GIHE: Personal Highlights of 2025

We’ve already shared our Albums & EPs Of 2025, Tracks Of 2025 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 celebrating a decade of GIHE in various ways, to attending Cro Cro Land and Decolonise Fest, plus our first time hosting a stage at The Great Escape Festival; the GIHE team were grateful to feel connected to our friends and followers throughout 2025.

Huge love to everyone who has listened in to our radio shows, read our reviews & features on our website, or attended one of our gigs this year. Take care of yourselves and we’ll see you all in 2026!

Read below for a recap of some of our best bits of the year…

10 years of Get In Her Ears!

Kate: Although Get In Her Ears officially kicked off in 2015, I found the GIHE radio show a year later in 2016. I used to listen in every Thursday evening when Mari and Tash hosted their slot on Hoxton Radio, enjoying the new music tunes and smiling when they gave me a shout out on air. When Mari asked me to cover her when she was unable to make the show one week, I was chuffed. Tash and I met for the first time 20 minutes before we shared mics, but it felt like we’d known each other for ages. The show went really well and I had a blast, so I was overwhelmed with happiness when they invited me to be a permanent co-host with them. We’ve continued on as a three piece for nine whole years and in that time we’ve co-launched our website and monthly gig night, moved to Soho Radio, we’ve been featured in Clash, interviewed for The Guardian and The Independent, spoken on panel events at Southbank Centre and even been on Craig Charles’ Trunk Of Punk on BBC Radio 6!

I’m deeply proud of these accomplishments, but what I’m most proud of is nurturing my friendship with Mari and Tash over the past decade. Teenage me – an anxious girl from Essex – would be so happy to know that I’d meet two people who would not only teach me so much about new music and the importance of community, but also just two really decent, funny, open-minded friends who would support me in all my endeavours. That is the foundation of Get In Her Ears and that is why it’s been such a joy and a privilege to grow this platform together and meet so many wonderfully like-minded people who either make music, or feel as passionate a connection to it as we do. We gathered up some kind words in the form of voicenotes from some of our favourite artists for our special anniversary show on Soho Radio, which reflect all of these things and more.
(Kate Crudgington – Features Editor)

Mari: Hosting GIHE gigs really is my most favourite thing to do. As well as being able to platform fantastic new musicians of marginalised genders, being able to bring together like-minded people in a safe space where everyone feels free to be themselves, part of a chosen family, and able to unite in joy and rage feels like something that is needed now more than ever. Huge thanks to everyone – musicians and supporters alike – who’ve been a part of our little community over the last ten years. And biggest thanks of course to dream team, fellow parents of our precious baby, and the best friends a dweeb like me could ever need – Kate, Tash and Paul. Here’s to the next ten years!
(Mari Lane – Managing Editor)

GIHE 10th Birthday All-Dayer at The Cavendish Arms

Mari: I could gush for pages about how much it means to me that Get In Her Ears turned 10 this year. Being able to celebrate something that myself, Kate and Tash (and Paul!) have put so much love and work into over the last decade felt really important, and I wanted to ensure that any event organised represented the community we are so honoured to have been a part of. So, it felt fitting to host our all-dayer in September at The Cavendish Arms – a venue which, over the last couple of years, has done so much for us and whose gorgeous vibe and ethos aligns perfectly with the safe, inclusive space that is consistently my priority to provide, and whose staff are always the most helpful and welcoming.

It felt fitting, too, to be able to put together a line-up of bands and artists who have been a big part of the Get In Her Ears journey in some way over the years – the fact that Problem Patterns came all the way over from Belfast to headline, along with other favourites like Fightmilk, The Baby Seals, Jenny Moore, Jemma Freeman and the Cosmic Something, Schande, Dogviolet, and last minute recruits The Oozes, plus pillar of the scene Estella (Big Joanie) on the decks, really was the stuff that dreams are made of. Being able to fill the space with so many familiar faces, people who’ve supported us and who we couldn’t do all this without, was something that felt incredibly special, and will stay with me for many more decades. I now have a taste for organising all-dayers, keep your eyes peeled for more special events!

