The Unglamorous Bands were formed after workshops led by Ruth, with three main cohorts. The first cohort, formed throughout 2022, appears on the Unglamorous Sampler. Cohort 2 formed in January 2023, debuting on International Women’s Day 2023, and Cohort 3 followed in June 2023. All bands performed at a special event at Firebug in September 2023. Their final performances took place during the International Women’s Day Weekender across multiple venues, alongside a women’s taster workshop.
While Unglamorous Music has now ended, Ruth’s vision lives on through various global projects, with bands forming in Australia, Finland, America, and more. Numerous media features have spread its influence worldwide. A new entity has been formed by collective members to continue supporting underrepresented women in music.
Acute Echo (disbanded)
Acute Echo were an all- female punk rock band, proudly formed via the Leicester-based Unglamorous project. They offered a shouty, yet melodic, bass-heavy sound, with dual vocal interplay and ‘charismatic energy’ (as described by a local music reviewer) ! Audience favourite No Sound which described the feeling of being a woman in patriarchal spaces not being heard over the sound of the men in the room. The musicians of Acute Echo have since gone on to new musical endeavours.
Members: Bliss (bass) Rosa (guitar) and Stefania (drums).
Bad Toaster
A grungy power-trio playing heavy garage rock. Energetic women-noise, spawned from soft underbelly of Leicester’s Unglamorous Music scene. Bad toaster formed as a heavier offshoot of their previous band Clamour Club.
Members: Sam (vocals, guitar), Sarah (drums, vocals) and Toni (Bass).
Belladonna (disbanded)
Belladonna performed at International Women’s Day 2023 with a strong mix of powerful vocals, a punk ethos and uncompromising lyrics. Some members travelled from Warwickshire to take part for the project, and following their March 8 gig, some members went on to take part in other bands.
Members: Karen(vocals, bass), Lynne (vocals, guitar), Sue (mandolin), Rebs (drums) and Kathy (vocals, guitar).
Boilers
Boilers deliver shouty chaotic punk-inspired noise with a strong performance bent, described by renowned music journalist Mick Mercer as ‘almost-professional racket-makers’.
Boilers started with Unglamorous in January 2023 with their debut on International Women’s Day 2023 at Firebug. They have played 31 gigs as of October 2024. Ginny Flickers, A.K.A. Lucy Phillips, a source of fun, mischief, dark humour, and joyous dancing in the band died suddenly in May 2024.
Boilers continue as a 3 piece with remaining members Fish, Whizzie Mcfly and Barbe Dwyer.
Clamour Club (disbanded)
A five-piece Unglam band, playing an eclectic mix that included thrashy and shouty humorous tunes, incorporating electric cello and keyboard into their garage sound. The band split up exactly 1 year after they formed.
Members: Yve (guitar/vocals), Sam (cello/vocals), Toni (bass), Sarah (drums) and Louisa (keyboard/vocals).
Dada Women
Dada women - serve a moody punk and grunge cocktail with a twist of humour. With band members from the UK, Italy and Ireland DW got together as part of Ruth Miller’s first Unglamorous project. They have featured on BBC 1 ‘s The One Show and travelled to play the Speedway Folkestone and Polyester Club Festival Oldenburg Germany. These Queens of Rumination ask the big questions - why do we need a Sherman tank to take us home on a Saturday night? and is big doll energy the new BDE?
Current Members: line up Kathryn (drums), Martina (guitar), Peta (bass) and Paula (vocals) are together and gigging all over Leicester since November 2022.
Ginkgo Cloud
Ginkgo Cloud were created by members of other existing Unglam bands. It all started when our singer and guitarist got chatting one day and shared a love of grunge music. From then on we have been blasting out some rocking tunes and moshing out on stage!
We are a fairly new band, having only started in Jan 24, but we already have some meaty tunes to blast you with!
Members: Slam (vocals), Lou (bass), Stefania (drums) and Martina (guitar).
Mental Load (disbanded)
Dark dreamy post-punk. From April 2023 - June 2024 - notable gigs include Unglam All-dayer (September 2023) Palestine fundraiser (January 2024) International Women’s Weekender (March 2024).
Members: Libby (vocals/keys/guitar) Chloe (guitar/vocals/drums) Lou (bass) and Nat (drums/guitar/vocals).
MissKicks
Their Indie Kitchen Sink style draws inspiration from the drama of life. Following their September 2023 debut at the Unglamorous Firebug all-dayer, MissKicks have played gigs around the city including at Duffy’s, The Donkey, James’ Bistro and the Real Ale Classroom. Most gigs have been fundraisers including at The Musician and Skate Parlour in support of Palestinian freedom, Inside/Outside weekender for The Bridge supporting housing-deprived people, for Women’s Aid and LOROS.
Members: Karen (drums), Monica (bass), Jo (guitar and vocals) and Helen (guitar and vocals).
Neon Rising (disbanded)
Neon Rising were a ska band, playing 3 gigs: Duffy’s, Firebug and The Donkey. Local musician and institution Kevin Hewick said of Neon Rising’s first performance:
‘Neon Rising took it by storm, day glo outfits and a (political) party onstage … seeing Neon Rising, the whole band with big, big smiles after their debut set of high impact political ska, it was that joy again, women finding the magic within themselves…’
Members: Sara (guitar), Natalie (keys), Sar (vocals), Karolina (drums) and Sammy (bass).
