GIHE: Personal Highlights Of 2023

We’ve already shared our Albums & EPs Of 2023, Tracks Of 2023 and our final Soho Radio show of the year, but now the GIHE team have put together a round up of some of their music related highlights from the past twelve months.

From the eclectic and brilliant lineups that Mari organised for our monthly GIHE gigs at The Shacklewell Arms and Sebright Arms, to the monthly Soho Radio shows that Kate & Tash produced and hosted; the GIHE team were grateful to feel connected – either through the internet or in real life – to our friends and followers, and that’s something our Personal Highlights of 2023 reflect.

Read below for a recap of some of our best bits of the year. Huge thanks to everyone who has supported GIHE. We’ll see you in 2024. x

GIHE Live with STRAIGHT GIRL at The Shacklewell Arms

Whilst I truly love all the gigs I host, and am so grateful to all the amazing bands who play for us, the lovely venues, and everyone who makes it out, there are sometimes gigs that do stand out as particularly memorable. This year, one such gig was when Leeds based artist STRAIGHT GIRL came to headline for us in July. With their immense swirling energy and magnetic tongue-in-cheek charisma, they spread all the fizzing queer joy we could ever desire; immersing themselves within the crowd (quite literally at times!), they created a wonderfully unifying exuberant euphoria. And, with support from the fierce raging power of band-on-the-rise, sister duo ALT BLK ERA, and the gritty, immersive allure of The Dead Zoo, it was a night we won’t be forgetting in a hurry. We were also able to raise money for vital charity London Trans Pride.

Thanks again to all the incredible bands who’ve played at our gigs this year, putting on these events is my most favourite thing to do and you always make it so worth it. Thanks too, in particular, to The Shacklewell Arms, where we’ve been lucky enough to host most of the gigs. A really lovely team of chilled out folk (including some of the best sound engineers like the legendary Sofia!) who seem dedicated to creating a safe, inclusive space.
(Mari Lane – GIHE Co-Founder)
(Photo Credit: Cassie Barnard)

GIHE Live with Problems Patterns at Sebright Arms

This year has been a pretty special one for Belfast punks Problem Patterns, with the release of their highly acclaimed album, Blouse Club, via Alcopop! Records (one of our albums of the year!) supporting total legends Le Tigre in Glasgow, and doing live sessions for the likes of Deb Grant and Tom Ravenscroft on BBC 6Music. So it was an extra special honour to have them return to play live for us again, following their headline set at Shacklewell Arms back in 2021. This time, they headed up a line-up of total dreams, with support from Fightmilk and Dogviolet, selling out Sebright Arms. As expected, they completely blew us away with their immense raw power and wonderful unique charisma; it’s always a fantastic experience seeing them live, and it’s particularly lovely to see a band who not only deliver stark political messages, but do so with a vibrant energy, their endearing closeness as friends and sparkling wit shining throughout.

It was also a real treat to have long-time faves Fightmilk deliver the most fun-filled set of sing-along punk-pop anthems new and old, whilst band-on-the-rise Dogviolet exuded a spellbinding majesty opening the night. An evening of all the best vibes, I seemed to switch between grinning from cheek-to-cheek and crying tears of joy throughout, and just feel so grateful to have hosted such a special event. As with all our gigs, we were also collecting donations for charity on the door, and this time managed to raise money for vital organisation Rainbow Migration. (ML)
(Photo Credit: Jojo Brown)

Contributing to Hope Lynes ‘A New Age Of Riot Grrrl’ Audio Doc

We love talking to people about what inspired us to launch Get In Her Ears, so when Kerrang Radio DJ Hope Lynes reached out and asked us to contribute to her Riot Grrrl audio documentary pitch, it was an instant yes from me. We spoke about the evolution of and lasting influence of Riot Grrrl culture, and how it’s been a gateway movement and sound for so many young women and non-binary folk into creating music today. Hope won an award for her hard work, and I’m not surprised. Featuring great contributions from GRRRL Music, Where Are The Girlbands?, Mia Hughes, Rachel Roberts, Venus Grrrls, Katja Macabre, Delilah Bon, Bambie Thug, Television Screams and Skint Knees; it’s well worth a listen. Link here.
(Kate Crudgington – GIHE Co-Founder)

GIHE Great Escape Special show with SPIDER on Soho Radio

We usually cover The Great Escape on GIHE, but this year, we dedicated our entire May Soho Radio show to artists who we were most looking forward to seeing live across multiple venues at the three day festival in Brighton. The playlist included tracks from JFDR, Seraphina Simone, Delilah Holliday, HotWax, Coach Party, Problem Patterns, ARXX, CLT DRP, Whitelands, Human Interest and more.

It was a privilege to have Dublin-born, London-based alt-pop artist SPIDER join us in the studio for a chat about her upcoming performance at the festival. She was such a vibrant and charismatic force and we really enjoyed chatting to her about her EP, HELL OR HIGH WATER, and listening to the challenges she has faced as a young, female artist of colour sharing her music on the internet, and how it’s made her more determined to make her mark in alternative music scenes.

