🔗 Share this article

If you inquire about the most punk act she's ever pulled off, Cathy Loughead doesn't hesitate: “I played a show with my neck fractured in two spots. Unable to bounce, so I bedazzled the brace instead. It was a fantastic gig.”

She is part of a rising wave of women transforming punk expression. While a upcoming television drama highlighting female punk premieres this Sunday, it reflects a movement already blossoming well outside the TV.

The Leicester Catalyst

This drive is felt most strongly in Leicester, where a local endeavor – presently named the Riotous Collective – set things off. Cathy participated from the start.

“At the launch, there were no all-women garage punk bands locally. In just twelve months, there were seven. Today there are twenty – and counting,” she stated. “Collective branches operate around the United Kingdom and globally, from Finland to Australia, producing music, performing live, featured in festival lineups.”

This boom isn't limited to Leicester. Around the United Kingdom, women are reclaiming punk – and altering the landscape of live music along the way.

Revitalizing Music Venues

“Various performance spaces throughout Britain doing well thanks to women punk bands,” noted Cathy. “Rehearsal rooms are also benefiting, music instruction and mentoring, studio environments. That's because women are occupying these positions now.”

They're also changing the audience composition. “Female-fronted groups are playing every week. They're bringing in broader crowd mixes – ones that see these spaces as secure, as intended for them,” she remarked.

An Uprising-Inspired Wave

A program director, from a music youth organization, said the rise is no surprise. “Females have been promised a vision of parity. However, violence against women is at epidemic levels, radical factions are using women to peddle hate, and we're deceived over issues like the menopause. Women are fighting back – through music.”

Toni Coe-Brooker, from the Music Venue Trust, observes the trend transforming local music scenes. “There is a noticeable increase in broader punk communities and they're integrating with local music ecosystems, with local spots programming varied acts and establishing protected, more inviting environments.”

Mainstream Breakthroughs

In the coming weeks, Leicester will stage the first Riot Fest, a weekend festival including 25 women-led acts from the UK and Europe. In September, an inclusive event in London honored punks of colour.

The phenomenon is gaining mainstream traction. The Nova Twins are on their first headline UK tour. A fresh act's first record, Who Let the Dogs Out, hit No. 16 in the UK charts recently.

One group were in the running for the a prestigious Welsh honor. Another act won the Northern Ireland Music Prize in last year. Recent artists Wench appeared at a major event at Reading Festival.

This is a wave originating from defiance. In an industry still dogged by misogyny – where all-women acts remain lacking presence and performance spaces are closing at crisis levels – female punk artists are establishing something bold: opportunity.

No Age Limit

In her late seventies, a band member is evidence that punk has no expiration date. The Oxford-based musician in her band picked up her instrument only twelve months back.

“At my age, there are no limits and I can do what I like,” she stated. Her latest composition contains the lines: “So scream, ‘Forget it’/ It's my time!/ The stage is mine!/ At seventy-nine / And in my fucking prime.”

“I appreciate this influx of senior women punks,” she commented. “I didn't get to rebel when I was younger, so I'm doing it now. It's fantastic.”

Kala Subbuswamy from the band also mentioned she was prevented to rebel as a teenager. “It has been significant to release these feelings at this point in life.”

A performer, who has toured globally with different acts, also sees it as catharsis. “It involves expelling anger: going unnoticed as a parent, as a senior female.”

The Freedom of Expression

Similar feelings motivated Dina Gajjar to create her band. “Being on stage is an outlet you were unaware you lacked. Girls are taught to be obedient. Punk defies this. It's noisy, it's imperfect. This implies, during difficult times, I consider: ‘I should create music from that!’”

Yet, Abi Masih, a band member, said the punk woman is all women: “We're just ordinary, professional, brilliant women who like challenging norms,” she explained.

Maura Bite, of the Folkestone band the band, agreed. “Ladies pioneered punk. We were forced to disrupt to get noticed. We still do! That rebellious spirit is in us – it appears primal, instinctive. We are amazing!” she exclaimed.

Breaking Molds

Not every band conform to expectations. Julie Ames and Jackie O'Malley, part of The Misfit Sisters, aim to surprise audiences.

“We rarely mention age-related topics or curse frequently,” commented one. Her partner added: “Actually, we include a small rebellious part in every song.” Julie chuckled: “You're right. However, we prefer variety. The latest piece was regarding bra discomfort.”