Kate: Get In Her Ears has enriched my life on so many levels and I felt that profoundly at our 10th Anniversary gig at The Cavendish Arms. The line-up that Mari put together was stacked with artists who we have followed since their early days of releasing music, so it felt like a real full circle moment for all of us. It was a joy to catch up with friends old and new throughout the day and share plenty of pints and plenty of memories. It all went by in a flash. I handmade 100+ friendship bracelets for the occasion, we had our very own GIHE tote bags on sale designed by our Art Director & Photographer Paul, plus, Paul’s Mum even made cupcakes. I wish we could do it all again.

Ella from Dogviolet: It was an honour to play at the Get In Her Ears anniversary show at The Cav. One of my favourite pubs (and where GIHE gave us our first ever gig!) and an opportunity to play alongside legends of the scene. Highlights included Jemma Freeman, who, as ever, delivered a high-octane set, ending up on the floor in the middle of the crowd with guitars screaming and wailing. A perfect contrast followed with an intimate set from Jenny Moore on piano and vocals; the room fell completely silent, you could hear a pin drop. She combined tongue-in-cheek humour with spine-tingling intimacy, even getting the whole room singing acappella at the end. The venue was packed throughout the day, and truthfully, the event could have filled a much bigger space, but the intimacy gave it a great buzz and atmosphere. The warmth, solidarity and joy in the room were a testament to the community spirit Get In Her Ears have built over the past ten years. Here’s to many more!

 

GIHE first showcase at The Great Escape

Kate: I’ve been attending The Great Escape Festival as a fan and then as a journalist since 2011, so I was over the moon when Get In Her Ears were given the opportunity to host a showcase on Brighton beach on the Soundwaves Stage in May this year. We booked South London post-punk duo Scrounge to headline our eclectic showcase, with Comic Sans, Rubie, Maria Uzor and afromerm as our supporting artists. We were blessed all weekend with sunny weather, which meant the turnout for or beach stage was beyond what we expected. We loved watching each artist perform their unique sets and appreciated every shout out that they gave us from the stage. It was a proper milestone moment for us all and I hope we can return to The Great Escape in the near future to share more of the vital and exciting music from new artists in our GIHE community. Our unofficial GIHE after-party at our favourite Brighton bar, The Bee’s Mouth, was also a blast.

Mari: Another fitting celebration of our 10th birthday this year was to have the honour of hosting a stage at The Great Escape. An event known for platforming upcoming new artists, it felt really special to be able to showcase an eclectic mix of some of our favourites over the weekend in Brighton – from the dreamy soundscapes of afromerm, the frenzied danceable allure of Maria Uzor and the poignant, empowering grace of Rubie, to the immense swirling energy of Comic Sans and fierce seething power of headliners Scrounge; our evening at the Beach Stage really did feel like a perfect representation of the exciting and talented new artists that we consistently support. As well as our showcase, the weekend as a whole was really special – the four of us being able to spend the whole weekend together, celebrating the last ten years with new music, tattoos, fun and sunshine.

GIHE tattoos at The Dollhouse

Kate: It may not have been my first tattoo (it’s my ninth!) but having the GIHE logo permanently etched on to my skin is definitely the most significant piece of ink I have on my body. The Dollhouse in Brighton was the perfect environment for the GIHE team to get our celebratory shared tattoos whilst we were in town for The Great Escape. Run by a team of ultra friendly female, non-binary and LGBTQ+ artists and staff, we were impressed by everything from the pink decor, to the kindness and curiosity of the folks who inked these important lines into our excited flesh. I chose to have my GIHE tattoo on the inside of my wrist, so that it looks like the entry stamp you receive at the door to one of our gigs. For me, it’s a wonderful visual reminder of all that the GIHE team have achieved so far and of our bond with each other.

