Hagar The Womb, Rabies Babies, The Menstrual Cramps, I, Doris, The Other Ones, Mindframe and Smalltown Tigers.
We got in touch with LW’s Cassie Fox to talk about the upcoming anniversary and why, four years on we still need promoters like Loud Women on the DIY scene.
When did the idea of Loud Women first arise and why? Was there a particular incident that sparked it?It started as a one-off gig in 2015. Having played on the gig circuit for a little while, I was feeling frustrated at the amount of ‘man-band’heavy’ lineups all the time, and macho crowds. I was particularly tired of my all-female band always being the token women on the bill, and wanted to put on a fundraising gig with my friends’ bands that could be relaxed and inclusive and fun … so I did! Since then, a whole heap of media activity and community has organically grown around the events, but that ethos is still at the heart of what we do – putting on events full of awesome music and a no-bullshit atmosphere with womxn and non-binary people at the heart.Have you noticed any change in the representation and treatment of female musicians in the four years since LW began?On a small scale, yes – a bit! Certainly in the cosy bubble of the London gig circuit there seem to be loads of new opportunities for “bands who are not cis het white dudes” to play, with seemingly new promoters springing up every day, which is brilliant. Outside of London though, I’m still often told by touring bands playing LW gigs that it’s the first time in ages that they’ve not been the only women on a lineup. And outside of DIY music… there’s plenty of conversations being had about major festivals supporting female artists, but still very little noticeable difference in the gender balance on bigger stages.Can you take us back to the very first Loud Women gig? Who played and what was it like?It was 3rd October 2015 at the (sadly now closed) Silver Bullet in Finsbury Park. The headliners were Blindness (featuring our awesome friend Debbie Smith), with my then-band The Wimmins’ Institute, Argonaut, and Dream Nails. I didn’t know what to expect, and feared we’d be playing to an empty room … but was delighted to find the room full for the first band, Dream Nails, who were playing their first ever gig and had brought all their friends! It was the first time I’d been at a gig with a majority-female crowd – and oh the luxury of being 5’3″ and able to actually see the stage! There was a really fun atmosphere, and we raised a decent amount of money for Women’s Aid too. So it was a no-brainer to keep the momentum going and put on more gigs … and here we are!There have been hundreds of bands playing countless Loud Women shows over the past four years, are there any nights that particularly stick in your memory?The Little LOUD WOMEN gigs we’ve done for families have been by far my favourite! I’m a mum of two, and also a big kid myself, so I love any excuse to get extra glittery, get the balloons out, and start a little toddler moshpit! I loved seeing the kids enjoying music up close, invading the stage, seeing what the instruments feel like, and what their voices sound like down a microphone. And parents really appreciated getting to see ‘proper music’ without having to pay out for a babysitter. At one gig there was a particularly humbling moment when a little girl of about 9 grabbed the mic and gave an impromtu speech about how important it was for everyone to be included – I can’t wait to see if she reappears fronting a punk band in a few years!Aside from the gigs, what else has Loud Women been involved in?Our music blog loudwomen.org and monthly ezine have really taken off in the last few years, I’m really proud of those – we have a lot of contributors, so a lot of different voices and opinions and experiences, and they really help spread the word to audiences and influencers. We’ve also released compilation records – the latest of course being LOUD WOMEN Volume Two! Between the two albums there’s over 40 different bands – all killer – £5 each to you! loudwomen.bandcamp.com
With four years under your belts, what does LW have in store for the future?
More of the same I guess, until there’s no need for LOUD WOMEN any more! Keep an eye on the LOUD WOMEN socials for news of exciting 2020 events …Loud Women’s 4th Birthday Party takes place on Saturday 12th October at The Hope & Anchor. More information and tickets, priced £8 + booking fee, can be found here.Check out Cassie’s Loud Women playlist featuring 49 artists who’ve played LW shows over the past four years:
Interview by Paul Maps
October is my favourite month – there are very important birthdays to celebrate, it’s no longer summer and I can wear jumpers again, and there are always oodles of great gigs to go to. Here’s the LOUD WOMEN top recommends for your diaries.
1 – The Primitives and The Popguns at the 100 Club, London, as part of Indie Daze Week. Info here. Very few tickets remaining, here.
2 – Cheerbleederz and Bad Idea at Wharf Chambers, Leeds. Info here.
2 – I am HER at The Islington, London. Info here.
3 – The Menstrual Cramps and Killdren at the Amersham Arms – free entry gig. Info here.
4 – ARXX continue their UK & EU tour in Bristol. Full tour info here.
4 – Salvation Jayne in Folkestone. Info here.
4 – Spit Sisters at the Hope & Anchor. Info here.
5 – All Tamara’s Parties festival at the Jericho Tavern, Oxford. With Wolfs, Rainbow Reservoir, Death of the Maiden, Drunken Butterfly, Winnie and the Rockettes, The Other Ones and more. Info here.
5 – Anarchistwood at The 100 Club for World Zombie Day. Info here.
5 – Punka presents Miss Kill, Nervous Rex, Ragdolz (14+ gig) at The Exchange, Bristol. Info here
7 – Dream Nails, The Baby Seals and Nadia Javed at The Old Blue Last, London. Info here.
9 – Suggested Friends, Witching Waves and Gold Baby at the Shacklewell Arms, London. Info here.
10 – LIINES + BIS + Bugeye at Boston Music Room, London. Details here and tickets here. This awesome threesome also head to Manchester on the 11th, Glasgow on the 13th.
11 – Get in Her Ears presents ĠENN, The Weird Things, Bitch Hunt and Breakup Haircut at The Finsbury, London. Info here.
