The 80s pop pioneers, including former River City star Libby McArthur, will be performing at Mono in Glasgow on October 18 to celebrate the release of the documentary Since Yesterday: The Untold Story of Scotland’s Girl Bands.
This documentary shines a light on the female pop stars and post-punk musicians who broke barriers in a male-dominated industry, recognizing their place in music history while highlighting the challenges women still face in the music world.
Written and narrated by singer-songwriter Carla J Easton (known for her solo work and as a member of TeenCanteen), and co-directed by music promo director Blair Young (who has worked with Belle and Sebastian, Biffy Clyro, Teenage Fanclub, and more), Since Yesterday delves into the rich history of Scottish girl bands from the 1960s onwards.
The film features personal stories from various bands, including Jeanette Gallacher of The McKinleys (the first Scottish girl band to break into the charts in 1964 and the first girl band to play Wembley Arena), The Ettes, Strawberry Switchblade, The Hedrons, Sophisticated Boom Boom, Sunset Gun, His Latest Flame, The Twinsets, Lung Leg, and Hello Skinny. It also includes rare demos, lost archives, and unique performances celebrating the women who never compromised, though their contributions were often overlooked.
After its world premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival on August 21 (which sold out in less than 30 minutes), Since Yesterday will begin its general cinema release with a special screening at Glasgow Film Theatre on October 18.
Ticket holders for the screening will also have access to a live after-screening gig at Mono, where Sophisticated Boom Boom (featuring Libby McArthur, Tricia Reid, Irene Brown, Jacqueline Bradley, and Laura Mazzolini) will reunite for a one-night-only performance. The lineup will also include Louise Rutkowski (from Sunset Gun and This Mortal Coil), Jeanette Gallagher (from The McKinleys), and the Scottish female and non-binary songwriting collective Hen Hoose, performing songs featured in the film.
Carla Easton expressed her excitement about bringing the documentary to life, saying, “Since I first proposed the idea of a documentary about the history of Scottish women forming bands in 2016, we’ve been thrilled to share the incredible music we knew, and even more so, the music we discovered along the way. But above all, it’s about giving these women a platform to share their stories, something they never really had the chance to do before.”
Blair Young added, “I’m thrilled for audiences to hear this music and meet these remarkable women, both in the film and through the live events connected to the screenings. I hope it helps pave the way for future bands.”
Tickets for the special screening and live gig at GFT and Mono on October 18 go on sale at 12:10 PM on August 16 via the GFT website and box office.
