Girls With Guts NI Presented a Strong Female-Led Lineup for International Women’s Day
Girls With Guts NI returned to celebrate International Women’s Day with a stacked lineup of local talent, bringing together three acts who each showcased a different side of the scene. With Alice Sloan opening the night, followed by Aqua Tofana and headline act Banshee, the show highlighted just how strong and varied female-led music in Belfast is right now. From haunting vocals to high-energy rock moments, it was a night that felt both celebratory and genuinely exciting for the local scene.
ALICE SLOAN
Setting off the night was Alice Sloan, playing her first ever live show with a full band. Most impressively, she debuted a brand new song she had only written the day before - yet it already sounded like a fully finished track. “So it’s still fresh,” she noted, a clear example of just how much promise Alice has as a young artist.
Unsurprisingly, she also played her debut single Return The Ghost, which we covered in last week’s Track Spotlight. The crowd was fully engaged, and Alice’s haunting vocals really stood out on this one. After first discovering her through the promotion of the single, it was great to finally hear it live.
Her stage presence is simple and haunting yet quietly mesmerising. Delivering such a confident opening performance while playing live with a band for the first time really highlights how impressive the fresh talent coming out of Belfast is right now. Alice is definitely on our radar and we’re looking forward to hearing what comes next.
AQUA TOFANA
Next up were Aqua Tofana, bringing a noticeable lift in energy as the room continued to fill up. One of the standout moments for us was their song SOB, alongside some seriously impressive backing vocals from the drummer throughout the set.
Their track Unconditionally really set the tone with the crowd and had us easily singing along. It’s always a good sign when a support act leaves you wanting to go home and listen to more of their music - something Aqua Tofana definitely achieved.
Luckily for us, their brand new track Kiss Me dropped at midnight, meaning we got to hear it live the night before its release which is always a nice moment to witness as a crowd.
BANSHEE
By the time Banshee stepped on stage, the crowd were fully warmed up and ready for the headline act. They were magnetic from the moment they appeared, with the lead singer immediately commanding the room.
We’ve said it before, but there are few things we enjoy more than a female fronted band and Banshee make it even more exciting by bringing that presence into a heavier rock sound. It was also great to see such a wide mix of people in the crowd, from different ages and genders, all brought together through the music.
Throughout the set it became clear that each member of the band is an impressive musician in their own right, but together they have a chemistry that just works. The heavy instrumentals from the band perfectly complement the lead vocals, creating a sound that feels powerful without losing its atmosphere.
We were especially excited to hear our favourite track from the band, Drowning In Denim, which absolutely lived up to expectations.
The night ended on a high with what felt like a genuinely authentic encore. As the crowd shouted for one more song, it wasn’t entirely clear whether the band would return or not, but much to everyone’s delight, they did, closing out the night with one final tune.
Girls With Guts NI curated the perfect lineup to celebrate International Women’s Day, showcasing just how much talent women bring to the music scene. With one female soloist and two female-fronted bands on the bill, it was a great reminder of how powerful and important those voices are within live music.
Major kudos to the organisers for putting together such a strong night and raising money for Women’s Aid - a hugely important cause that impacts many women across Ireland.