Reviewed by Fish and Kevin Hewick
Photography by Samantha Doyle and Kevin Gaughan
Thursday
Fish writes:
What a corker of a line-up to kick off the first-ever Riot Fest in Leicester.
Leicester is getting a reputation for hatching bold, uncompromising new women’s bands through the Riotous Collective. Formerly Unglamorous Music – the brainchild of the late, great Ruth Miller – which sought to get women into bands and onto stages.
Since Ruth started the project in 2021 after finding zero all-women bands in Leicester, it is estimated that around 30 all-women bands have started in the city.
Night one of Riot Fest is an example of the breadth of talent and drive demonstrated by these female bands.
First up and making their debut, Fleabagz. A band made of some members of the popular but now defunct OG Unglam band, The Wonky Portraits, plus Paula and Hal. Their tunes are confident and punchy, with a witty edge. They encourage us to ask ‘am I the arsehole?’ Always a good thing to ponder. It’s hard to believe it’s their debut, and we hope to see more of this lot.
Next up are St Brigids who formed only this January and have showcased their twisty guitars and layered vocals. They are powerful and clearly enjoying themselves, which brings the audience along into a kooky world of plant parenting and wandering wombs. For goodness’ sake, give them their coffee.
Third on the bill are Bad Toaster. A three-piece piece who morphed out of the third Unglam cohort. These women are noisy and emotionally raw. Sam’s thunderous vocals, backed by her guitar and the driving combination of bass and drums, pin you to the spot. She roars, ‘when I am with you, I cease to exist’ and this reviewer has hairs rise on the back of the neck.
Last on, Visceral Vessels, another new band this year, and they take no prisoners. Sim has incredible bounce and energy, and this band demand you listen. Great vocals from her and Harmony, with a tight band and powerful messages. I mean, all they want is pockets. I don’t see how anyone could refuse.
The venue is packed with an enthusiastic mixed audience, as we’ve come to expect from Riotous Collective. These women have helped revitalise Leicester’s music scene in the last few years, and they are clearly popular with audiences.
It’s a cracking start to the 4-day festival, which is volunteer-run with support from Stayfree Music. All these bands are worth keeping an eye on.
Friday
Kevin adds:
This was night two of Riotfest and the bill was more than right up my street – I’ll admit I’m reviewing not just fellow artists but some dear friends and occasional co-writers even here but such is the nature of this all-embracing local community that we are so blessed to be parts of…
The Real Ale Classroom now has a vibey, funky downstairs area with a Duffys-type feel to it.
Considerable excitement greeted High Maintenance and with Start Again they began with a song that captures so much of the current mood among us. Out of individual back stories and personal struggles, NOT from a TV Series, comes this total unity and purpose. Jen on bass and vocals commands attention, and highly performative drummer Mel benefits as do the other percussionists this evening from the sideways positioned drumkit. Spooky Melodica dub sections and then dropping surprise Jungle Book covers of all things make High Maintanance runaway successful show-stopping openers.
Looking like rockstars and thinking like rockstars, Celestar Coco’s Libby and Chloē define the word ‘storming’, they appeared incredibly confident and with a superlative trio of Libby’s outstanding multi faceted vivid image filled compositions (including a spontaneous audience ‘flash mob’ for the country tinged I’m Sorry) and then Chloē burst forth with a couple of her passion powered guitar mangling numbers as rhythm section Elen and Kitt kept relentlessly bringing it on home.
Venus Attax came on like “hold our beers” – they were a masterclass in powerful harmonies and material that makes its mark on the mind, the struggles of women and communities to just be/be free, their expressive, harmonious acoustic driven folk-rock was a noteworthy textural shift in the night’s proceedings.
Supremely ‘on’ Pretty Dirty Rats played with stunning riffery and startling time signatures – they really have grown as a unit, Clare’s bass was actually a touch Jah Wobbley, Kel’s almost recklessly abandoned drums were on a runaway train trajectory as Jo delivered a sharp volley of semi-inexplicable chord structures and complexly observant lyrics.
Easily one of our city’s definitive original units, this trio do a jaw-dropping turn, pure Rat genius.
Saturday
All things begin and end with BOILERS – or at least they did on October 25th 2025 with their opening RiotFest Day Three at Firebug Leicester.. and their being the final act at Hev and Kate’s Inclusive Hen Party at The Mini Monocle in Loughborough in the evening.
With the happy couple being very dear old friends of mine, I was at some of both events so had to miss the latter part of proceedings at The Bug but… I saw what I saw so I did..
So Boilers represent. A lot. Often comedic but always representing against sexism ageism racism etc and pretty defiant about it. Also irate about having their ‘Give Me My HRT’ song (alegedly) nicked by Sally Wainwright for her BBC TV ‘Riot Women’ series…
Their punky sound is very raw, and an adaptation since the tragic loss of 4th member Lucy in 2024.
That this livewire barewire trio version has emerged so triumphantly from that says a lot about them.
Rogue Notion are also on uncharacteristically early, again a band with a tremendous spirit between its 5 members, a real unit with inventive arrangements and infectious enthusiasm. It’s like a ‘Greatest Hits’ set, utterly convincing. Ace Of Base meets punk rock with deeper lyrics.
Somewhere on the dance floor, we find Caroline McLavy doing her coolest moves. Quite a dancer, with a big emotional
Techno-Beat. As ever she’s a Pet Shop Girl in all but name and a compelling performer who creates a striking contrast to all else that’s around her.
We then had the ‘International’ section of the festival with the very likeable Anja from Germany with her amusingly honest observations on life – the one about having a teenager that doesn’t wash dishes struck many a chord with others in the room.
Miss-Fit Sisters “from the country known as Kent” sang self-eulogising anthems about their native Folkestone. It was an exciting, varied set. They have vastly improved since their first Leicester visit in 2024.
Carillo from Finland were for me a major highlight of not only the day but all that I saw of the whole festival. Truly unlike anything else with keyboards and a huge giant accordion leading their sound and very spare use of guitar and a driving rhythm section with pulsating basslines singer Anu displayed a fantastic vocal range. Other worldly at times, just fantastic!
I then hit the trail to Loughborough’s Mini Monocle for Kate and Hev’s do, walked in to 2 Of Diamonds‘ dazzling violin filled Fleetwood Mac Waterboys etc covers and then Boilers did their second live stint with live chocolate eclairs and a beautiful new song especially composed for the happy couple. What a Boilertasticway to end such an epic day…