Listen back to the show here. Read our overall review of The Great Escape here. (KC)

Deershed Festival

With Deer Shed festival included in this list after I’d been for the first time last year, I’m afraid I’m a creature of habit and can’t not include it here again after having the opportunity to go this summer. Promoting a real family focus, whilst hosting an incredible range of exciting new artists, it oozes the warmest of vibes and – being smaller in size than most other festivals – creates a space that feels comfortingly intimate; an inclusive safe haven for artists and fans of all genres and ages. This year, I had another dreamy time. Whilst Friday evening was brought to a close by the joyous, empowering energy of Dream Wife (with GIHE fave Straight Girl even making an appearance!), on Saturday highlights included the riotous power and playful allure of Panic Shack, the compelling fierce energy of Sprints and the blissful groove of All Day Breakfast Cafe. And, on Sunday, I fell in love with Pet Snake, immersed myself in the cutting post-punk power of English Teacher and cried my way through the searing twinkling emotion of The Big Moon. Despite the rain, another beautiful weekend at Deer Shed, which I hope to replicate for a third time next year (with CMAT and The Go! Team on the line-up, I’m sure it won’t disappoint!) (ML)

GIHE x Morning Glory Live Takeover on Soho Radio with NYX

It was so much fun covering Soho Radio’s Morning Glory show in September, presenting live from the studio! Tash and I had a blast playing tracks from some of our GIHE “spotlight” artists, and Tash had a chat with Glasgow newcomer Litty, who fronts indie band Brenda. In the second half of the show, we were joined in the studio by Alicia and Philippa from the NYX electronic drone choir. We spoke to them about their collaborative album with Gazelle Twin, Deep England, their contribution to the Diablo IV video game soundtrack, and the instinctive ways in which they use technology to enhance the power of the human voice. We also set some time aside to fangirl over afromerm/CIL too, who has recently joined their ranks. I’ve been following NYX’s work for a long time, so it was a privilege to be able to have them as guests on our show.

Listen back to the show in full here. (KC)

Le Tigre Live at The Troxy

Having been lucky enough to previously catch Bikini Kill and The Julie Ruin live over the last few years, I didn’t think there’d be another opportunity for me to see Kathleen Hanna live, but I’m extremely pleased to have been wrong. The holy trinity of inspirational bands was completed for me when I got to see Le Tigre live in June, along with GIHE pals Tash, Kate and Paul, and it was just as wonderful as expected. Anyone who knows me will know how much Kathleen means to me, and it felt extra special to see Le Tigre; you could say they were my ‘gateway’ into all things riot grrrl. I have so many memories of being a teen, and dancing to ‘Deceptacon’ at the local indie night, which then lead to me discovering Kathleen Hanna’s other work. Since then, their music has continued to soothe and motivate with its cathartic joy, their fizzing politically-charged energy often being a lifeline for me. And yes, many tears were shed seeing ‘Keep On Livin’ live. (ML)

Lingua Ignota Live at Islington Assembly Hall

Witnessing one of Lingua Ignota’s final UK shows under her old moniker was a truly breathtaking experience. I’ve been privileged to see her live in London three times before, but this performance felt like unlike any other. Sat at her piano, clothed in a red mesh dress, she performed songs from her impressive back catalogue, unleashing her immense, dynamic vocals on to a crowd of devoutly silent listeners. Truly one of the most intense shows I have ever attended. Lingua Ignota may be “dead”, but long live Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter, who has risen from the ashes and become an entity all of her own. You can listen to a live recording of Lingua Ignota’s final performance via bandcamp here. You can also listen to Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter’s debut album, SAVED!, here. (KC)

YAKKIE Live at The Victoria, Dalston

It’s hard to pin-point much ‘good’ news to have come from 2023, but one thing that was undeniably great to happen was the formation of brand new super group YAKKIE. Fronted by interminable force of nature Janey, plus phenomenal musicians Robin (Petrol Girls, Personal Best), and Ankles and Jodie (both of Colour Me Wednesday), it’s been amazing to see this absolute epic collective of faves come together in all their punk-rock glory for this special project. It was a real honour to be at The Victoria for their first ever proper gig this autumn; a truly empowering night of rage, joy and unity. And it really was particularly wonderful to see Janey back on stage, in her element; she really does have a sparkling charisma and immense presence that is unlike anyone else I’ve ever seen. So, thank you YAKKIE for coming into existence just when we needed you the most; at the moment, it’s more important than ever to have bands like them, not afraid to speak up for what’s right and use their platform as a real force for change. (ML)

Huge thanks to the bands and artists who have played live for GIHE, been a guest on our Soho Radio shows. Huge love to everyone who has listened in, read our reviews or attended one of our gigs this year. Take care of yourselves and we’ll see you all in 2024. x