Why aren't there more all-girl bands?

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,Tony
Date: 27 Oct 12 - 01:04 AM

Mountain Man is a trio of young women with a unique new all-acoustic sound:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePwi5M2AJAQ

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,Emma
Date: 26 Oct 12 - 07:28 PM

There is a pretty good English all girl rock band called called 'My Heroine'

www.myheroineofficial.com

https://www.facebook.com/myheroinemusic?fref=ts

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: TopcatBanjo
Date: 09 Jun 10 - 04:47 AM

Don't forget Uncle Earl!

Uncle Earl clip

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,Alan Squires
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 03:11 PM

At orkney folk festival last week, I saw:

The Shee 6 girls and tremendous as well - electric harp for the bass lines - brilliant

Wrigley Sisters gigging in their own area and still brilliant, if not more so.

Shetland Heritage Fiddlers 90% women or so - brilliant fiddlers.

the Bevvy Sisters3 women singing in brilliant really close harmony just using two lads on guitar and drums but the singing was the main thing.

I am sure there are gradually more women in folk music these days, if not in all girlk bands, playing important roles in mixed bands

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 02:59 PM

Maybe the folk scene is still very blokey, though the last 3 venues I've been to have had several women doing floor spots: autoharps, concertinas, fiddles.

However, the indie scene, as I described above, has a healthy proportion of women players and far more mixed bands than ever make it into mainstream. I guess that since most of them are in their teens and early 20s, they haven't (yet?) come up against the family commitments mentioned by Rockhen above.

I'm probably a bit odd, being a 54 year old bloke going to unsigned indie gigs where I'm often the oldest there by several decades, but some of the music's great. There's a lot of dross too, but it beats paying £100 for a stadium ticket to see a distant screen showing broken-down versions of bands from my youth who've reformed to pay a tax bill :-)

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,mayomick
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 02:34 PM

I would not consider it significant whether musicians are female or male either. But I do consider it significant that an all male band is considered "normal" ,but not an all female one . The fact that this thread exists surely suggests that there is a perception that an all woman band is unusual .I think that might put some women musicians off joining or forming an all female group .

For women gender is a selling point much more than it is for men . An all woman band would get talked about and get marketed as an all women band.I don't think that's right . But, while greatly admiring the bravery of those who refuse to let stereotypes interfere with what they want to do , I certainly wouldn't blame young women for not wanting to join an all female band.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: PercyBysshe
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 01:57 PM

Definitely less common. I sing in an all female trio, and we find the folk club scene in particular to be very "blokey". Often we'll be the only women doing floor spots.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Rockhen
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 01:27 PM

I would not consider whether the musicians were female or male to be significant. You just hit it off with musicians musically, or you don't, in my experience, whether or not they are male or female. I personally don't think an all-female band is a novelty act, just less common than an all-male band.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,mayo mick
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 12:42 PM

I think the very fact that there is something distinct and different about an all female group might be part of the reason . Good musicians don't want to be in a band which so many would still regard as something of a novelty act .

The problem doesn't arise for men . Nobody would turn around to a man and say , "You're in an all male band ? wow that's cool/unusual etc" Women who just want to play and win recognition for the quality of their music might feel they have to go into mixed bands to stop being bracketed in a non-musical way .

What stands out about the Dixie Chicks, for instance ?Why should somebody like myself who has never actually heard the group's music , know about their existence? Eight years ago I would have probably registered that an American band took a brave stand against the Iraq invasion ,but I would have certainly forgotten their names by now if it hadn't been for the fact that they are an all-woman band.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Rockhen
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 11:50 AM

In my own limited experience as an amateur female musician, my rehearsals with my all female band were affected frequently by family situations when if the children of others were ill or needed lifts etc...and one or other of the band had to forgo music for family. However, for some strange reason, whenever I have been in bands with male musicians, they don't seem to be affected by this in the same way. I can honestly say that I can't remember them cancelling for anything but ill health (of themselves!) or something major.
I am lucky, my other half knows how important my music is to me as he is also a musician. So, I have been able to spend time practising and gigging when it has arisen, in the same way that he has.
Most music nights I go to have much fewer female musicians there, than male. Maybe it will change in time. I hope so. It can be a bit lonely out there sometimes when you are the only female in a room but fortunately most musicians, male or female seem fairly welcoming and decent.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 10:37 AM

There are actually LOTS of bands with female instrumentalists. A few are all female, but most are mixed. As I posted on another thread, MOST of the small-venue indie bands I see are mixed these days, which is just not reflected in what gets media airplay, where women seem to be stereotyped as either solo vocalists or members of all girl "manufactured" vocal ensembles who don't play instruments.

