The Snug in Atherton welcomed Loose Articles and support act Bek Jones for their Kick Like a Girl: Extra Time tour last Saturday—an exciting new initiative aimed at inspiring young women and non-binary people to pursue careers in music.
The Kick Like a Girl: Extra Time tour, funded by the Arts Council, aims to challenge misogyny in the music industry by showcasing career opportunities for women and non-binary people—not just in performance but also in sound, tech, and production. The initiative provides hands-on experience and industry insights while supporting grassroots venues like The Snug and fostering northern creatives. The event featured opportunities to shadow the band and tech team, a Q&A session, and an evening gig celebrating women in music. Additionally, emerging female and non-binary artists had the chance to secure a support slot, further amplifying their voices.
A report by the Women and Equalities Commission on misogyny in music found that women represent less than a third of top-selling artists and only 14% of songwriters. In 2023, just one in ten headliners at UK music festivals were women. This highlights the importance of programs like Kick Like a Girl, which play a crucial role in demonstrating to women that a career in music is possible, despite the prevailing backdrop of misogyny.
Singer-songwriter Bek Jones, a regular performer at The Snug, commanded the stage to, pun intended, kick off the tour for Loose Articles. With her bluesy and soulful voice, Jones always captivates the audience with her 60s/70s rock-infused sound and textured vocals. She felt it was fitting to begin her set with her debut single, “Woman,” a song about the grit and determination of women. With lyrics like “just a girl taking over this world” and “I am free, I live my life for me,” this empowering anthem encourages women to recognise that their limits are limitless. Her powerful voice adds an extra layer of strength to the song, leaving the audience in high spirits.
Jones also performed a song called “Work Pain,” which captures the classic woes of the dreaded 9-to-5, an experience many of us know all too well. “The job’s a bore and numbs my core” perfectly encapsulates the feeling of dread that accompanies a long workday, reflecting Jones’ own experience of working a corporate job before pursuing her music career. The fast-paced vocals emphasise her frustration, capturing the rambling thoughts of someone stuck in an inescapable situation: “longing for a place I can truly be me.” “There are times in the night, a glimmer or sigh of a life that brings such joy.” Each lyric is masterfully delivered, blending bitterness with wistful vocals, leaving a hopeful tone for better times ahead.
Headliners Loose Articles are a punk band from Manchester, consisting of vocalist and guitarist Erica Caine, keyboardist Louise Rivett, guitarist Natalie Welch, and drummer Abbie Phillips. While their lives aren’t entirely rock and roll, as the band members hold day jobs—Caine as a teacher, Rivett as a designer, and Phillips working at a music venue—they remain committed to their musical dreams. “The dream is to have the band as a full-time job,” says Wardle.
With their release of their debut album last year with Alcopop Scream if You Wanna Go Faster and recently supporting the Foo Fighters on Stage in 2024. Dave Grohl heard a song “about why we hate a bus in Manchester and they must of loved that. It was crazy.”
Loose Articles don’t shy away from politics and controversy in their music, with Wardle stating, “We have a lot of political messages about what’s on our minds.” She continues, “I just write whatever pisses me off at the time,” touching on topics like work, being scared of buses, and social anxiety in social situations. Acknowledging the lack of women in the industry, the band commented, “We wanted to make music because we wanted to show that women can do it just as well as men.” “We’re doing it for ourselves and having a right laugh with it.”
They set the stage on fire at The Snug with their vibrant expression and punk attitude. As soon as their set started, the crowd was pumped up and ready to rock. With electrifying guitar riffs and energetic stage presence, their vibe truly brought The Snug to life. A crowd favorite was their track “Kick Like a Girl,” which makes a bold statement about women excelling at football. With lyrics like “You’re all tuned in live to BBC Sport,” and “Now I need to keep the halftime commentary short, but I do have a special announcement aimed at you ‘narrow-minded men,’” the song highlights the misogyny women face both in music and sports, delivering a poignant yet powerful message through its lyrics.
The sounds of punk shine through in the buzzing guitars, complemented by the occasional wistful yet expressive northern tone of the band. “That women can play sport and kick the ball with some force.” The chorus of “Kick Like a Girl,” with a guitar encore in the backdrop, drives home the message that women can do anything they set their minds to. Loose Articles’ energy and animation in their performance kept the audience on edge, excited to see what they would pull out of the bag next.
As the night came to an end, it was clear that Loose Articles are more than just a punk band—they’re a force to be reckoned with. Their witty lyrics and electrifying stage presence created a space where women’s voices were heard, their experiences validated, and their power celebrated. The audience left buzzing, knowing that music knows no gender, and that the band will continue to challenge the status quo. Punk isn’t just a genre; it’s a movement. Keep your eye on them—they’re going to be big!
