Music of Washington (state) - Riot Grrrl

Riot Grrrl

Riot grrrl is a form of punk rock which arose in Olympia, Washington in the 1990s and was led by bands like Bikini Kill, known for their militant feminism and raw, uncompromising sound. The genre never achieved mainstream success and soon died out, though stalwarts Sleater-Kinney did stick together and found themselves approaching mainstream audiences after the turn of the millennium.

A new wave of the Riot grrl movement began around 2010 beginning with female-led punk rock bands like NighTrain, The Gossip, the BlackTones and Thee Emergency which feature soulful vocals, as well as heavy drums, a driving, intense rhythm and blistering guitar. This revitalization of interest in the AfroPunk and girl group inspired soul music was received well outside American borders, leading to the departure of some of these groups to European countries.