On the Indie scene, Ipso Facto, fronted by Rosalie Cunningham, were a great, but short-lived all female band. Vicky Smith, their former drummer, is really good.

Tiny Tin Lady are now 5/6 female, though their horn player (!) is nominally given a female stage designation.

At the last small venue indie mini-festival I went to, at least 30% of the band members (about 25 bands) were women, playing everything from keyboards, fiddle, lead guitar, flute, bass, drums to sax and trumpet.

They're there, but seem to be "filtered out" during the climb to mainstream acceptance.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,LD
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 10:04 AM

...cuz 99% of females always want to be "The Singer" so, there actually are not enough numbers in terms of INSTRUMENTALISTS that form (let's face it) The CORE of actual bands.

And, imo, being the Singer is "easy" - most band singers are not major singers (chops, major range, Celine Dion!), they just are average in scope, they aren't shy at just carrying a tune (which, btw, MOST instrumentalists are very capable of doing)

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,larey12
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 07:48 PM

i feel your pain we do need more girl bands i wish they would let my band sing

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,anonomous chick
Date: 28 Nov 04 - 06:41 PM

THE DONNAS ROCK! YEAH!

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Crystal
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 07:30 AM

All boy bands sell better!
I'd be in an all girl band if I could.
Maybe I'll be an all girl band on my own and test out the elderly male folk club organisers theory!

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 07:24 AM

why are there so many all-boy bands?

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 08:14 PM

What, you mean Ricki Skaggs isn't a girl?

Art

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,Carmen
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 07:59 PM

I recall Eliza Carthy writing in 'fRoots' magazine that young and attractive female singers/musicians never have trouble getting bookings from elderly male folk club organisers.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 07:13 PM

Another all girl pop-rock band (as distinct from some manufactured crap) was Daisy Chain.

One reason Old guy guitarists/singers tend not to talk (as much) to young women guitarists/singers (or even old ones) is they get very wary as being bagged pervy old letches. It may be true but the rejection hurts.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,CK
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 06:40 PM

Here's my take: women have kids, then take care of them; while men have kids, and still play in their bands. I've seen it a million times in the visual, writing, and performing arts. Guys keep having their pre-kids life, while women drastically change their lives with the kid's arrival. There are fewer all female bands, fewer female visual artists in galleries, fewer female writers out there reading their stuff because they do more of the kid-raising gig. And as a concert organizer myself, I see it: there are plenty of solo folk guys wandering around, but not too many solo female ones. They drop out of the scene, have a kid, and stay local. I just don't know any guys who give up their livelihoods and avocations when they become dads.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Rosebrook
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 05:33 PM

I play in a local all-girl band. For the past few years, the All-Girl Impromptu Pick-Up Band has been playing traditonal music for contra dances. For instrumentation, we've got dulcimer, concertina, hammered dulcimer, fiddle, guitar, accordian, bodhran and string bass. As all band member are gracefully aged 50+ women (I'm the baby of the group at 46), we have considered re-naming the group to Hot Flash Gals.

If you're anywhere near Oregon's beautiful south coast on the 20th of the month, come dance to our tunes.
South Coast Folk Society

~Rosebrook

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,somergirl
Date: 14 Nov 04 - 08:24 PM

I was in a all girl band once butmy niehbor boy wanted to play the drums but we wouldnt let him.p.s. he got mad.that was stupid.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: hesperis
Date: 12 Oct 04 - 09:06 AM

I was in an all-girl band once... the other songwriter's boyfriend broke us up because I was the first one to say I didn't want him as the producer... neither did anyone else, but I was the one that said it first, so he hated me. He ruined the friendship I had with his gf and tried to ruin the friendships I had with the other members, too. Grrr.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: bubukaba
Date: 11 Oct 04 - 09:32 PM

Two wonderful and related all-girl bands that are currently active are The Softies and the All Girl Summer Fun Band. The Softies are alright - I'm not very familiar with their work - but I can highly reccomend the stuff the All Girl Summer Fun Band does (their style is pretty self-explanatory).
[The Softies: http://www.kpunk.com/softies]
[All Girl Summer Fun Band: http://agsfb.com]

Cub was another good all-girl popish rockish band, though I can't find any definitive website for them.

The Shaggs are pretty legendary - certainly not what most people would choose to listen to, but they've got an interesting story.
[The Shaggs: http://www.susanorlean.com/articles/meet_shaggs.html]

Those are four that I can think of off the top of my head, so I figured I'd contribute!

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: mack/misophist
Date: 11 Oct 04 - 08:32 PM

"There are some things man was not meant to know."