Mari: At the age of 39, I got my first tattoo after years after debating whether I should, and it felt only right that this first permanent addition to my body should mark something so personal to me (and be designed by my partner in everything, Paul!); a beautiful, lifelong reminder of all the hard work and joy we’ve shared together over the last decade. I guess we’ll just have to keep doing this forever now! Huge thanks and love to Evie for taking such good care of me and making it such a nice experience, and to all the staff at The Dollhouse for being the loveliest; a tattoo place fully staffed by queer people (and with cute pink walls) it felt like the perfect place for us to do this together. I’ll definitely be back soon!

Decolonise Fest

Mari: A vital event promoting punks of colour and their community, Decolonise Fest is a non-profit DIY festival made up of activists, militant community organisers, musicians and artists that have been coming together to organise the weekend since 2017. This year, I was lucky enough to be be able to attend the Saturday, which started off with an incredibly inspiring and informative panel from YWMP, Good Night Out Campaign, Spark The Noise and Off Shoot Tours about creating safer spaces for marginalised groups to enjoy live music – an incredibly relevant and poignant topic for someone who organises gigs. The day and evening continued to be filled with so much incredible live music – including the playful, jazz-tinged energy of Coventry’s The Genes, post-punk legends Bona Rays and the driving frenzied indie anthems of Liverpool’s ones to watch, steel.

Comic Sans on Soho Radio 

Kate: We enjoyed the company of London-based queer punks Comic Sans so much that we invited them to be guests on our Soho Radio show twice this year. We interviewed vocalist Rachel and guitarist Lauren in March about their personal and political single ‘Mr President’ and the band’s origin story, and Rachel also joined us again in May to chat with us on our Great Escape special. What comes across in both interviews is Comic Sans’ collective wit and humour and like team GIHE, there is also a solid friendship underscoring all that they do. It was a joy to host them as part of our showcase at The Great Escape and I look forward to seeing them live again in 2026!

Cro Cro Land

Mari: Ten years ago, if you’d have asked me what I’d be doing on my 39th birthday, I don’t think DJing at awesome local festival Cro Cro Land alongside a line-up of incredible bands would have even occurred to me. But, a decade on, that’s what happened, and I can honestly say it was one of the most fun birthdays of my nearly 40 years. Spending the day providing tunes for so many familiar faces, as well as 100s of lovely local Croydon folk out to enjoy some fantastic live music felt like the perfect way to celebrate, and being able enjoy bands like Billy Nomates, Goat Girl, Benefits, Berries, Grandmas House, Phwoar, Bugeye and A Void throughout the day was the only present I needed. Huge thanks to organisers Angela and Julia for inviting me to be involved, and massive credit to them for creating such a brilliant and diverse showcase of new music within a community that so needs a bit of a boost right now.

Deer Shed Festival

Mari: My fourth time at the North Yorkshire festival, this year at Deer Shed felt as special as ever. Having fallen in love with its warm, family-focused energy and exciting, eclectic line-ups when first attending in 2022, it has not disappointed since. They manage to consistently create a space that feels comfortingly intimate; an inclusive safe haven for artists and fans of all genres, genders and ages. Amongst those performing, a fantastic amount of female, non binary and queer performers were represented this year, and I was lucky enough to catch lots of these over the weekend, with highlights including Kae Tempest, Moonchild Sanelly, Cowboy Hunters, The None and Jacob Alon. I also felt privileged to be asked to DJ a silent disco for the second year in a row; playing tunes to a huge tent that ended up being full of people provided a much-needed hit of dopamine. And watching the people of all ages, families and friends alike, enjoying the music – making up dances, and getting excited by certain songs (particularly Chappell Roan and Le Tigre!) – was a pretty euphoric experience. I’m mega grateful to have had the opportunity to do it; huge thanks and love to Deer Shed for letting me unleash my danceable queer tunes onto the crowd once again! I strongly suggest you investigate getting tickets for this year – the line-up’s looking pretty lovely, with the likes of Jasmine.4.t, Say She She, The New Eves and Sorry already announced.

