'We Were the First Punks': The Ladies Rebuilding Grassroots Music Culture Throughout Britain.
If you inquire about the most punk act she's ever pulled off, Cathy Loughead responds instantly: “I played a show with my neck fractured in two spots. Not able to move freely, so I embellished the brace instead. It was a fantastic gig.”
She is part of a expanding wave of women transforming punk culture. As a new television drama spotlighting female punk airs this Sunday, it mirrors a phenomenon already flourishing well past the television.
Igniting the Flame in Leicester
This energy is most intense in Leicester, where a recent initiative – presently named the Riotous Collective – sparked the movement. Loughead was there from the beginning.
“At the launch, there were no all-women garage punk bands in the area. Within a year, there seven emerged. Currently, twenty exist – and counting,” she explained. “Riotous chapters exist around the United Kingdom and worldwide, from Finland to Australia, laying down tracks, gigging, featured in festival lineups.”
This explosion doesn't stop at Leicester. Across the UK, women are repossessing punk – and transforming the scene of live music in the process.
Revitalizing Music Venues
“Numerous music spots around the United Kingdom flourishing due to women punk bands,” said Loughead. “Rehearsal rooms are also benefiting, music instruction and mentoring, production spaces. That's because women are in all these roles now.”
They are also transforming the audience composition. “Female-fronted groups are performing weekly. They attract more diverse audiences – people who view these spaces as secure, as intended for them,” she continued.
A Rebellion-Driven Phenomenon
An industry expert, involved in music education, stated the growth was expected. “Women have been sold a ideal of fairness. However, violence against women is at alarming rates, extremist groups are manipulating women to peddle hate, and we're deceived over issues like the menopause. Ladies are resisting – via music.”
Another industry voice, from the Music Venue Trust, sees the movement reshaping community music environments. “We're seeing varied punk movements and they're contributing to community music networks, with independent spaces programming varied acts and creating more secure, more inviting environments.”
Gaining Wider Recognition
Later this month, Leicester will stage the first Riot Fest, a weekend festival including 25 women-led acts from the UK and Europe. In September, Decolonise Fest in London celebrated punks of colour.
This movement is gaining mainstream traction. One prominent duo are on their first headline UK tour. The Lambrini Girls's debut album, their record name, hit No. 16 in the UK charts this year.
A Welsh band were nominated for the 2025 Welsh Music Prize. Problem Patterns secured a regional music award in 2024. Recent artists Wench played the BBC Introducing stage at Reading Festival.
This is a wave originating from defiance. In an industry still dogged by sexism – where all-women acts remain underrepresented and performance spaces are closing at crisis levels – women-led punk groups are creating something radical: opportunity.
No Age Limit
At 79, Viv Peto is testament that punk has no seniority barrier. The Oxford-based percussionist in horMones punk band picked up her instrument just a year ago.
“Now I'm old, restrictions have vanished and I can pursue my interests,” she declared. Her latest composition contains the lines: “So yell, ‘Who cares’/ It's my time!/ The stage is mine!/ I am seventy-nine / And in my top form.”
“I adore this wave of older female punks,” she remarked. “I didn't get to rebel during my early years, so I'm making up for it now. It's wonderful.”
Kala Subbuswamy from the band also mentioned she was prevented to rebel as a teenager. “It's been important to be able to let it all out at this point in life.”
Chrissie Riedhofer, who has toured globally with multiple groups, also sees it as catharsis. “It's about exorcising frustration: feeling unseen in motherhood, as an older woman.”
The Liberation of Performance
Similar feelings motivated Dina Gajjar to form Burnt Sugar. “Being on stage is a liberation you didn't know you needed. Girls are taught to be obedient. Punk isn't. It's loud, it's flawed. As a result, when negative events occur, I say to myself: ‘I can compose a track about it!’”
Yet, Abi Masih, a percussionist, stated the female punk is every woman: “We are typical, career-oriented, talented females who love breaking molds,” she commented.
Maura Bite, of the Folkestone band the band, concurred. “Ladies pioneered punk. We had to smash things up to gain attention. We still do! That badassery is in us – it feels ancient, primal. We are amazing!” she exclaimed.
Breaking Molds
Some acts conform to expectations. Band members, involved in a band, strive to be unpredictable.
“We don't shout about age-related topics or curse frequently,” noted Julie. Her partner added: “However, we feature a brief explosive section in all our music.” Ames laughed: “Correct. However, we prefer variety. The latest piece was on the topic of underwear irritation.”