BIKINI KILL - BIG JOANIE I CANCELLED

"Bikini Kill a constitué l'un des marqueurs les plus forts d'une féminité défiante dans l'histoire du punk rock."

Bikini Kill is a feminist punk band that was based in Olympia, WA and Washington, DC, forming in 1990 and breaking up in 1997. Kathleen Hanna sang, Tobi Vail played drums, Billy Karren (a.k.a. Billy Boredom) played guitar and Kathi Wilcox played bass. Sometimes they switched instruments. Bikini Kill is credited with instigating the Riot Grrrl movement in the early 90's via their political lyrics, zines and confrontational live show. 

The band started touring in June 1991. In addition to touring the US several times, they also toured Europe, Australia and Japan. Bikini Kill recorded and released a demo tape, two EP's, two LP's and three singles. Their demo tape was self-released,while their first two records came out as a full length CD/Tape and their singles were posthumously collected on CD. 

Bikini Kill believed that if all girls started bands the world would change. They actively encouraged women and girls to start bands as a means of cultural resistance. Bikini Kill was inspired by seeing Babes in Toyland play live and attempted to incite female participation and build feminist community via the punk scene. They used touring as a way to create an underground network between girls who played music, put on shows and made fanzines. This independent media making and informal network created a forum for multiple female voices to be heard. 

Bikini Kill reunited in the Spring of 2019 with original members Kathleen, Kathi, and Tobi who were joined live by Erica Dawn Lyle. They sold out multiple shows in Los Angeles, NYC, and London as well as headlining Riot Fest in Chicago.

BIG JOANIE

Big Joanie are a black feminist punk band. They’re like The Ronettes filtered through 80’s DIY and 90’s “riot grrrl¨ with a sprinkling of Dashikis. Their last single, a cover of Solange’s ‘Cranes In The Sky' was released on Jack White’s Third Man Records. Their debut album ‘Sistahs’ was released to critical acclaim on Thurston Moore’s label The Daydream Library Series in November 2018. They have toured with Thurston Moore Band, Downtown Boys, Secret Power, Parquet Courts, CharlyBliss, Damo Suzuki and their own personal hero’s The Raincoats, Bikini Kill and The Gossip. Outside of the band Stephanie has just released her book "Why Solange Matters", Chardine is studying for a law degree but continues to be involved in LGBT activism and is writing a book about Black feminist activism and Estella is busy coaching new talent at Girls Rock London all whilst helping run the festival for punks of colour Decolonise and the Stop Rainbow Racism campaign which works to stop racist performances in LGBTQ venues. They have been touring thuis last month in the UK with IDLES and are currently recording their new album with Margo Broom which will be scheduled for release soon after on Kill Rock Stars.