VOCAL GIRLS COLLABORATES WITH THE WINDMILL AND DR. MARTENS IN THE LAUNCH OF THEIR NEW ‘COME BACK BETTER’ INITIATIVE

The Windmill Brixton are to offer unsigned female, trans and non-binary artists the chance to collaborate with Goat Girl, Raissa Pardini, Holly Whitaker and Slow Dance Records to highlight the cruciality of independent venues and upcoming artists post-pandemic.

The initiative offers upcoming artists a chance to support Goat Girl at a celebratory live show and Q&A on 30 June, whilst the VOCAL GIRLS community will be invited to attend a social event in partnership with The Windmill and Dr Martens.

In the wake of a further delay to the full return of live music, The Windmill Brixton is joining with Dr. Martens to highlight the critical role independent venues play in supporting the scene at grassroots level with the launch of Come Back Better; an initiative to help more female, trans and non-binary artists make it onto the main stage post-pandemic. As you can all expect, this was right up our street and we couldn’t wait to get involved in this incredible project!

The new support programme will see The Windmill - described as ‘the epicentre of the capital’s underground music scene’ - enlist the support of its creative community to provide unsigned female, trans and non-binary acts with access to industry know-how and connections. From today, artists will be able to apply for a range of support, developed to rebalance the lack of development opportunities for emerging artists during the past year, including the chance to bag a support slot for post-punk heavy-hitters, Goat Girl, at a celebratory venue showcase on 30th June. 

Developed in response to this year’s wave of male-heavy festival line ups, aspiring female, trans and non-binary musicians will be able to apply for a range of networking, mentorship and collaboration opportunities across the next two weeks, commissioned by Dr. Martens to help new artists propel their profiles. Celebrated graphic artist Raissa Padini - renowned for her portfolio of album and tour poster visuals for bands such as Idles, SQUID and The Orielles - will offer her services designing original eye-catching artwork. Scene photographer Holly Whitaker will jump behind the lens to capture striking profile and promo shots. Slow Dance Record's Maddy O’Keefe, will deploy her expertise managing and collaborating with artists including PVA, Loraine James and Lynks to provide constructive guidance on profile-building and promotion in a one-to-one session. And finally, the acclaimed Goat Girl will hand-pick a support act to play at the Come Back Better live performance and Q&A at The Windmill on 30 June. 

Accompanying this are a series of networking socials run by ourselves, VOCAL GIRLS, on Sunday the 27th of June, alongside the independent label Ladies Music PubThis will be the perfect opportunity for our community pop along and meet some like-minded creative individuals over some drinks - more details coming soon! The Windmill will also open up demo submissions to the venue’s bookers and promoters for future gig opportunities.

The launch of Come Back Better follows a turbulent year for The Windmill, highlighted as critically endangered by Music Venues Trust due to the financial impact of the lockdown on independent venues. Unable to secure government funding, its continuing fight for survival has seen the much-loved venue’s alumni, including Shame, Black Midi and Black Country, New Road, unite to raise over £80k to keep its doors open. 

The Windmill and Dr. Martens collaboration continues the brand’s commitment to improving access to creative opportunities as part of its ongoing Tough As You initiative, which aims to support and raise awareness of the challenges faced by emerging creatives and grassroots culture. In recent months, Dr. Martens has donated £10,000 to Music Venues Trust in support of the organisation’s safeguarding of pandemic-hit venues, worked with producer Batu to establish a new community music studio in Bristol, and funded the pressing of Nova Twins’ first ‘Voices For The Unheard’ vinyl compilation in aid of The Black Curriculum.

To apply to The Windmill’s Come Back Better initiative in partnership with Dr. Martens you can enter now via windmillbrixton.co.uk/come-back-better. The closing date for applications is the 23rd of June, at 6pm, so go get it!

After over a year of turbulent impacts on the grassroot music sector and the upcoming artists we are here to champion and support, it is events and initiatives like this we pride ourselves on being part of. So, although our 21st of June celebrations have been pushed back, come and join us in celebrating the future of a more diverse industry as we move out of lockdown. After all, it’s been music that’s got us through this year, right?

Tickets to ‘Come Back Better: A panel talk discussing non male experiences in music, with Goat Girl and Ladies Music Pub’, available here.

More information on the VOCAL GIRLS social on 27th of June and tickets to the event coming soon. 

For more information on Dr. Martens Presents: drmartens.com/uk/en_gb/dm-presents