The Menstrual Cramps

Bristol-based punk band The Menstrual Cramps are proud to reveal their new single ‘Abortion’, released on 24th January 2024 on new label home Alcopop! Records.

The band recently announced a clutch of headline dates for March 2024, and have revealed further additional live dates alongside appearances at Manchester Punk Festival 2024, Outer Town Festival 2024, and 2000 Trees Festival 2024, with further live dates and festival appearances TBA (see below for full listings).

Commenting on the new track, vocalist Emilia Elfrida says: “I wrote the song ‘Abortion’ when debates started happening in the run up to the Roe v Wade overturn in America—Roe v Wade had guaranteed a constitutional right to abortion, that was subsequently overturned in 2022, denying millions of people the right to have an abortion in America. Although in England abortion is legal, you still need to get two doctors’ permission and specific grounds need to be met. You cannot legally have an abortion in England just because you want one."

"This song is a response to these archaic rules, and for me to break the taboos around having abortions, to open up discussions about my experiences having had two abortions, and to fight for everyone to have the right to have abortions. As the song says ‘I’ve had an abortion, no I’ve had two, if you don’t like it, then f*ck you.'”

The new single follows on from 2023’s storming return ‘Body Politics’, which saw the band pick up support from Punk News, The Punk Site, Loud Women, Get In Her Ears, idobi Radio, and The Bad Copy, with key radio spins from Amy Lamé at BBC 6music and John Kennedy at Radio X, and the track landing on Spotify’s All New Punk playlist.

Formed in a broken bedroom in Bristol on the verge of homelessness, and rife with anger, The Menstrual Cramps were born with politics on the brain and surrounded by injustice. Jumping ship to a dive in London to record their 2017 debut album We’re Not Ovaryacting on distorted acoustic guitars, they called on the world to ‘Save the Badgers’ and ‘Cull the Tories’.

Their debut music video for ‘My Bush Ain’t Ur Business’ was subsequently removed from YouTube after some trolls who didn’t want people to reclaim their own breasts or bodies reared their ugly heads, and they won the 2017 LOUD WOMEN Hercury Prize alternative to the Mercury Prize.

By the summer of 2019 they were back with a new album, Free Bleedin’, which featured revolution-demanding song ‘The Smash’, the powerful ‘No Means No’ highlighting problematic rape culture, ‘Idols’ which approaches the art world’s problem with abusers, and 'I Like That Top'—a catchy and comedic take on hipsters and gentrification taking over Bristol, which was also featured in the BIFA Award-winning film Sweetheart (2021). The record was named in Louder Than War’s Albums of The Year 2018 and also the LOUD WOMEN People’s Vote Readers’ Choice Award 2018.

The Menstrual Cramps closed out 2023 on a high with a run of dates supporting fast-rising Isle of Wight punk trio Grade 2 (Hellcat Records) alongside appearances at Femrock 10th Anniversary, Nice As Pie Festival 2023, Rock Against Violence 2023, and more.

Now, staring down the barrel of a crucial 2024 for the band, The Menstrual Cramps are back to reveal more new material, and they still aren’t here to take your sh*t.

Further new music and live dates TBA over the coming months.