There’s some truly famazing music happening in Scotland’s thriving DIY scene right now, and for some reason female duos seem to be doing it best North of the border!

Ditching the role of bassist – or replacing the drummer with a machine – can sometimes mean a loss of groove, volume, or stage presence … but it needn’t be so. Duos have to work a hell of a lot harder, granted, and there’s no room for error on stage. But really skillfull musicians – which Scotland seems to be teeming with right now – know that two heads can be much better than four.

There’s lots to be said for being in bands who eschew the standard four- or five-member format. Rocking up to a gig, just you and your best girl, is top, easy-maintenance fun – fewer diaries to co-ordinate, fewer egos to navigate, less equipment to fit in the boot, and fewer way to split the venue’s beer tokens. All this makes for a happy band – and, of course, happy bands make awesome music!

Here’s some Scottish twosomes that LOUD WOMEN loves big time, in particular order:

1. Bratakus

   Bratakus are two sisters, Breagha and Onnagh Cuinn, from the Northestmost North of Scotland, making some of the most exciting new punk music we’ve heard in years! They play guitar and bass, accompanied by a drum machine. The pair travelled down to play for us at the Hope and Anchor, back in  2016, and we fell head over heels for them. Bratakus also contributed to our first compilation album LOUD WOMEN: Volume One. We want to see lots more Bratakus in 2018 please thank you. Find them on Facebook and YouTube.

2. The Twistettes

   The Twistettes were an absolute highlight of this year’s LOUD WOMEN Fest at DIY Space for London. The pair are also sisters, Jo and Nicky D’Arc from Glasgow, who play drums and bass – ditching the role of guitarist, which is highly controversial for a punk band! The combination works perfectly though, and the pair are enjoying international success – recently touring South Korea. Find them on Facebook and Bandcamp.

3. deux furieuses

   deux furieuses are now based in London, but friends Ros and Vas are originally from Glasgow, and their celtic passion is very evident in their stunning rock music. They play guitar (Ros) and drums (Vas), with Ros singing nearly as much as Vas, while playing, like, a million drums like a thunderstorm. Find them on Facebook and their website.

4. Double Pussy Clit Fuck

   Just, wow. Glasgow’s Rosana Cade and Eilidh MacAskill are “Your favourite queer performance art riot-grrrl-on-grrrl-on-boi-on-boi-band; bringing you anti-genre mega noise by big dykes on tiny instruments”. Who even knows. Find them on Facebook.

5. The Noise and the Naive

   Yeah yeah, they’re from Newcastle and that’s not in Scotland, but fuck it – this pair are awesome and we loved hosting them at The Unicorn this autumn! Pauline and Anne are a French couple, and they play guitar (Pauline) and drums (Anne), with both singing. Their self-titled debut EP is beautiful – it enjoys regular play at LOUD WOMEN HQ! Find them on Facebook and Bandcamp.