Thanks to the reunion of a certain band from Manchester, 2025 has seen the transition from Brat Summer to Britpop Summer. The season may soon be drawing to a close, but the music’s 30-year-strong staying power doesn’t have to. Despite popular belief, it’s never been just a boys’ club; here, we spotlight five female icons of ’90s British music who will keep those nostalgic vibes ablaze.
Echobelly
Echobelly were often assigned the dubious Britpop label, but their influences span further than their peers into grunge, glam rock, and jangle pop. After breaking onto the scene in the mid-1990s, they first took a hiatus in 1998, but have since reunited several times for various re-releases, acoustic shows, and new albums. Catch lead singer Sonya Madan and guitarist Glenn Johansson on their 30th anniversary UK tour starting this October.
Listen to: ‘King of the Kerb’
For fans of: The Smiths, Ash, Suede
Daisy Chainsaw
Infamous frontwoman Katie Jane Garside’s wailing vocals and raucous live shows earned her the title of “the scariest woman in alternative music”. While relatively short-lived, Daisy Chainsaw made serious riot grrrl-fuelled waves in the early 1990s. After experiencing personal health battles, Garside later achieved moderate success with Queen Adreena in the 2000s, before taking a hiatus from music to live a quiet life with her children. The second album of her solo project Liar, Flower is set to be released this September.
Listen to: ‘Love Your Money’
For fans of: L7, Bikini Kill, Veruca Salt
Shampoo
Like Billie Piper turned punk, East London duo Shampoo took bubblegum pop and pumped it full of bratty attitude. Despite one-hit-wonder allegations thanks to their chart hit ‘Trouble’, Jacqui Blake and Carrie Askew had three albums under their belt by the end of the decade, all while barely being out of their teens. Their last release was a mega 46-track eponymous compilation in 2024. No reunion gigs have been announced as of yet, but watch this space. Get to know Shampoo in more detail.
Listen to: ‘Girl Power’
For fans of: X-Ray Spex, Amyl and the Sniffers, Lambrini Girls
Lush
Another band reductively tarred with the Britpop brush, Lush straddled the line between shoegaze and post-punk. Led by Miki Berenyi, the quartet stood out from their peers with bold, impactful lyrics exploring themes of misogyny and patriarchal oppression. They disbanded in 1996 after the tragic suicide of drummer Chris Acland. Berenyi has since returned to music, releasing the album Tripla earlier this year with her current band, The Miki Berenyi Trio.
Listen to: For Love
For fans of: Mazzy Star, Cocteau Twins, The Cranberries
Dubstar
Falling just shy of mainstream success, perhaps due to their complex alignment between dance pop and indie rock, Dubstar never quite fit into any industry-defined boxes. However, they attracted critical acclaim thanks to their high-quality production and frontwoman Sarah Blackwood’s uniquely articulate vocal style. Their repertoire comprises of five albums, with the most recent being released in 2022.
Listen to: Not So Manic Now
For fans of: Everything But The Girl, Portishead, St Etienne
