Rack Off Festival Is Biting Back at the Punk Patriarchy

"Are those two chicks gonna make-out or what?" This was the first heckle I heard when I got off stage at BITCHRATCH's debut show in 2013. It certainly hasn't been the last.

I don't recall feeling particularly empowered by our first show either. I heard someone complain that their band was 'lower on the bill' than us. They were pissed off that they were below 'a girl band that used a backing track'. We even knew of some punk bands that were embarrassed to be on the same bill as us. But we relented, embraced our goddess Madonna, and played our music, fully aware of the space we occupied. It was a space that was not ours. We were a queer band trying to play to a bunch of despondent dudes.

Still, our growing popularity struck me, we had a major review by Everett True in The Guardian, donned as the new TISM. We were also featured in an Australian music journal Tempered. We were this strange group - relative to niche pop and cultural references and intense, crass lyricism. I mean, our hit song was titled "Male Eruption" - you get the gist.

It struck a chord with women, queer and non-binary people, the ones who loved scungy garage punk but also loved Lady Gaga. Those who didn't fit in with the rockdogs, but neither with the club kids — those who desperately wanted to forge their own identity and embrace their pop sensibilities without giving punk the boot.

So late last year, when YWCA Victoria's Events Coordinator Joanna Nilson approached us to play YWCA's annual 'Rack Off' festival at The Tote, I knew we'd finally found our crowd. The festival showcases women, queer, femme and gender non-binary people in the underground scene, reclaiming the throne from the rockdogs and punk alpha males alike.

With YWCA being one of the largest and oldest women's organisations in the world, the Victorian branch primarily provide public and affordable housing — which house 250 women across the state. With rapid expansions and acquiring of new properties, 'Rack Off' fundraises the much-needed funds for women affected by poverty, homeless and domestic violence.

I spoke to musicians and YWCA Victoria's Joanna Nilson (Ex Con, Stations of the Cross, Butcher Birds) and Harriet Stewart (Miss Destiny, School of Radiant Living) about the festival, how Sinead O'Connor's tears inspired a generation and the problematic attitudes in the underground punk scene.

Noisey: How would you describe Rack Off and its place for women in music? What does it mean to you?

Harriet: It's more than just a fundraiser because what it's doing on a grander scheme is bringing women in underground music to the forefront. I think it's important because women find a lot of strength and courage from playing with other women. Rack Off's not just for one genre either — we have electronic, pop, metal, dance, whatever it is women want to do. And whatever woman want to be is all celebrated there.

This is my first year helping and supporting Joanna but in the years I've played I've found it super empowering. It's really moving being in an environment where you feel safe and supported. It's fun and everyone puts on their best outfit.

Joanna: And gender-non-binary people are a big part of it too.

Harriet: By women, I mean all encompassing — trans women, femme and non-binary.

Joanna: What I like to do when I book shows is to do a big, mixed bill. I think a lot of time people stick to the same genres. I found particularly after last year when the Rack Off bill was very mixed I'm now watching people that wouldn't normally play together join each other's bills.

Last year, I did a big focus on some of the trans women that I knew and I really wanted to showcase them and make them feel welcome in the scene, as they should be.

It seems everyone is really excited. People are wanting to put on their best outfit and to go out and celebrate this. It's evident as it's been going on for three years — how has it evolved over time?

Joanna: We did it with LISTEN the first year, which is an organisation that I still love and support. It got easier to do as an event in-house at the Y.

The best part has been seeing the bands we've booked grow. People that do not book women and gender-non-binary people on a bill don't have an excuse. I can do two days of this, and I could probably do another two.

The first year wasn't that easy but now in the third year, there's just so many artists to choose from. It's bananas. If I had more of a budget (we are on a complete shoestring) I would book many more. We were talking about getting G.L.O.S.S (before they broke up) and Shannon and the Clams, but it's challenging organising international acts on a small budget.

OK. So, with this year's festival. Who are you most excited to see?!

Joanna: BITCHRATCH!

Oh jeez, other than my own band.

Joanna: I mean, I'm really looking forward to seeing Chloe Alison Escott from The Native Cats doing her solo stuff. I find it incredibly fascinating and interesting. I can't wait to see what she does as a solo artist. She has recently transitioned as well. It would be interested to see how that manifests itself in her songwriting.

Harriet: I really want to see Spike Fuck! I'm a big fan.

Joanna: We love Spike Fuck.

Harriet: Also, I want to see LA Suffocated— very good for a dance. And of course, my two little sisters play in a band called Reserve Game. I've never seen them play but I'm bloody excited to see my girls.

Joanna: Speaking of those Sydney bands, I'm glad to see those bunch of people being here a fair bit recently. It's really good to have Paradise Daily Records repped on the bill, it's definitely the most exciting label in Australia at the moment. It's run by three women — queer and women of colour. The roster of bands they have on that label is really, really awesome.

With labels like Paradise Daily, I feel like underground music in Australia is changing. I remember being overwhelmed by a lot of Brisbane punk bands, with their macho and aggressive performances. It seems like those new labels are promoting a more inclusive, fun environment. The 'no dickheads policy'.

Joanna: I mean, there is still a bit of a kickback from some of those guys recently. I hope it's not a trend that will go out of fashion. I highly doubt that. It would be remiss of me to say it's not trendy at the moment to do this kind of stuff.

Absolutely. As you're both musicians, what artists inspired you when you were younger?

Harriet: I saw Hole when I was fourteen and Courtney was savage. I thought at the time I was bad, but then I realised I could be badder. Definitely Joan Jett and Lita Ford in the 80s — getting metal magazines and seeing them on the cover and thinking, "wow! they're badass." Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn. Country and hard-rock were my thing.

Joanna: With Loretta Lynn and her song titles, "Your Squaw is on the Warpath," "The Pill," and "Rated X".

Harriet: Those are definitely the ones who lifted me up.

Joanna: What really kicked me in the guts was Bikini Kill's Reject All American. It was one of the first records I ever bought as a kid. I just remember there's a song called 'R.I.P.' on there, and it's about a friend of hers who died of AIDS and when all the music stops at the end, she says, "Don't tell me it don't matter/ don't tell me I've had three days to get over it / It just won't go away" — her voice cracks in that last part and she's on the verge of tears. I've never heard someone be so unpolished, emotional and messy.

Riot Girl had its problems with intersectionality. A lot of feminist movements did and there's problems with it now but as a 15 or 16-year-old girl, hearing that was one of the most amazing things I've ever heard.

And Courtney Love — of course. I love how that music reminds me of being a little girl, before you're told to act a certain way.

Harriet: It's almost like someone gives you an invitation to not have to be a 'pretty nobody', which is what you feel like you have to grow up to be. Honestly, I think Sinéad O'Connor has been a major backbone to all of that - while she's not as savage as someone like Courtney Love, but I think she underneath all of it is that image of Sinéad crying and being that unapologetic frontwoman who isn't ashamed to show a real emotion.

Totally! What else do we need to know about Rack Off?

Joanna: I've noticed throughout this year in particular, that our community has split into a lot of different sub-groups. What's positive is that this has happened as a result of some important conversations- I think it's essential, however, that we remember that as a united force, we can be very powerful. We both come from strong background of grassroots community action, so we've seen the potent effect that can have. But at the end of the day, I hope a lot of women and genderqueer people come and feel like it's a safe space. Have fun! We deserve it. We've all worked hard.

YWCA Victoria's annual Rack Off! music fundraiser is 4-5 March, at The Tote in Melbourne. Purchase your tickets here. The festival helps to raise funds for YWCA's housing initiatives.

Lead image: BITCHRATCH