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When asked about the most punk thing she's ever pulled off, Cathy Loughead doesn't hesitate: “I performed with my neck injured in two locations. Not able to move freely, so I bedazzled the brace instead. It was a fantastic gig.”

Loughead belongs to a rising wave of women reinventing punk expression. As a recent television drama spotlighting female punk airs this Sunday, it echoes a scene already thriving well outside the screen.

The Spark in Leicester

This energy is most palpable in Leicester, where a 2022 project – currently known as the Riotous Collective – set things off. Cathy participated from the start.

“When we started, there weren't any all-women garage punk bands in the area. In just twelve months, there seven emerged. Currently, twenty exist – and increasing,” she stated. “Collective branches operate around the United Kingdom and globally, from Finland to Australia, recording, gigging, featured in festival lineups.”

This boom extends beyond Leicester. Around the United Kingdom, women are repossessing punk – and altering the environment of live music along the way.

Rejuvenating Performance Spaces

“Various performance spaces throughout Britain flourishing because of women punk bands,” she added. “So are rehearsal studios, music instruction and mentoring, production spaces. That's because women are occupying these positions now.”

Additionally, they are altering the audience composition. “Female-fronted groups are playing every week. They're bringing in wider audience variety – attendees who consider these spaces as safe, as belonging to them,” she remarked.

An Uprising-Inspired Wave

An industry expert, programme director at Youth Music, commented that the surge was predictable. “Women have been sold a dream of equality. But gender-based violence is at epidemic levels, extremist groups are using women to peddle hate, and we're manipulated over topics such as menopause. Females are pushing back – by means of songs.”

Toni Coe-Brooker, from the Music Venue Trust, observes the trend transforming community music environments. “There is a noticeable increase in varied punk movements and they're feeding into community music networks, with independent spaces programming varied acts and building safer, more inviting environments.”

Gaining Wider Recognition

In the coming weeks, Leicester will present the first Riot Fest, a multi-day celebration including 25 female-only groups from the UK and Europe. Earlier this fall, an inclusive event in London honored ethnic minority punk musicians.

This movement is edging into the mainstream. A leading pair are on their first headline UK tour. A fresh act's first record, Who Let the Dogs Out, charted at sixteenth place in the UK charts this year.

A Welsh band were shortlisted for the 2025 Welsh Music Prize. Another act earned a local honor in recently. Recent artists Wench played the BBC Introducing stage at Reading Festival.

It's a movement born partly in protest. In an industry still affected by sexism – where women-led groups remain underrepresented and performance spaces are shutting down rapidly – female punk artists are forging a new path: space.

Timeless Punk

Now 79 years old, Viv Peto is proof that punk has no expiration date. From Oxford percussionist in horMones punk band started playing only recently.

“As an older person, restrictions have vanished and I can follow my passions,” she said. One of her recent songs includes the chorus: “So scream, ‘Fuck it’/ 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 commented. “I wasn't allowed to protest in my youth, so I'm doing it now. It's great.”

A band member from the Marlinas also noted she couldn't to rebel as a teenager. “It's been really major to release these feelings at this point in life.”

A performer, who has performed worldwide with various bands, also considers it a release. “It's a way to vent irritation: going unnoticed in motherhood, at an advanced age.”

The Liberation of Performance

Comparable emotions led Dina Gajjar to form Burnt Sugar. “Performing live is an outlet you were unaware you lacked. Girls are taught to be obedient. Punk rejects that. It's loud, it's imperfect. This implies, when bad things happen, I think: ‘I should create music from that!’”

Yet, Abi Masih, drummer for the Flea Bagz, stated the female punk is any woman: “We're just ordinary, professional, talented females who like challenging norms,” she commented.

A band member, of the Folkestone band She-Bite, agreed. “Females were the first rebels. We were forced to disrupt to gain attention. We still do! That badassery is part of us – it appears primal, elemental. We are amazing!” she exclaimed.

Breaking Molds

Not all groups match the typical image. Two musicians, from a particular group, strive to be unpredictable.

“We don't shout about the menopause or curse frequently,” noted Julie. O'Malley cut in: “However, we feature a bit of a 'raah' moment in each track.” Julie chuckled: “That's true. But we like to keep it interesting. Our last track was on the topic of underwear irritation.”