12 – The LOUD WOMEN 4th Birthday Party at Hope & Anchor, London. With Hagar the Womb, The Menstrual Cramps, Rabies Babies, Mindframe, I, Doris, Smalltown Tigers and The Other Ones. Tickets here info here!
12 – Lunar Sounds (debut single launch), DUCK and Bad Idea at Wharf Charmbers, Leeds. Tickets here
12 – The mighty ILL kick off their tour in Manchester, supported by Glove and God Speed You Peter Andre – full dates and towns listed here
13 – The Nitty Gritty Autumnal Hair Hopper’s Ball at The Constitution, London, with DJ Dapper D and DJ Daddy Wrong. Info here.
17 – Hurtling launch their album at The Islington, London. Info here.
17 – Deux Furieuses launch their album at the Dublin Castle, Camden. Info here.
17 – The NHS vs The Big C: In a venue next to Homerton Hospital, where her breast cancer surgery took place, Janine Booth reads extracts and poems from her new book, ‘The Big J vs The Big C’. Hackney-based comedian and activist Kate Smurthwaite aims some feminist comedy at austerity and sexism. Info here.
18 – Skating Polly and She Makes War at The Lexington, London. Info here.
25 – Weenfest at DIY Space for London. Awesome spooky punk fest featuring Irn Brunette, Breakup Haircut, Tuffragettes, Cecilia and more. Info here.
26 – T-Bitch and Anarchistwood at the Railway, Southend – halloween special. Info here.
26 – Straight Girl at The Victoria in Dalston. Info here.
30 – Eilis Frawley (of Party Fears) solo with Xylo Aria at EartH, Hackney. Info here
September is coming – time to get some shiny new shoes and a shiny new diary. At LOUD WOMEN HQ we are gearing up for for our event of the year – LOUD WOMEN Fest on 14 September at London’s The Dome. There’s lots more happening in our scene though – here’s a few September highlights for those new diaries. (No harm whatsoever in listening to the lovely The Bangles here while you’re filling it in.)
2 – Girl Gang Leeds: Join us in the DJ booth workshop at the Belgrave Music Hall & Canteen
2 – Deefhoof, Trask Kit & Dog Chocolate at EartH, London
6 – Gold Baby, Secret Power & more at Paper Dress Vintage, London
6 – Punk n Roll Rendevous at Tufnell Rock Tower, London, with Tokyo Taboo, Starsha Lee, Desensitised, Healthy Junkies, A VOID, Rock n Roll Suicidez, PollyPikPocketz, Yur Mum, Petty Phase, Weekend Recovery & more
7 – Rebel Dykes Gathering at DIY Space for London
7 – Doe’s farewell gig at The Lexington, London
Run by our sisters at Girl’s Rock School NI along with Rally for Choice – this awesome gig features:
13 – Slaughterhaus x Punka at Queenshilling, Bristol – drag queens and DJs raising the roof (and money for Bristol Zero Tolerance)
13 – Get in Her Ears at the Finsbury, London presents Chorusgirl, Tape Runs Out, Adults and Swimsuit Competition.
13 – McWeirdo Presents at The Richmond, Brighton, with Tuffragettes, Georgie Femme and Martyrials
14 – LOUD WOMEN Fest at The Dome, with Petrol Girls, Lilith Ai, T-Bitch, Vaginas, What Else? (Belgium), I, Doris, Jemma Freeman and the Cosmic Something, ARXX, Hurtling, The Menstrual Cramps, Peach Club, Secondhand Underpants (Turkey), The Txlips (USA), The Baby Seals, Gaptooth, GGAllan Partridge, Pleasure Venom (USA), Personal Best, The Cleopatras (Italy), Nervous Twitch, Samba Sisters Collective, Hello Delaware (Canada)
17 – Piney Gir album launch at The Lexington, London
20 – The Anchoress w/ She Makes War at St Pancras Old Church, London
21 – A Real Cool Fest™ – Bradford, with Cultdreams, itoldyouiwouldeatyou, Kermes, Milk Crimes, Crumbs, Beige Palace, Lana Wild, Super Lemon Days, Mixtape Saints and Chloe Glover
She17 hold their annual celebration of womxn in music at the Wild Card Brewery – free admission, but collecting donations for Girls Rock London. Curated by Kimmi Watson – who wowed us at our Unplugged night last week – the all-dayer features:
20 – Some Weird Sin summer party at the Victoria, London with Pussyliquor, The Empty Page, A Void and Graves
22 – Hell Hath No Fury presents Cultdreams, Pardon Us, Adults and Gen&the Degenerates at Eagle Inn, Manchester
27-29 – Something Else in the Dunny, in Oxfordshire, with Anarchistwood, T-Bitch, Muddy Summers & the Dirty Fieldwhores & more
27-29 – Wotsit Called Fest in Hastings, with I, Doris, Fresh & more
27 – Cigarette Pie Part 3 at the Fighting Cocks, Kingston, with HAWKXX, Girls Like Us, Drunken Butterfly and Breakup Haircut
28 – Reb’Elle Fest in Leeds, with Kagoule, Pins (DJ Set), Cowtown, Big Joanie, Emperor X, Witching Waves, Crywank, Lazy Day, Cryptic Street, Portraits, Just Blankets, Wormboys, Straight Girl, I, Doris, More Peas, Bejia Flo, GG Allan Partridge, Martha Hill, Blom, Girl Sweat, The Menstrual Cramps, Beefy Wink, Pussy Liquor, Ethical Debating Society, Bratakus and All Girls Arson Club 28
