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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Letters

Sheffield indie band scene isn’t all blokes

Jon McClure of the Sheffield band Reverend and the Makers.
Jon McClure of Sheffield-based Reverend and the Makers, one of the bands mentioned in the article on South Yorkshire’s music scene. Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Guardian

I am extremely disappointed by your article about how South Yorkshire became the British indie heartland (‘You see grown men hugging and in tears’, G2, 2 February). Surely it wouldn’t have been too hard to make the article a little more gender-equal? There are so many women in music in Sheffield and in South Yorkshire – artists, managers, promoters, label managers, venue owners, festival organisers and more. How could they all be missed out?

It feels like this article has already been written a hundred times, always focusing on the same bands. Don’t get me wrong – all the artists mentioned in the article are great and have all worked very hard to get to where they are, and I don’t want to take away any of the appreciation for their music or recognition of their talent and hard graft. But the article only tells half the story – what about all the women? Don’t they too deserve to be seen, heard, recognised and appreciated?

Please do better in the future when publishing articles on topics that could be seen to be new, fresh and interesting – instead of just doing the usual “run of the mill” thing.
Sofia Genders
Sheffield

• Your article overlooks a much more diverse DIY indie and punk scene happening here in South Yorkshire and, more importantly, fails to mention a single female involved in the area’s music scene, past or present.

I’d like to invite you to attend one of our shows to see what real Sheffield bands look and sound like – come and see the Sleazoids. We’re a blistering garage punk rock three-piece, fronted by me. Check us out – you might be pleasantly surprised what Sheffield is still producing.
Missy Tassles
Sheffield

• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com

• Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters

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