The Rising Punk Revolution: Women Redefining the Scene
When you ask Cathy Loughead about her most rebellious punk moment, she doesn’t hesitate: “I performed on stage with a broken neck in two places. I couldn’t move around, so I decided to bling up my brace instead. It turned out to be an unforgettable gig!” Loughead represents a dynamic wave of women who are reshaping the punk landscape. This Sunday, the much-anticipated BBC drama "Riot Women," created by Sally Wainwright, will showcase this vibrant scene, which is flourishing far beyond the small screen.
One of the key hubs for this energy is Leicester, where Ruth Miller’s 2022 project, initially called Unglamorous Music, has evolved into the Riotous Collective. Loughead has been involved since its inception. “When we started, there were no all-women garage punk bands in Leicester. In just a year, that number grew to seven, and now we have 20 and counting,” she shares. “Riotous groups are springing up across the UK and even globally, from Finland to Australia, engaging in recording, gigging, and festival performances.”
The surge of female punk bands isn’t confined to Leicester. Across the UK, women are reclaiming punk and transforming the live music landscape. “Music venues across the UK are thriving, thanks to the rise of women punk bands,” Loughead explains. “Rehearsal studios, music education, production spaces—women are now taking on all these roles.”
Moreover, the demographics of audiences are shifting. “Women-led bands are performing weekly, attracting more diverse crowds who now see these spaces as safe and welcoming,” she adds.
Carol Reid, programme director at Youth Music, believes this rise is a natural response to societal issues. “Women have been promised equality, yet gender-based violence remains rampant, and many societal movements exploit women for their agendas. In light of this, women are fighting back creatively—through music.”
Toni Coe-Brooker from the Music Venue Trust notes how this movement is reshaping local music scenes. “We’re witnessing the emergence of more diverse punk scenes, which are enriching local music ecosystems. Grassroots venues are increasingly booking inclusive line-ups and fostering safer spaces.”
Later this month, Leicester will host its inaugural Riot Fest, a three-day event featuring 25 all-women bands from the UK and Europe. Meanwhile, Decolonise Fest in London recently celebrated punk artists of color, highlighting the diverse influences within the scene.
The movement is not just grassroots; it’s making its way into the mainstream. The Nova Twins are currently on their first headline tour in the UK, while the debut album from The Lambrini Girls, titled "Who Let the Dogs Out," soared to No. 16 on the UK charts this year. Panic Shack has been nominated for the 2025 Welsh Music Prize, and Problem Patterns took home the Northern Ireland Music Prize in 2024. Newcomers Wench even graced the BBC Introducing stage at Reading Festival.
This movement is also a form of protest against an industry that continues to grapple with misogyny. In a landscape where all-women acts remain underrepresented and live venues face closures, female punk bands are crafting radical spaces for expression.
At 79, Viv Peto exemplifies that punk knows no age. The Oxford-based washboard player for the band horMones only picked up her instrument a year ago. “Now that I’m older, I feel free to do whatever I want,” she says. One of her songs features the empowering chorus: “Shout out, ‘Fuck it’/ It’s my time!/ The stage is mine!/ I’m 79/ And in my fucking prime.”
Dina Gajjar of Burnt Sugar shares her enthusiasm for this wave of older female punks. “Being on stage is a form of release you never knew you needed,” she says. “Girls are often conditioned to be compliant, but punk encourages loudness and imperfection. When life gets tough, I think, ‘I’ll write a song about that!’”
For Abi Masih, drummer for the Flea Bagz, the essence of the punk woman is universal. “We’re just ordinary, professional women who love to subvert stereotypes,” she states. Maura Bite from the Folkestone band She-Bite echoes this sentiment, saying, “Women were the original punks. We’ve always had to break barriers to be heard, and that spirit still lives on. We’re a bloody marvel!”
Not every band fits the conventional mold. The Misfit Sisters, featuring Julie Ames and Jackie O’Malley, aim to keep things fresh. “We don’t focus heavily on topics like menopause, although we do have our fun moments in every song,” Ames laughs, with O’Malley chiming in, “True, but we like to keep our themes interesting. Our latest track addresses the discomfort of bras!”
This growing movement of women in punk is not just about music; it’s about reclaiming spaces, voices, and identities. As they continue to challenge the status quo, these artists are proving that punk is more alive and diverse than ever.
