Born out of frustration in Portland, USA, in 2001, the GIRLS ROCK! ALLIANCE has become something of a DIY legend. Fed up with experiencing inequality in the music industry, local female musicians sought to establish a grassroots program to facilitate the empowerment of the next generation of female and gender non-conforming musicians. From this seed grew a global movement. 

The formula is simple: over the course of week-long nonresidential camp, each participant learns an instrument of their choice, is assigned a band, collaborates, writes a song and performs it in front of family and friends at a rock n roll showcase that baulks at conventions and challenges normalised ideas about what it is to be young and female.  In addition, they are taught self-defense, how to plug in their own instruments, how to let loose in screaming workshops and are mentored by some of the industry’s punk-assed best.

Melbourne’s first GIRLS ROCK! Camp has all the right ingredients for a week of creativity, empowerment and general sticking it to the man-ness.  Surrounding the girls and providing invaluable mentorship are musicians COURTNEY BARNETT and CAMP COPE, local punk legends CABLE TIES, Australian-Sikh Slam Poet SUKJHIT KHALSA, Indigenous rapper and street poet LADY LASH, traditional Japanese guitarist NORIKO and a host of dedicated volunteers.

Our three primary characters are strong and bold and give great insight into what it’s like to be a young person today. 13-year-old vocalist and front-woman LUCY, is the misfit of her family, a feminist and poet who has battled bullying and whose immense anxiety prevents her raw songwriting talent to shine. Given the chance to express herself, she must draw on inspiration and self-determination to face her fears and stand on stage to reveal her inner-most self. 16-year old rapper “ZEIRO” identifies as gender fluid and has been saved from their battle with depression through music. Faced with the rare prospect of acceptance and given the power to pen their own song, they must overcome self-doubt to prove their story really matters. And 17-year-old multi-instrumentalist, PHOEBE, an aspiring muso, is dealing with the recent death of her father and the cruel taunts of her school mates. Experiencing the embrace of a unique community and with the opportunity to form her own band, Phoebe is given the chance to step up as a role model for others to admire and revere.

Over the course of the week, and the months after camp, we follow LUCY, ZEIRO, PHOEBE and their band-mates and coaches, as they struggle to find their sense of belonging and identity through music.  As the camp progresses - and in its aftermath - the importance of this rare community becomes increasingly apparent. For female and gender diverse youth trying to find their voice, there clearly is NO TIME FOR QUIET.