| The Wimmins' Institute | |
| Origin: | London, England |
| Genre: | Indie, riot grrrl |
| Years Active: | 2015–2016 |
| Associated Acts: | Keith Top of the Pops & His Minor UK Indie Celebrity All-Star Backing Band |
| Website: | http://wimmins.wordpress.com |
| Past Members: | Cassie Fox Jennifer Denitto Deb van der Geugten Melissa Reardon |
The Wimmins' Institute was a four-piece all-female indie rock band from London, England, formed in 2015.
The band was formed by Jennifer Denitto on drums/guitar, Cassie Fox on bass guitar, Melissa Reardon on trumpet/drums, and Deborah van der Geugten on guitar. All four members provided vocals.[1]
Fox and Reardon also played together in Socialist R&B band Thee Faction; Denitto and van der Geugten had both been members of riot grrrl band Linus.[2] Reardon and Denitto also play in Keith Top of the Pops & His Minor UK Indie Celebrity All-Star Backing Band.
The group played their first gig in 2015 and subsequently played with Grace Petrie, the Ethical Debating Society, Vice Squad, the Monochrome Set[3] and Bis.
Their debut album, Badass Lady Power Picnic, produced by Charley Stone, was self-released in October 2015. It was rated 4/5 by R2, who described it as "just wonderfully, tunefully, angrily unprofessional".[4] The Morning Star described it as a "brilliant debut".[5] Tracks from the album, including lead single "Mansplaining", have been played by Steve Lamacq on BBC Radio 6.[6] [7]
In 2016 the band released the new song "Nando's" as a single, with accompanying video.[8]
In 2017, the group split, with Fox continuing with new band Guttfull,[9] and Reardon continuing with Foxcunt.[10] Denitto and van der Geugten later joined Argonaut.[11] Denitto, Reardon and WI 'fifth member' Charley Stone also play in The Fallen Women.[12]