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Moonunit
Date: 11 Oct 04 - 12:57 PM

Isambarde are a girlie folk band with a token male!

We are currently a three piece, but when we first formed we had three women, one man and were known as "Ladies and The Tramp"!

www.isambarde.co.uk

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: ossonflags
Date: 11 Oct 04 - 10:04 AM

After "The Supremes" and the "Shirelles" everything else was average.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,Kai
Date: 10 Oct 04 - 11:40 PM

I really have no idea why there aren't many all-girl bands. Lately I've been searching for all-girl rock bands but all I could find were bands that had girls as their lead singers. Such as Evanescence, Nightwish, and Lacuna Coil. They kick some major butt though.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 30 Jul 04 - 05:34 AM

I was in a girlie ceilidh band called "2 & 8" for about 9 years in the 1980s. We started cos we danced with a ladies morris side and realised we were being stupid paying for a ceilidh band at our ALE and thought well we could do this. During this time the band met its demise because most of us got married and then in succession we all got pregnant (OK so I started this trend!) and we had to cope with constant maternity leave. As a result we had to have BOYS substituting on a regular basis. Then we all moved house and it was easier to team up with other people more locally. We used to get lots of requests for girl bands so there is demand!

Sarah

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,The Captain
Date: 30 Jul 04 - 04:32 AM

"AROARAH" is an all girl band from Northern California. The girls play "Hard Rock", none of that poppy mellow stuff. They were described as having more balls than most guy bands in a recent review. This 4 piece all girl band, ages 18 to 20 have been playing and writing music together for 3 years. Aroarah recently moved to LA and signed on with a management company and producers Jasan Radford (onesidezero and Abloom) and Chuck Sparks (Trailer Park Pam). They have recorded with David Dunn and at Deluxe Recording. Keep an eye out for these girls and check out their site at http://www.aroarah.com or click on this link. Aroarah

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,Ivy
Date: 18 May 04 - 03:12 PM

I've seen quite a few all girl bands.. but it's true most of them aren't very good.. and the ones that are are usually soft rock, alternative, poppy sounding..

I fairly recently jumped into an all chick project.. and it's going wayy better than I ever would have thought

if you want to check it out.. http://www.spankdriven.com

There are quite a few chick musicians here in Toronto.. it's just hard as hell finding good ones.. we got lucky :P plus the singer is very persistent so she contacted every female musician she could find.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Midchuck
Date: 08 Apr 04 - 12:59 PM

Here's one!

Peter

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,Tasha Martin
Date: 08 Apr 04 - 12:07 PM

hey im in a all girl band its call Acid Kiss we have a website its www.geocities.com/Acid_kiss_metal and we are in the huntington area i wish there were more chick bands but hey maybe i can some day influence someone if you wanna check us out just go to the site you can sign the guestbook if you wanna tell us what you think thanks!!!
keep the music alive!!! Tasha

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Coyote Breath
Date: 26 Mar 04 - 11:27 PM

Here in mysterious Franklin County we now have an all "girls" string band (the women are more mature than girlish) who call them selves The Ozark Hens (Just a plucking and a clucking) doing real nice old timey and gospel. A more mature version of the Dixie Chicks I guess.

CB

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,noddy
Date: 26 Mar 04 - 06:04 AM

Fiddler, Terrible but true.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,Yohan the great!
Date: 25 Mar 04 - 07:37 PM

Ok, dude!!! There are some all grrl bands but most of them suck. Such as: Lilix, LiveOnRelease, Kittie... BUT there are SOME grrls who can actually play such as: The Donnas, Satirnine, blah blah... Just go look for it!!! You'll find some. PLUS!!! My band is an all grrl band, and we know another local one here so yeah, there are some out there. Go look for it. www.princessriot.cjb.net GO CHECK IT YO!!!
Peace Off!
Yohan ><>

Subject: The Catholic Girls - all girl rock band
From: GUEST,The CGs
Date: 22 Mar 04 - 12:38 AM

Here's an all girl rock band for ya - The Catholic Girls - at www.thecatholicgirls.net Check it out. Band was on MCA in 80s and MTV, reformed in 2000 and has two indie releases now.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: fiddler
Date: 13 Mar 04 - 08:58 AM

Thats terrible Noddy!

LOL

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,noddy
Date: 13 Mar 04 - 08:34 AM

I am surprised that there are not more all female bands... they say that if three women get together they will talk (sing) until hell freezes over. WHY you ask ? because each is worried what the others two will say about her if she leaves.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,cardboard cutout
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 05:33 PM

what steve says is all partly right, but in the case of Sister Act, most of the musicians are fiddlers, and I've an idea that, in childhood at least, it's easier, has more street-cred, for a girl to be a violinist/fiddler than a boy. So in a way girls have a head start. Besides, most folkies (well the ones who are replicating traditional stuff more exactly, anyway)learn partly from playing along with their elders, at least to start with, rather than paying with peers solely. And some young women are able to withstand the social pressures to completely fit in with their general peers long enough to find a like-minded musical peer group to belong to. (Am I rambling on? Yes, probably, soorry D & J!)

