Gertrude

Gertrude are a feminist post-punk band based in London. They started in 1996. They began as a reaction to Brit-pop blandness and a perceived lack of female role-models in the London punk scene. Gertrude are a DIY band and have organised their own tours in Europe, Canada and the US. They have played at Ladyfests in a number of different countries including the UK. They are influenced by the DIY punk- ethos, riot-grrrl and jazzy and inventive strands of post-punk.

Bands which have influenced Gertrude include; The Cardiacs, The Slits, XTC, Soeza, Huggy Bear, Deerhoof, Fugazi, Talking Heads, The Buzzcocks, Magazine, Le Tigre, The Gossip and ACDC. They support many grass-roots political movements and have played for a number of years in London's vibrant, underground, artistic, music and cultural scene. Gertrude incorporate electric cello, melodica and clarinet in their live shows and collectively write songs. The Gertrude live experience is energetic, rhythmic and always entertaining. Releases are as follows Dirty Windows ( 4 track EP, 1998) Pop Psychology (3 track EP,1999) She Bang She Boom,(4 track EP) Up the Wrong Tree (Album 12 tracks, 2003) Fetch the Parrot Blanket (9tracks album, 2006) Speak, Shape, Create Time (Album 9 tracks to be released March, 2009) Currently Gertrude are working on a new album with Felix from Tiger Sonic Studio in North London. This will be released in the summer of 2012.