Pretty Dirty Rats
Comprised of 3 slinky-tailed creatures of beauty only sometimes in need of a good wash, with their own “prog punk”, “so grunge”, angsty, melodic, dark, frenetic sounds.
They played their first gig on March 8th 2023 but went on to clock up 15 gigs in 2023. They have recorded demos and the Stayfree Sessions capturing a band practice in July 2023, available on YouTube. In early 2024 they recorded their self-entitled EP which is available on CD and streaming platforms. Hot Mess from the EP features on a local indie film The Duskman by GMFinney Productions that premiered in Aug 2024.
Members: Jo (guitar/vocals), Clare (bass) and Kel (drums).
Rogue Notion
Formed in early 2023, Rogue Notion’s music isn’t limited to one specific genre – it includes shades of punk, reggae, electronica. Audience participation is always encouraged and makes the band happy Rogues!
Members: Helen (drums), Stephanie (bass), Emma (vocals and keyboard), Sara (guitar & vocals) and Marie (guitar).
Ruby Cyclone/Ruby River (disbanded)
Members: Louisa (vocals, keyboard), Ruth (vocals, guitar)/ Louisa (vocals, keyboard) and Monica (bass).
The Verinos
Unglam pioneers with tuneful garage punk tracks inspired by the real experiences of middle-aged women - male attitudes, laughter, multi-tasking, fun, and the tight bond of female friendship.
Members: Ruth (guitar, vocals), Sid (vocals), Peggy (keyboard), Jane (bass), and Kala (drums), Izzy (guest vocals) and Sophie (guest guitar).
The Wonky Portraits
The Wonky Portraits is a six-piece all-female guitar band that formed in Leicester in 2022.
Too pop to be considered punk, and too punk to be pop, their trademark sound is driving guitars, rousing choruses and abrupt endings. Wonky songs cover everything from skateboarding Sundays to going out-out, being trapped inside a cartoon and exploding camper vans.
Charismatic frontwoman Slam engages the audience with a delivery that’s more energised (and energising!) than an ice bath with a packet of Tangfastics. There’s also some serious trombone action.
The Wonky Portraits have spent their lives watching others take the stage. Now it’s their turn!
Members: Abi (drummer), Gab (guitarist) Helen (guitarist, vocals) , Sally (trombonist), and Slam (Singer).
Typical Girls (disbanded)
Typical Girls were formed in June 2023 - in tribute to the 1980s women's punk band The Slits. They had their first gig in July 2023 in Duffy’s Bar, and we played at the Firebug all dayer in September 2023, the Unglamorous Christmas party and International Women’s Day 2024. Their self-penned songs include a song about the threat of pollution in rivers as well as Anthem to Ruth, written in memory of Ruth Miller.
Members: Debs (guitar), Kathy (bass), Julie (drums).
Value of Nothing
DIY Radge post-hardcore. From October 2023 to present. Played International women’s weekender (March 2024). Also promote gigs as NOWT, with zine of the same name.
Members: Nat (vocals), Gab (guitar), Barbe (guitar/vocals), Danni (bass/vocals), Karen (drums).
Velvet Crisis
Their music is garage rock with shades of punk and prog. Eclectic and varied, members swap instruments and lead vocals producing an evolving sound through the set. They sing of revolution, womanhood, shared experience, fears, emotions, puppies and a want to break out of boxes and live authentically, whilst never taking themselves too seriously. Part shouty, part songbird, all passion.
Members: Cathy Loughead (Vocals), Danni Jeffery (Drums, Bass, Vocals), Janet Berry (Bass, guitar, drums, vocals), Sophie Cottis-Allan (Guitar, vocals), Steph Smith (Guitar, bass, vocals).
Venus Attax
Our style of music is indie/alternative. Key gigs include Access All Areas 2nd September 2023 at Duffy’s Bar; International Women’s Day March 9th 2024 at The Donkey and the Gig for Gaza 19th May 2024 at the 2Funky Cafe.
Members: Peta Carlino (bass and vocals), Karyn Aviani (guitar and vocals) Kara Costall (vocals, guitar and percussion), and Carole Jasilek (drums).
Violet Vortex
Members: Stella (vocals), Louisa (keyboard/vocals), Yve (guitar/vocals), Sam (cello/vocals),Toni (bass), Sarah (drums).
Virginia's Wolves
We are a fierce female four piece from Leicester delivering their own brand of garage punk. Virginia's Wolves have played gigs across all of Leicester and gigs across the UK including Speedway Folkestone and Rough Trade Nottingham. Recently, their debut single "Issues" was played on BBC Introducing East Midlands! Virginia's Wolves have even featured on a documentary about the Unglamorous Music Project on German TV Channel ARTE!
Members: Dina Wolf (vocals and guitar) Chrissie Wolf (vocals and bass) Lizzy Wolf (guitar) Lucy Wolf (drums and vocals).