published in VenusZine.com on 7/28/08
For the past year, Em Ledger has been building a thriving riot grrl community from the bottom up in Sheffield, UK. Taking influence from nearby grrl collectives such as Manifesta in Leeds and Female Trouble in Manchester, Ledger and friends decided to start their own group by throwing together DIY showcases for musicians and artists. Ledger talks here about how she was able to start her own collective and how you can do it, too.
That's so awesome you have a riot grrl collective! Tell me about your group, Lola and the Cartwheels.
The whole project really started from a real lack of positive grrl events and attitude. I was sick of going to the same indie clubs with the meat market atmosphere and ego-fests. I just wanted to create a safe and fun atmosphere for like-minded people who wanted to collaborate.
We work alone in the events we do but are part of a network called Riot Grrrl North UK that supports touring bands to help them get as much shows and exposure as possible. There are six core members of the group, who ensure the organization, publicity, and general maintenance of the group, and then a whole bunch of people who come together and get involved, which is exactly what we love about this scene.
What does the group do?
Lola was born June 2007 when we put on our first show with some friends. We then went on to set up a monthly showcase of grrl and queer musicians and artists called “Coughs and Sneezes Spread Diseases,” which featured bands, craft stalls, a zine distro, and a club night afterwards with resident and guest DJs.
We had a regular venue at the Redhouse in Sheffield where we hosted all our events for the first year of Lola, but our club night just finished. Now we are concentrating on some new projects and sourcing a new venue as our usual one is experiencing financial difficulty. This year, we're looking to showcase film screenings, zine and craft workshops, and other community events.
What are some cool things the group has done?
A year ago we never thought we'd get to do half the things we have. We were included in the riot grrl book Revolution Girl Style Now. We put on a show with Partyline and got to meet our idol, Allison Wolfe. Allison was great; she was down to earth and inspiring. It was refreshing to see someone who still has passion and drive after so many years.
We managed to book them through the Riot Grrrl UK network. As soon as one person hears of a touring band, they'll let the band know there are several other collectives around the country, and usually they e-mail with all their dates and we let them know if we can help out. We'd encourage anyone to give it a go — start off small and see where it leads. Put out fliers in your area and see who responds. Maybe you'll meet some new best friends, band members, etc!
How can people get involved?
We're always looking for new projects, ideas, touring bands and artists, and people of all kinds. If you wanna get involved, suggest ideas, play a show, or send us your zine, you can contact us on our MySpace page, MySpace.com/lolaandthecartwheelssheff, email us at lolaandthecartwheelssheff@hotmail.co.uk, or join our Facebook group!
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