A DIY Punk Halloween Delight: Inside Bridget's For the Hell of It Ball
In the centre of Ipswich stands The Church; an intimate, atmospheric music venue where DIY punk artist Bridget chose to host her Autumn Ball. Celebrating the drop of her second EP, For the Hell of It, Bridget headlined the gig fittingly dressed in cut-up tartan, protruding black horns, and red-painted teeth. Accompanying her that evening were her support acts: DJ Greebo, playing sets between the other acts, self-described south-east emo band Dollface to open, and the blood-soaked punk performance artists French Toast. An upside-down neon cross sat upon the stage; "we joked something bad might happen for us by putting this in a church," Bridget laughed during her set. But the night was anything but a disaster. Despite the previous night's storm throwing a tree into the middle of the train tracks between Ipswich and Colchester, local infrastructure found itself back up and running just in time for Bridget's Halloween-themed extravaganza. Divine intervention, perhaps.
Angèle: The True Rollercoaster Story of a Belgian Megastar
Imagine you're on a game show for a second. If you were asked to name artists that have headlined Wembley Arena, which ones would come to mind? Maybe Bob Dylan? Madonna? Or one of the top pop stars of today, like Lana Del Rey? All names that many of us have heard of and expect to have headlined one of the largest arenas in the UK. But what if I was to say the name Angèle? Doesn't immediately come to mind, does it?
Yes, even though she has graced the same Wembley stage as other pop legends, Angèle – full name Angèle Van Laeken – is somewhat of an unknown name on our shores.
GERD’s the Word: Meet the Swedish Singer You Wish You Knew Sooner
“It was never really a choice,” GERD tells us when asked how she knew she wanted to do music. Returning from a three-year hiatus, the rising Swedish songstress — real name Elin Lundgren — is picking up where she left off. And taking flight.
GERD’s sound feels familiar yet moreishly brand new. The soundtrack to frolicking barefoot in the forest, it carries something instinctive, something that feels like a sense of acceptance for what’s been and a triumphant readiness for what’s to come.
Boo!: A Music Playlist
It’s Halloween season, so you know we had to get a lil’ playlist ready before the big day. Behold: an amalgamation of famously spooky tunes, haunting horror soundtracks, and songs that I just think have a creepy vibe. Aaaahhhh!!!
Bridget on Her New EP For the Hell of It and Life as a Grassroots Musician
It’s hard out there for grassroots artists. Whether it’s the cost of touring or the rise of AI, the rapidly changing landscape makes a sustainable career feel out of reach. Monumental levels of time and energy go into creating and performing the music you hear at festivals, on social media, and on streaming services like Spotify, which pays artists £0.002 to £0.004 per stream. To persevere takes immense grit and determination. You know who has that? Bridget.
Crossover: A Music Playlist
What if you took punk and crossed it with rap? Or funk? Or R&B? Or… all of them? Well, that’s what this playlist is. Featuring earthsignchels, Rage Against the Machine, Tamar-kali, Big Joanie, and Death Grips.
Lily Hopkins of The Meffs Chats Burn It Down and Touring With Joan Jett
Nobody does it better than people from Essex, do they? Hailing officially from Colchester, The Meffs have made themselves one of the most talked about bands in the UK's punk scene. One way they've done this is through playing such stellar live sets that they've been asked to open for massive names: Frank Turner, Joan Jett, Alice Cooper. After releasing their debut LP WHAT A LIFE back in 2024, the time has now come for album two. Business, via FLG Records, will be released on 11th September 11th. But just before that, they will take to the stage at Burn It Down Festival on the 3rd September in Torquay, Devon. Are you going to be at the festival? If so, you are doing yourself a disservice if you don't catch this awesome duo at The Red Stripe Stage!
In the run-up to Business and their show at Burn It Down, girlblog! Music Editor Bailey had a chat with their lead vocalist Lily Hopkins.
Debbie Gough of Heriot on Burn It Down Festival
If you're a fan of metal and haven't heard of Heriot, then you must be living under a rock! The quartet, led by vocal powerhouses Debbie Gough and Jake Packer, are one of the most buzzed about bands in the metalcore scene. Fans couldn't give any more plaudits for their electrifying live performances at major festivals like Download and Hellfest, but also for their long awaited debut LP in 2024, Devoured by the Mouth of Hell. The band has no trouble attracting new festivals, either — when they play in Torquay on 5th September for Burn It Down Festival, it’s a very safe bet that Heriot will have one of the best sets of the festival.
Before this much anticipated set at Burn It Down, girlblog! Music Editor Bailey Ewers-Smith had a chat with Heriot’s co-lead vocalist, Debbie.
Riot Grrrl at Burn It Down Festival: A Playlist
Music Editor Bailey Ewers-Smith has curated a very Riot Grrrl playlist to celebrate the female and non-binary musicians over at Burn It Down Festival over in Torquay, Devon, from the 3rd — 5th September 2026. Featuring Vukovi, BE N!CE, The Meffs, Heriot, and Clarion.