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,steve in ottawa
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 04:08 PM

I can't help but wonder is it partly because:

Young women feel they are judged more for how they fit in socially while young men feel they are judged more for what they do?

OK, I admit, this is pretty vague, but here goes. Young men often feel confident of their importance so long as they have a defined place where they are judged superior (or best: irreplaceable), whereas young women often seem to be more interested in how they fit in socially than their own abilities. Thus Ringo could feel confident of his importance and his social place because drums were important and Ringo played drums better than Paul, John, or George. And even before that, he could hone his skills with drums because he felt fewer social pressures to conform, and much MORE social pressure to excel at SOMETHING. In some studies, young women are shown to do worse when in mixed classrooms, probably because they don't want to take too much of the spotlight from young men seeking to excel. Young men seldom hesitate to rock the social boat by trying their best in their field of expertise. Now, my guess is that while it's possible to become a really good solist practicing mostly on one's own, away from social pressures, perhaps learning to be a really good band member can only be learned within a band? And for teenagers, that seems to be done more easily by young men.

So even before child-rearing years, young women have to try harder to specialize in music, especially small-group music, than do young men.

And yep, I'm glad that there are more all-girl groups these days than in the past.

Just a totally irrelevant question: are there more all-girl groups in Japan? Are they talented?

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: fiddler
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 03:09 PM

Thanks villan - I missed the www out so if any one is interested the soon to be re vamped Sister Act web site.

Blatant attempt at advertising for free on Mudcat.......

If any one is interested Sara goes by the pseudonym of 'Stepper' on Mudcat. She'll probably pick this thread up later when shes finished palying computer games....

OOPS off subject.

Actually in her other life as flatfoot she got a number of mails (usually males) wanting her to belly dance.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: fiddler
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 03:05 PM

Token Women too!

Well when Gareth (sic gwynneth) Kiddier isn't depping for them!

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: breezy
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 10:45 AM

dangerous curves from oo aarh devon

Rosa's daughters Orpington

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Rasener
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 06:53 AM

I can see your point ther Fiddler.
So girlie bands need to be careful what they call themselves, from an internet point of view.

Something that happened with my 12 year old daughter recently.

She wanted to see how her Beanie Babes were getting on from a value point of view.

Normally I check what she is doing. This time, I just didn't think about it and left her to do it, but I was in the same room.

Hard porn sites appeared. Why because babes was in the search. She was very shocked and upset. I just cleared the screen and logged her off.

We have been very careful, becuase she can't go on the Internet without using our machine, and she always asks first. Even so it can go wrong.

Incidentally your link doesn't work "Sister Act"

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: fiddler
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 06:12 AM

Depends what you are looking for - the big thing we found as Sister Act Sister Act which is all girl, your web site gets lost in all the female rights and lesbian sites, nothing against them at all but it is difficult to promote an all female 'band' - advertise.

We (I'm the only fellah - manager roadie and general factotum) have added difficulty that we are not just a band but perform Dance - female musicians of good calibre do exist but not in the same quantities as boys.

Currently we have some of the best available - Thankfully

Andie

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Rasener
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 05:17 AM

I just did a search for Saggy Bottom Girls, and got more than I bargained for. :-)

The first 2 websites in the Google search were

You have saggy boobs
and
Fat saggy tits

the list goes on, and I will leave you wonder what that list might contain.

I then did a search "saggy bottom girls folk music"
Ah thats a bit better.

so be warned if you serach for them

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From:
Date: 11 Mar 04 - 10:50 PM

Du hast mich gefragt

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,Nike
Date: 28 Feb 04 - 12:53 AM

Check out www.aroarah.com

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Joan from Wigan
Date: 25 Nov 03 - 11:25 AM

Three local (Lancashire, UK) trios:

Hands in Pockets, wonderful unaccompanied harmony material, and established for a good number of years (can't remember how many).

Wench All, another unaccompanied harmony group, first saw these a couple of years ago.

And an even newer trio, the Saggy Bottom Girls, who use various instruments as well as singing unaccompanied harmony.

All three groups are getting regular gigs in the north-west, and are worth seeing.

And a local female duo who deserve to be better known: Bailey's Boot. Again, if you see the name advertised, do go and see them, you won't be disappointed.

Joan