Meet the Original Punks: Rebel Women Breathing New Life into Local Music Scenes

Exciting Growth of Women’s Punk Scene Transforms Music Landscape

Ask Cathy Loughead about her most punk moment, and she’ll tell you without hesitation: “I went on stage with my neck broken in two places. Unable to move much, I embellished the brace instead. It was an incredible gig.” Loughead is part of a burgeoning movement of women redefining punk music today. With the debut of Sally Wainwright’s new BBC drama “Riot Women,” which highlights female punk, the thriving scene is gaining even more attention far beyond television screens.

Leicester: A Hub for Female Punk Bands

This energetic wave is notably palpable in Leicester, where Ruth Miller’s 2022 initiative, initially known as Unglamorous Music and now the Riotous Collective, ignited a revolution. Loughead was involved from the outset. “At first, there were no all-women garage punk bands here. Within a year, there were seven, and now there are 20—and the number keeps growing,” she said. “Riotous groups are emerging across the UK and worldwide, from Finland to Australia, recording, performing, and playing festivals.”

Empowering Women and Changing Audiences

Beyond Leicester, women across the UK are reclaiming punk, shaping the live music landscape. Loughead noted, “Music venues are thriving thanks to women punk bands. So are rehearsal studios, teaching, coaching, and production spaces, as women take on these roles.” These bands are attracting diverse audiences, making music spaces feel inclusive and welcoming.

The Rising Influence of Women in Punk

Carol Reid, programme director at Youth Music, commented on the predictable rise. “Women have long been promised equality, yet face ongoing issues like gender-based violence. Music is a form of resistance,” she stated. Toni Coe-Brooker from the Music Venue Trust highlighted how this movement is reshaping local music. “We’re seeing more diverse punk scenes that are enriching local music ecosystems, with venues booking inclusive acts and creating safer spaces.”

Milestone Events and Mainstream Impact

Later this month, Leicester will host the first Riot Fest, featuring 25 women-led bands from the UK and Europe over three days. London’s Decolonise Fest also celebrated punks of color earlier this year. Mainstream successes are also emerging: The Nova Twins launched their first headline UK tour; The Lambrini Girls’ album reached No. 16 on UK charts; Panic Shack were Welsh Music Prize nominees, and Problem Patterns secured the Northern Ireland Music Prize in 2024. Hull’s Wench played the BBC Introducing stage at Reading Festival.

A Movement Rooted in Protest

This movement is partly a protest against an industry plagued by misogyny, where all-women acts are underrepresented and live venues face closures. Female punk bands are boldly creating space. At 79, Viv Peto exemplifies punk’s ageless spirit. The Oxford-based washboard player of the horMones band took up the instrument just last year. “Now I’m older, all constraints are gone. I do as I please,” she declared.

The Punk Rebellion: An Essential Outlet

• Kala Subbuswamy from the Marlinas expressed how liberating it is to embrace rebellion in later life.
• Chrissie Riedhofer, who toured globally with Boilers and Virginia’s Wolves, noted the cathartic nature of punk in confronting invisibility as a mother and older woman.
• Dina Gajjar founded Burnt Sugar out of frustration, finding on-stage expression essential for tackling issues often silenced in everyday life.

Abi Masih, the drummer for Flea Bagz, encapsulates punk’s universal appeal: “We’re just regular professional women challenging stereotypes.” Maura Bite from She-Bite added, “Women were the original punks. We have to be heard, and that rebellious spirit is fundamental to us.”

Not every band follows the expected narrative. The MissFitsisters, led by Julie Ames and Jackie O’Malley, enjoy subverting expectations. Ames commented, “We may not always shout or swear, but we certainly keep things lively.” O’Malley chimed in, “Every song has its moment.” Ames chuckled, “Especially our latest track about uncomfortable bras.”