Countdown to MPF: The Menstrual Cramps Interview

We are delighted to welcome back Bristolian favourites The Menstrual Cramps. Always an energetic raw performance, they memorably headlined the International Women’s Day show at Signature Brew last year. We spoke to the internationally famous scrote Emilia from the band and this is what they had to say:

How would you introduce yourselves to a punk fan who’s not heard of you yet? 

Where have you been, living under a rock? Hahah 😂 Na but for real we are an independent queer punk band from Bristol, we’ve been shouting for 7 years about hating the Tories, having abortions, trans rights, and kicking abusers out the scene. FFO: Petrol Girls, Amyl and The Sniffers, Lambrini Girls, Bob Vylan. 

Which of your songs/releases are you most proud of, and why?  

All of them for different reasons! The first two albums were proper DIY, everything just written and recorded at home, having no clue what even being in a band meant, released them ourselves and then non-stopped gigged for 5 years (minus covid)! Towards the end of 2023 we signed with Alcopop! Records and released our first single in 5 years, Body Politics, which showed our progression as a band and musicians, which I’m super proud of. And our latest single Abortion, which was a big deal for me to personally write and record, telling the world very publicly about my experiences having two abortions, which has opened up so many important and needed discussions, which I’m super proud and appreciative of. 

Tell us a secret about your band. 

We got our first drummer off Gumtree, and our second drummer off Tinder! 

What was the first gig you ever went to? 

It was supposed to be My Chemical Romance, their Welcome to the Black Parade tour, but I was so young and scared to go having zero experience in mosh pits, so I went to see the band Jet in Cardiff two weeks before as a warm up haha! 

Who would be in your supergroup?  

As long as Taylor Momsen is in the band with me, I don’t care. 

If you were a biscuit/cookie, what would you be and why? 

Pink wafer, cus they’re always accidentally vegan and I feel they are the gay icon of the biscuit world. 

Oasis or Blur? 

Absolutely neither. 

Too much ska or too little ska? 

Too much ska. 

Dogs or Cats? 

Tortoises. 

Who’s your favourite superhero? 

The Doctor from Doctor Who.

Help us settle the age-old bread debate. What do you call a roll / cob / bap / barm / batch / muffin / other (specify)? 

It’s a fucking bread roll. 

Finally, which bands are you most excited to see at MPF2024? 

Tripsun, Shooting Daggers, Pink Suits, Ikhras.

Buy your MPF2024 tickets here.