Working with Trapped Animal Records

Mari: I just wanted to give a little shout out to perhaps the most positive thing that’s happened for me personally over the last year. Over the last decade of Get In Her Ears, there’s been certain independent record labels who we’ve worked with closely and whose values have consistently seemed to align with what we do. Trapped Animal Records has been one of these, with favourites like The Baby Seals, Jemma Freeman and the Cosmic Something, Grrrl Gang, Gabi Garbutt and Dear Pariah on their roster, and having continued to use their platform to support what we do. So, in Spring this year, when they asked if I’d like to help them out with press for some of their artists, it seemed like the stars had aligned and I jumped at the chance.

It’s been so lovely to be able to be part of a team of such like-minded folk, promoting hardworking DIY artists spread the word about their wonderful new music, and I’m super excited for what 2026 has in store, both with the main label and with their new, artist-focused sub-label We Go To 11, which was created to support independent artists in releasing their music without giving up control or rights. Working with a diverse range of bands and artists, such as Black Water County, Neev, Peter Cat, Jeremy Tuplin, Cormorant Tree Oh, That Old Quiet Lighthouse, Read The Room and Crying Loser has been such a pleasure – huge thanks to Joel, Kerry and the team for having me on board!

Keep your eyes peeled for our Ones To Watch in 2026 feature, which we’ll be publishing on our website very soon…

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LISTEN: GIHE x The Great Escape Festival on Soho Radio ft. Rubie & Comic Sans (01.05.26)

Kate and Mari were live in the Soho Radio studio with a special show dedicated to the female, non-binary and LGBTQ+ musicians who are playing The Great Escape Festival in Brighton this year!

For the first time ever, Get In Her Ears will have their own showcase on The Beach Soundwaves stage on Saturday 17th May, featuring Scrounge, Comic Sans, RUBIE, Maria Uzor and afromerm. We’re also hosting our own after-party at The Bee’s Mouth from 11:30pm until late.

To celebrate this milestone on the show, Tash shared a wonderful pre-recorded interview they conducted with RUBIE, discussing their anticipations for the festival and their upcoming support slots with Jasmine.4.t. Plus, Rachel from Comic Sans dropped into the studio to keep Kate & Mari company and chat through some of the tracks on the eclectic playlist – we packed a lot in!

Check out the full playlist below and listen back here:

 

We’ll be back on Soho Radio live on Thursday 29th May from 4-6pm
Tune in via www.sohoradiolondon.com or ask your smart speaker to “Play Soho Radio”

Tracklist
Skunk Anansie – Weak
Scrounge – Melt
Comic Sans – Mr President
Currls – Honey
TTSSFU – Studio 54
afromerm – reciprocity
ARXX – Swim
Bria Salmena – Bending Over Backwards
Alien Chicks – Babe
CLT DRP – I See My Body Through You
Clara Mann – Doubled Over
Enji – Ergelt
Maria Uzor – Ventolin
DEBBY FRIDAY – 1/17
KABEAUSHÉ – These Dishes Ain’t Gonna Do Themselves
RUBIE – To Change
**Interview with RUBIE**
Zahra Haji Fath Ali Tehrani – empathy a to z
Daffo – Get A Life
Stella Bridie – Headlights
Gen and The Degenerates – Anti-Fun Propaganda
Jock – Toyota Corolla
Hello Mary – 0%
Divide and Dissolve – Monolithic
Le Tigre – My My Metrocard

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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

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PLAYLIST: May 2023

The Get In Her Ears team have put together another eclectic mix of indie & alternative anthems, grungy guitar riffs, alt-pop gems and electronic tunes for your listening pleasure. Take some time to scroll through our track choices below, and make sure you press play on the playlist at the end of this post.

Follow GIHE on Spotify to hear all of our previous playlists too.

