Meet the real life Riot Women – Riotous Collective project hosts four-day
music festival in Leicester

A four-day music festival showcasing 19 all-women bands in Leicester is set to take place next month at venues around the city.

It comes just as a new TV drama telling the fictional story of a group of women who start a punk band and find they have plenty to say, hits our screens this October.
Riot Women is written by Sally Wainwright who is best known for the hit shows Happy Valley, Last Tango in Halifax and Gentleman Jack, starring Tamsin Greig and Joanna Scanlan.

The idea of older women forming punk bands is nothing new in Leicester. The late Ruth Miller began Unglamorous Music in 2021 by forming the all-women band The Verinos and going on to
hold a series of workshops to encourage women of all ages to pick up instruments, learn to play them and get on stage.

Ruth died in 2023, but her legacy lives on as Unglamorous Music was reborn as Riotous Collective, which continues to organise workshops and support more women to live their dream of being in a band.

More than 30 all-women bands of varied musical genres have formed because of the Unglamorous and Riotous Collective projects. More than 20 are currently active and gigging. Many of them have also recorded and released their music.

19 bands will play at the Riotous Collective event Riot Fest, which takes place from Thursday, October 23 to Sunday, October 26.

Riotous Collective member and one of the festival organisers, Caroline Wright said: “If you’ve been inspired by seeing the Riot Women trailers, we think you’ll love seeing the incredible live performances that will take place this autumn at Riot Fest 25.

“Unglamorous and Riotous Collective inspired so many women – not just in Leicester but further afield around the UK and in Australia, Germany and Finland and some of those bands will be
joining us at Riot Fest.

“The movement is transforming the music scene in Leicester. Our bands are performing and bringing music lovers into the city centre all year round to enjoy a good night out in a friendly and
inclusive atmosphere and hear real music played with passion.”

The festival will be followed by taster sessions so that women can come along and try it out for themselves. Next year the Riotous Collective 66 Days to the Stage series of workshops will be held again so that more women can get involved and start a band of their own.

Caroline said: “We hope the Riot Women TV drama inspires even more women to get involved with the next Riotous Collective cohort and get on stage, and perhaps they will be performing at Riot Fest 26!”

Riot Fest events are:
Thursday, October 23
Stayfree Showcase – Riotous Collective Take Over! – The Big Difference, 7pm

Friday, October 24
Common Room Riot – The Real Ale Classroom, 7pm

Saturday, October 25
Riotous Collective ‘International’ – Firebug 2pm

Sunday 26th October
Up the Duffy’s – Riotous Collective and Friends (boys allowed!) Duffy’s Bar 2.30pm
Riot Fest tickets cost £5 per event or £15 for a wristband.
The Riotous Collective Music Taster sessions will take place on

Sundays – 9th November, 23rd November , 7th December 2025 at Stayfree Music 2-4 Frog Island
Leicester LE3 5AG.

Contact Caroline on 0116 2230303 for more information
Click here for more information and click here for tickets.