LOUD WOMEN have been championing female and non-binary music makers in London and beyond for ages now, and 2nd-3rd September will see them take over ace South London music venue The Amersham Arms for two days of fantastic live music for this year’s LOUD WOMEN Fest (tickets available here).
The line-up is packed with Joyzine favourites from alt-rockers Fraulein to Bugeye’s sparkling indie-pop, Deux Furieuses ferociously political punk and mummycore LOUD WOMEN regulars I, Doris, along with plenty of new voices to be discovered.
We caught up with LOUD WOMEN founder Cassie Fox to find out more about this year’s fest and the bands who will be taking the stage.
“LOUD WOMEN has always campaigned for better representation of women in the music industry – it’s all about building a strong platform and passing the mic to those who most need their voices amplified. There’s strength in numbers, so this year we’re using that platform also to amplify the voices of our sisters campaigning on important topics which are relevant to our audiences – e.g. access to abortion healthcare, keeping gigs safe from sexual assault, and protecting ourselves, our sisters (and not just our cisters) from state violence.”
It’s particularly important in a year that a YouGov study found that out of 200 festival headline acts they looked at only 26 were an all-female band or solo artists, while 149 were either an all-male band or solo artist, 24 had a mixed line-up of male and female performers and only one artist identified as non-binary.
To reinforce the festival’s message, LOUD WOMEN have partnered with several feminist organisers, activists and organisations for this year’s event, including Level Up who run bystander intervention training and campaign on behalf of pregnant women in prisons, Safe Gigs for Women – a team of volunteers creating a safer environment for women at gigs and festivals, Girls Against – a nonprofit organisation standing up against sexual assault and misogyny in the live music scene and Alliance 4 Choice – a Northern Ireland abortion support campaign group.
Cassie has also shared a playlist of artists performing this year, along with a few words about some of the acts to look out for:
Charley Stone
Charley is a legend! She’s been in all the bands – Gay Day, Frantic Spiders, Spy 52, Sleeper, Salad, Desperate Journalist, Joanne Joanne, Ye Nuns, Mx Tyrants … and lots more. Her solo project really came into its own during the lockdowns – Charley is a prolific songwriter. She’s a staunch part of the scene, as likely to be found on stage or supporting bands in the studio as helping out on the door. As well as performing by herself at the Fest, she’ll also be joining MIRI on guitar during her set!
Deuxes
I love this pair so much! Ever since they first came and played for us at the Hope & Anchor I’ve be raving about them to whoever will listen. Excellent songs, big guitar licks – and I’m a sucker for lush sister harmonies. And they’re so entertaining and engaging on stage – can’t wait to see them performing at the Fest!
Hannah Rose Kessler
Hannah hasn’t performed for a while as she’s been busy becoming a mother – so I’m so thrilled that she’s breaking her maternity leave to come and play the Fest. I’ve been promised a cuddle from her gorgeous baby daughter while she’s playing!
Lambrini Girls
Just the best live band on the scene at the moment! I’m so excited they’re playing the Fest – every time I’ve seen them they’ve raised the roof, and they’re just getting better and better.
LOUD WOMEN Fest 2022 takes place on 2nd-3rd September at The Amersham Arms, New Cross. Tickets, priced £11 for Friday, £20 for Saturday and £25 for a weekend ticket can be bought here.
Find out more on the LOUD WOMEN website
Article by Paul Maps
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