Le Tigre – ‘My My Metrocard’
The GIHE gang are finally seeing Le Tigre live in London on Saturday and we CANNOT wait to dance together in raging, cathartic bliss! Although I’ve been lucky enough to see Bikini Kill and The Julie Ruin live, it’ll feel extra special seeing Kathleen Hanna, JD Samson and Johanna Fateman reunited – Le Tigre were my ‘gateway’, if you will, to all things Riot Grrrl, hearing them regularly in the local indie club I’d visit throughout my teens during the early noughties, before delving into what came before. I’ve got goosebumps just thinking about it! (Mari Lane)

pink suits – ‘pink suits everyone’
Having had the pleasure of hosting Margate punk duo play for us at a couple of gigs over the last two years (supporting Problem Patterns and ARXX), we’re excited to welcome them back to The Shackewell Arms on 22nd June. It’s going to be extra special, as this time they’ll be headlining in celebration of their upcoming album, Dystopian Hellscape. Support from Chuck SJ and the Rose Quartz Rebellion and Breakup Haircut. Grab your tickets here! (ML)

GENN – ‘ A Reprise (That Girl)’
Long time GIHE faves GENN with their latest single. ‘A Reprise (The Girl)’ showcases all there is to love about the Anglo-Maltese quartet; with their trademark funk-fuelled sound and fierce energy, it’s an immense angst-driven anthem. (ML)

INDIGOS – ‘Drug Dealer, Faith Healer’
I’m a big fan of this track by Bristol-based band INDIGOS. Taken from their upcoming EP, IN UTOPIA, which is set for release on 21st June, ‘Drug Dealer, Faith Healer’ draws parallels between drug use and organised religion, comparing the ritualistic natures of both.
(Kate Crudgington)

HotWax – ‘Rip It Out’
The latest single from Hastings teenage grunge trio HotWax, taken from their debut EP, A Thousand Times. I’ve probably played ‘Rip It Out’ a thousand times? It’s a riotous anthem about ripping out your contraceptive implant. I interviewed the band before their gig at The Lexington back in April and we spoke about this track and more. Read the full piece here. (KC)

Fraulein – ‘Big Cool’
Self-described as “a wild ride, a bit screamy, very big & very cool,” I love this new anthem from GIHE faves Fraulein. Joni & Karsten continuously impress all of us with their brooding, grunge-infused noise and ‘Big Cool’ is no exception. It’s taken from their upcoming EP, Pedestal, which is set for release on 30th June. (KC)

CHROMA – ‘Woman To Woman’
Having wowed crowds at SXSW and Focus Wales this year, and with a debut album set for release later this year, Welsh rockers CHROMA rally in support of people of minority genders in immense latest single ‘Woman To Woman’. Calling out those who call themselves feminists whilst actively oppressing others, it races with a fierce energy, blasting out the poignant message that “Trans Women Are Women” with a searing sense of urgency. (ML)

My Ugly Clementine – ‘Are You In’
Described as “a reminder to jump in, be assertive and to go with the flow”, I love this track from Vienna-based three piece My Ugly Clementine. Are You In? is taken from their upcoming album, The Good Life, which will be released on August 11 via BMG. The band are coming over to the UK to play a show at the Old Blue Last in Shoreditch on 8th October, so grab a ticket if you like what you hear. (KC)

Touch Excellent – ‘Record’
A tenacious anthem that takes aim at the failures of the healthcare system when it comes to treating women, non-binary and transgender folks, this is the debut single from Touch Excellent. Playfully self-describing themselves as “Ireland’s most transgender band (surely)”, Touch Excellent create raw, frenzied, politically-driven cacophonies that are designed to dismantle the systems that oppress us. ‘Record’ is inspired by the band members own experiences with the medical system, the recent Cervical Check scandal in Ireland, and the ongoing fight for reproductive rights around the world. (KC)

