Though I would not say I deliberately seek it out, I often find that my favourite bands are led by women. When I was little, I enjoyed bands like Girls Aloud and the Sugababes more than any others. At the peak of my teenage emo phase, it was Hayley Williams’ incredible vocals in the RIOT! album that made life endurable. Nowadays, female-fronted rock bands Hole, Spiritbox, and Amyl and the Sniffers make up most of the listening hours that I have clocked on Apple Music.  

When I started getting into rock music, however, it became quite apparent to me just how much men dominate the scene. The most popular heavy music festival in the UK, Download, has never, in its entire history, had a headlining band with a female member! The same is not true for festivals of other genres in 1978.  

I unfortunately can’t offer a suitable explanation as to why rock music is so disproportionately male, at least not without writing a whole essay. One small positive that I comfort myself with is that I live in Norwich, which, despite its small size, is a city with a uniquely vibrant alternative music scene. I would go so far as to say that living in Norwich is what got me as invested in alternative music as I currently am.  

One of the first concerts I ever went to was Scene Queen, who performed at the Waterfront almost exactly two years ago. Alongside the LCR, the Waterfront is one of the main concert venues in Norwich. Scene Queen was, at the time, one of my favourite musicians, and her songs about MILFs and putting guns in your bra were exactly the kind of fun in music that I didn’t know I needed. Opening for her was Delilah Bon, an artist that I hadn’t heard of who performed some incredible songs that touched on politics and social issues, especially that which affects women. That’s pretty punk.  

Scene Queen isn’t the only great female rock artist that has come to the Waterfront, and you can be certain that there are also many more that are coming soon. On the first of December, the punk band Lambrini Girls are performing to a sold-out crowd. I’ve had the privilege of seeing them live on the main stage at Reading Festival, so I know just how electric the energy will be there. At the end of January, on the 29th, Hotwax will be performing their one-of-a-kind fusion of indie and punk, which I look forward to. On the 8th of February, VUKOVI, a band I particularly love, will be performing, and just a few days later, indie-rock band Coach Party will be coming to the Waterfront too.  

Norwich is also host to several wonderful smaller venues too, such as the Norwich Arts Centre, Brickmakers, and Voodoo Daddy’s. The latter of the three is especially associated with the alternative scene, and it is there that I moshed for the first time. The artist performing was Saint Agnes, a relatively small band, and the venue being so intimate meant that there was no barrier; I was so close to the lead singer that I could have shook hands with her! Being in such close range, I could see her skill in a way I could not have ever previously comprehended. Sweat rolled down her forward. She brought the microphone up to her lips. She screamed – and we all screamed with her. 

Image Credit: Robyn Srikandan