Sunday 5 April - 2:44pm UK time

I'm writing this on a train between Manchester and Liverpool on a Sunday afternoon, day four of our UK tour. I am mildly hungover and don't have a train ticket, my only lifeline the burnt coffee I'm clutching in my hands to give me some sort of grounding. It keeps hitting the back of my throat with a raw, acidic burn which is helping to wake me up.

I'm savouring every single moment I can - I just can't believe we are here, we've made this tour happen, and that people wanna get involved with our little DIY punk band. It all feels very surreal.

We played the opening slot at Manchester Punk Festival and the 250 room reached capacity before we played a single note - mates told me there was a line out the door, one in/one out, and everyone excitedly buzzing waiting to get in. I actually have no idea how that happened; people kept coming up to me and telling me they had been hearing about us and had been so excited to catch our set, or alternatively that they were so bummed to have missed us.

Inside the venue, the energy had been fucking electric - everyone was so keen to dance and move and it felt like a huge celebration.

My favourite part was afterwards when we all were hanging around merch and so many people, particularly woman and queer punks, came up to chat with us and spoke about how our message and what we said in between songs had really resonated with them. For me, that's the whole fucking point and the reason why I wanted play in a punk band at all - that opportunity to create community and share in the group catharsis that is so special to punk.

My favourite people we met at the festival so far have been Leslie and Gill; two older punks who have been coming to shows and involved in the scene for decades. They told me that as "lesbians of a certain age" they were both really conscious of making sure everyone knew they were trans-inclusive, so they were both wearing 'trans ally' flag pins.

After Leslie gave me a cigarette and we spoke at length in the smoking area of the Union, I ducked off to have a little cry to myself over how lucky I felt to have the opportunity to meet people like Leslie and Gill. We're now friends on facebook (at Leslie's request) and they said if we are ever coming through Sheffield we have a place to stay. My fucking heart.

Thinking back to about Leslie and Gill has actually revived me, which thank god I needed!

The train is almost about to arrive at Liverpool - Lime St, and I'm gonna get off and go meet my friend Kimia, from Barcelona. In the best stroke of fate, her amazing band JJ & The A's (@jjantheas) are playing Guac 'n roll in Liverpool today, which is why I've made the journey.

I'm so excited to see her; I first met her a couple of years ago now through friends back home who knew her from playing in bands and DIY organising together. Whenever I'm in Barcelona I'll see her and it feels like we are old friends - it felt like that from the beginning because of that shared community and politics.

My friend Jim and his partner Esme are both gonna come with me to Kimia's show, which will be an iconic crossover and any time with the glorious Jim is time well spent.

I'll drag myself back to enjoy the final remnants of the festival after party tonight - then a day off tomorrow before we start tour proper. One of the opening bands today for Kimia's show is also playing with us next week in Worcester, so that will be so nice to meet them too. Punk rules!

OK - time to try and either jump the gap or act confused until someone lets me out of the train station (as is my divine feminine right).

Til next time,
Soph
xx

You can find video diaries and more details about current and future tours on R.U.B's insta, and look forward to the next journal here!