Cumgirl8 – ‘cicciolina’
I missed New York four-piece cumgirl8 when they played The Great Escape earlier this month, but their catchy, chaotic sounds have been ricocheting around my head anyway. ‘Cicciolina’ is a snapshot of what the band are all about, as they explain: “Cicciolina is an Italian icon, porn star and former politician that was elected to parliament in the 90s. She advocated for human rights and the eradication of nuclear weapons. Cicciolina said ‘make sex not war’ and used her divine power of femininity to troll the status quo while disrupting it from the inside. We feel her ideals are foundational to the cumgirl8 philosophy of subversive change, peace, and strength in vulnerability. We hope she loves our song, we love her very much. Cicciolina is cumgirl1.” (KC)

The Black Isle – ‘Jewel Box’
Bonding over a shared love of grunge and pop, Yorkshire-based band The Black Isle create fuzzed up, melodic guitar tunes. The band released their new EP, Vagus Nerve, today (31st May), so if you like the sound of ‘Jewel Box’, you should check it out here.(KC)

HAVVK – ‘Daylight Robbery’
I was super excited to hear about the return of total faves HAVVK! They played the first ever gig we hosted back in 2016, and have continued to charm us with their rich ethereal power ever since. ‘Daylight Robbery’ offers a grittier sound from the Irish duo, reflecting on the safe spaces we create for ourselves and the exhaustion and fear we can feel when these are invaded. A fierce anthem oozing the band’s trademark, cathartic rage and captivating grace. (ML)

Trout – ‘Gutter’
I love this bittersweet anthem from the excellently named Trout. The Copenhagen-born, Liverpool-based musician has just signed to Chess Club Records and returned from playing The Great Escape Festival, so 2023 looks set to be a great year for her. ‘Gutter’ is a tongue-in-cheek response to those who doubt what it’s like to live with depression, explored via grungy riffs and Trout’s layered vocals. (KC)

Ezra Williams – ‘Until I’m Home’
This is a tender offering from Irish non-binary musician Ezra Williams, taken from their debut album, Supernumeraries, which is set for release on 16th June via AWAL. Speaking about the track, Ezra explains: “I wrote this song on the train home from hanging out with my girlfriend at the time. I overthink everything, and cannot be left alone with my own thoughts for a second, or I’ll feel like the world is collapsing in on me.” We love Ezra’s music here at GIHE and look forward to hearing their debut record in full. (KC)

Pixie Cut Rhythm Orchestra – ‘Empty Envelope’
Mari has booked Pixie Cut Rhythm Orchestra to headline our Get In Her Ears gig in October and I am SO. EXCITED. They were recommended to me by Irish musician Fears a while ago, and I’ve had this track ‘Empty Envelope’ on repeat since then. Please grab a ticket to come and see them live at The Shacklewell Arms. We can have a little cry in the front row when they play it (disclaimer: this is optional). Tickets are cheaper in advance and available via DICE here. (KC)

Midwife & Vya Melinkolya – ‘Hounds Of Heaven’
I am obsessed with Midwife & Vya Melinkolya’s collaborative EP, Orbweaving, which they created during the time they spent together in the deserts of New Mexico where Midwife is based. From nights spent “herping” on empty roadsides looking for rattlesnakes, roadkill and spiders, to meaningful days in the studio, Orbweaving captures a moment of melancholy and metamorphosis for both artists. It’s one of my favourite EPs of the year so far. (KC)

JFDR – ‘Life Man’
‘Life Man’ is taken from Icelandic musician JFDR’s third album Museum, which came out at the end of last month. JFDR says “The song is about one of those moments; when you get a second to breathe and an overwhelming wave of existentialism hits you in the face.” Kate caught her set at St Mary’s Church in Brighton as part of The Great Escape Festival, which you can read all about here. (TW)

SOLE – ‘en och en’
I have Kate to thank for discovering this tack! It comes from SOLE who is a Swedish artist, music producer and songwriter. This track is taken from her upcoming second album. I love the calming nature of it, with beautiful vocals that make you feel like you’re being lifted up by the music, transcending into a better place. (TW)

