I arrive at the bustling Wee Red Bar, albeit 5 minutes late (and a bit flustered), due to traffic jams uptown, and not being able to get in through the front gate of the art college. However, I was rescued by a very kind passer-by and her friend, who it turns out, is one of the bass tutors at the school - thank you whoever you are!
Tonight is showcasing the graduate bands from the last term at Girls Rock School, Edinburgh. The bands are to perform three songs each. The atmosphere here is excitable and so supportive, and as the crowd are 95% female, there is a really different dynamic. The love in the room is palpable.
As I arrive the
Astroturf Skirts, are already finishing their first song, however I catch their cover of
Chvrches ‘Never-ending Circles’, and they close their set with a self-penned number; ‘We Are Punk Girls, We Are Riot Grrrls, We Are Beauty’. You certainly are. I'm sure I'm not alone in this, but I feel quite moved by their heartfelt performance.
Next up are The Unrepentants, and they are here to ROCK! Opening with a stomping cover of PJ Harvey’s ‘This Is Love’. Followed nicely by a Dead Kennedys number and closing with a rendition of Bikini Kill's Riot Grrl anthem ‘Rebel Girl’, that Kathleen Hanna herself would surely be proud of.
Lou McLean is the penultimate act of the showcasing musicians. She is a singer / songwriter playing an acoustic guitar. Her style is melodic, poppy, and quirky. She's joined by a fellow student for her final number, and like her predecessors, she puts on a sincere and very confident performance.
Last but not least are Taco Tuesday. Introduced by Fiona Watt as ‘raging against the patriarchy’; they open with their own self-titled theme tune. Followed by a cover of Grimes ‘Oblivion’, a song about sexual abuse - if no one talks about it, it's never going to change. Their final number 'Period Pants', is brilliant, fast and punky; and ends with the singer whipping off her skirt, not quite a la Bucks Fizz (for those who can remember that far back!), but much more exciting! Genius. I really hope to see this band doing their own shows soon.
After a short break it's time for Joey Clarkson; a country / rock / pop artist from Canada, who is taking time out from her tour to play here tonight. She duly bigs up the GRS graduate bands. Her set includes a cover of Sixpence None The Richer’s saccharine sweet ‘Kiss Me’.
Closing this prestigious evening,
The Fnords take to the stage. Fnords singer
Sarah Glass, is also co-incidentally co-founder of the
Glasgow GRS. I saw them play a few months ago (review
here), and tonight they seem much more powerful and receptive to the crowd. They belt out their numbers at a fast no-nonsense pace, and throw in a few choice covers. They also debut new song ‘Great Sticks?’ and finish with ‘Scumbaby’. Returning for an encore with
Gloria Jones' ‘Tainted Love’,
The Drags ‘I Like To Die’ and everyone's favourite;
The Cramps ‘I’m Cramped’.
Co-founder Fiona Watt wraps up a fantastic evening congratulating the graduate bands, Luke on the sound, and special guests Clarkson and The Fnords. I feel honoured to have been part of such a special occasion.
I spoke with founders Fiona, Caro and Ashley from the Astroturf Skirts last week, that article can be found
here.