Pol Mills of BE N!CE Talks Burn It Down Festival and Their New EP
To say it’s been a busy few years for BE N!CE would be an understatement. Since forming in 2022, the quartet have travelled across England, and broken into Europe with shows in Germany and Belgium. With a band already steadfast in their musical identity in the wake of their second EP, IT’S GETTING HARDER, there’s a lot to look forward to as they approach their appearance at Burn It Down Festival in September.
girlblog! Music Editor Bailey Ewers-Smith had the chance to chat with Pol before the release of their EP and performance on the 2nd and 3rd September.
Acoustic Tunes: A Music Playlist
Want to relax but also feel somewhat cynical about everything? Say no more. These acoustic tunes will take you through a range of emotions, including sadness, concern, love, mild annoyance, and maybe even a little hurt. Featuring Fleetwood Mac, Amy Winehouse, Johnny Cash, beabadoobee, and P!nk.
PC Music: A Music Playlist
We’re keeping it funky over here on girlblog! with a PC Music playlist for the sunny, sticky, searing summer heatwave happening in the UK. Train’s delayed because of a wildfire by the track’s? Listen to this playlist to pass the time. It’ll fix everything. Featuring SOPHIE, Ayesha Erotica, Ashnikkko, Cobrah, and Rebecca Black.
brat summer will never die, or whatever: A Music Playlist
As we say hello to Charli xcx’s latest album, Music Fashion Film, we at girlblog! bid a final goodbye to Brat. or, more fittingly, we say hello to Brat Summer Forever. or, perhaps, we say hello goodbye. Whatever happened to that remix, anyway? The best we can do is this playlist.
Queercore: A Music Playlist
Pissed off about the rapid reversal of queer rights in the UK, US, and beyond? Same. Turn this queercore playlist up and get your placard — we’re resisting it. Featuring punks Sisters of Hysteria, Grandmas House, Skunk Anansie, and Rico Nasty.
Marmozets' Becca Bottomley is Embracing Life
Hooray! Marmozets are back and better than ever with their new album, CO.WAR.DICE. girlblog! Music Editor Bailey Ewers-Smith had the chance to catch up with lead singer Becca Bottomley about the band’s seven-year break.
Marmozet's CO.WAR.DICE is Their Best Album Yet
Music Editor Bailey Ewers-Smith reviews the latest album by Marmozets, CO.WAR.DICE, their first after an seven-year hiatus.
Disney Channel Graduates: A Music Playlist
girlblog! Music Editor Bailey Ewers-Smith shares his favourite songs from the Disney Channel graduates of the past couple decades. Featuring Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, Hayley Kiyoko, Sabrina Carpenter, and Dove Cameron.
Sisters of Hysteria Are Unapologetically Queer
Rachel Gambling, girlblog! editor-in-chief, introduces new London riot grrrls Sisters of Hysteria — an unapologetically sapphic band with outspoken queer feminist lyrics.
Nervous Disposition: A Music Playlist
girlblog! presents: a rock music playlist for IBS sufferers. Take an Immodium and get your headphones on — it’s poopin’ time. Featuring hemlocke springs, Olivia Rodrigo, Baby Dave, Weezer, Rico Nasty, and The Slits.
What Really Happened Between Britney Spears & Fred Durst?
Writer Tenai Palomino covers one of pop culture’s most dubious unsolved mysteries: the he-said she-said between Britney Spears and Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst. The feud was explosive, but what really happened?
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A DIY Punk Halloween Delight: Inside Bridget's For the Hell of It Ball
Celebrating the release of Bridget's EP For the Hell of It, girlblog! Editor-in-Chief Rachel Gambling spoke with the DIY punk artist at her Halloween-themed Autumn Ball about heaven, hell, and listening to the devil on your shoulder.
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Halloween 3: A Consumerist Critique that Became the Franchise’s Future
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Angèle: The True Rollercoaster Story of a Belgian Megastar
Belgian pop star Angèle has headlined Wembley, featured on a Dua Lipa track, and written the feminist anthem 'Balance ton quoi.' So why don't we know more about her in the UK? Music Editor Bailey Ewers-Smith details her rollercoaster career.
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GERD’s the Word: Meet the Swedish Singer You Wish You Knew Sooner
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Bridget on Her New EP 'For the Hell of It' and Life as a Grassroots Musician
Colchester grunge-punk musician Bridget has been in the scene since 2022, and has already supported alternative legends The Smashing Pumpkins and Skunk Anansie. In the run-up to the release of For the Hell of It, girlblog! Editor-in-Chief Rachel Gambling spoke with Bridget about her songwriting, career highs, and life as a grassroots artist.
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The Black Girl's Guide to Class Consciousness
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Punk from the Past: The B-52s
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Lily Hopkins of The Meffs Chats Burn It Down and Touring With Joan Jett
Hailing officially from Colchester, The Meffs have made themselves one of the most talked about bands in the UK's punk scene. In the run-up to the release of their second album, Business, and their show at Burn It Down, girlblog! Music Editor Bailey had a chat with their lead vocalist Lily Hopkins.
