The Menstrual Cramps

“One of the most fun and filthy freedom-fighting feminist punk bands in the UK” - Louder Than War [9/10]
“Politically charged and absolutely in your face…a true embodiment of the spirit of punk” - Uber Rock
“Stun in an instant with their distinctive, naturally authentic ’77 punk sound” - The Moshville Times
“The perfect soundtrack for any feminist activist to rage and recover to” - Get In Her Ears
“Nazi-kicking, guitar-swinging, feminist-singing riot grrrls” - Underground England
“This country needs bands like Menstrual Cramps” - Bristol 24/7
“Supremely listenable and politically-engaged” - Loud Women
“Outspoken and hilarious” - When The Horn Blows

Bristol-based punk band The Menstrual Cramps are pleased to announce their new single ‘Class War’ released on 13th March 2024 and accompanied by a craft beer of the same name.

In celebration of the new single TMC have partnered up with Manchester-based, DIY, vegan friendly, nano-brewery Courier Brewing Company for the release of their own beer. The beer is a session pale ale, bright and piney with hints of orange peel, an assertive bitterness, and a dry refreshing finish. And of course, it’s vegan!

Watch the band brewing the beer on Instagram here.

The beer is being sold directly to suppliers/venues, who can purchase it through sellar.io and is also raising money for charity, with 50p per pint for every keg sold being donated to akt. akt helps LGBTQ+ young people find safety and security, by providing pathways into safe housing, access to social support and assisting with routes into training and employment. For more info on akt please see their website here.

Commenting on the new track, vocalist Emilia Elfrida says: “Class War is about the importance of joining a union and holding your workplace and peers to account. Workers rights are being taken away from us at an alarming rate, and the best way to combat this is with collective bargaining and activism. It also comments on unions largely being controlled by old white men, and the push needed to move away from this. Women's rights are workers rights. Always support strikers, and never cross a picket line!”

The band are also pleased to announce they will be appearing at The Great Escape, TRUCK and Bearded Theory Festival this year.

On sale now are UK headline dates for 2024, 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).

The new single follows on from 2023’s storming return ‘Body Politics’ and 2024 follow up ‘Abortion’, 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.

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

More info:

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.