Headboy – ‘Cement’
London trio Headboy’s latest release, taken from their upcoming debut EP, Was It What You Thought?, which is set for release on 9th June via Blitzcat Records. This track focuses in on the significance of friendship amidst a backdrop of bright, intricate indie-rock. Speaking more on the lyrical inspiration behind ‘Cement’, the band said: “In the heat of a turbulent summer, misrule reigned. ‘Cement’ is about taking stock and refuge in the comfort of your friends and the people around you; and the rediscovery of friendship. It includes advice from lyricist Mars West’s grandfather – ‘don’t count the days it slows them down’ – a warning against wishing away life.” I’m looking forward to hearing the EP in full! (TW)

The Orielles – ‘Tableau 002’
Having just released their experimental new EP, The Goyt Method – an innovative re-working of last year’s album Tableau – long time faves The Orielles continue to showcase their insightful and sophisticated songwriting, and ability to create exquisite, avant-garde soundscapes. Find out more about the intriguing processes and techniques used to put the EP together, as well as reflections on memorable live shows and being women in the music industry, in our recent interview with Sid and Esmé from the band! The Goyt Method is out now via Heavenly Records. (ML)

DEWEY – ‘The Janitor’
This is the latest single from previous guest on our Soho Radio show DEWEY. ‘The Janitor’ is serving those wonderful otherworldly soundscapes that DEWEY does so well. I particularly love the catchy guitars and rhythms on this track, it’s got a real groove to it. DEWEY will be playing a free gig at East London’s Jaguar Shoes on the 1st June. (TW)

Lauren Auder – ‘we2assume2many2roles’
An intriguing exploration of the contradicting nature of human experience, I’m a big fan of this single from British-French artist Lauren Auder. Co-produced by GIHE fave Jessica Winter, mmph, Alex Parish and Auder herself, ‘we2assume2many2roles’ is a hazy alt-pop gem that marks an exciting new direction for the songwriter. (KC)

CATBEAR – ‘I’ll Meet You At The End’
London duo CATBEAR with their latest single. A ‘love song for the apocalypse’, ‘I’ll Meet You At The End’ reflects on the power of connection, even in the darkest of times. With its soaring, blissful allure I can’t get enough of this shimmering, immersive soundscape. (ML)

Softee – ‘Isn’t Enough’
The latest single from Brooklyn based artist Nina Grollman aka Softee, ‘Isn’t Enough’ showcases her ability to create sparkling alt-pop soundscapes with a stirring, heartfelt emotion. Oozing a glistening, immersive splendour throughout, her new debut album Natural explores complex themes of identity and transformation with a soulful, uplifting energy. (ML)

Ruti – ‘Luh Luh Love’
I had the total pleasure of catching Ruti on the first day of The Great Escape in Brighton earlier this month, and their vocals blew me away. I totally love this track of theirs ‘Luh Luh Love’. There’s such a gentle sweetness to it and a lovely depth and tone to Ruti’s voice. Feel good vibes. (TW)

Charlotte Carpenter – ‘Spinning Plates’
The first taster of Charlotte Carpenter’s upcoming debut album, ‘Spinning Plates’ offers a poignant reflection on the power structures and misogyny within the music industry. I’m a big fan of the impassioned blues-soaked splendour of this striking call to arms to fellow women and marginalised groups within the industry. (ML)

Carpenters – ‘Yesterday Once More’
Just wanted to play a Carpenters song as I was lucky enough to interview Lucy O’Brien recently about her new book about legendary artist Karen Carpenter. Lead Sister is a truly moving account, recalled with stirring empathy by Lucy – whilst not ignoring the sadness of Karen’s story (one which can be quite affecting, especially for anyone who has personal experience of eating disorders), it highlights Karen’s voice, her strength of spirit and passion for what she loved (like drumming!) (ML)

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5GVdoLhH9nI7qErVfBXkwQ?si=eb3869b24f8c4706

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