Girls across Glasgow are getting ready to rock the mic, as they record and release their own music through local initiative Girls Rock Glasgow.
Since 2014 the Community Interest Company has supported would-be rock stars aged 8-17 through instrument tuition, band formation, song writing, and workshops on stagecraft. Girls Rock Glasgow offers individuals from low-income communities, and those who have faced other challenges, an opportunity to build self-confidence and learn music in an enjoyable, artistic environment where self-expression is actively encouraged.
The classes take place during their nine-day Summer Rock School where up to 50 pupils are supported by a team of musicians, volunteers and mentors. It all comes to a head with a graduation show, where the budding young rockers debut their original music and unleash their inner rock stars on the stage in front of a live audience.
Previous students at the rock school have spoken of the impact it has had on them, saying it helped them to learn new things and was a great opportunity to make new friends. Others said the programme was the highlight of their summer and was a safe space where they could be themselves and ‘rock out’.
Parents also see an incredible impact on their kids after attending GRG, highlighting an increase in self-esteem, improved confidence, and better handling of mental health challenges. With their children describing being able to be ‘authentic’, parents have even hailed the programme as 'life changing.’
Earlier this year Girls Rock Glasgow moved into its own studio space is expanding its repertoire by launching a participant-led record label.
The new setup will allow young musicians to record and release their own tracks, host launch gigs and even tour a community album across the country. In the true spirit of rock and roll, the project hopes to amplify underrepresented voices and open up accessible pathways into the music industry.
Still in development, with a hopeful launch date toward the end of 2026, the studio’s progress has received a welcome boost in the form of a £530 donation from the Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust, which will cover the cost of some microphones and an external hard drive – equipment crucial for getting the studio running.
Beth Black, Director of Girls Rock Glasgow said:
“We're so grateful for this money from Allied Vehicles and we're excited to be able to start setting up our studio to allow our bands to record the amazing tracks that they're writing. Look out, music industry: the Girls Rock Glasgow rockstars are coming!”
David Facenna, Corporate Culture Director at Allied Vehicles Group, said:
“Girls Rock Glasgow is doing brilliant work making the music industry accessible to young people who might otherwise be excluded. We’re proud to support their new studio and can’t wait to add their first community album to the office playlist.”
With the studio development underway, the young starlets of Girls Rock Glasgow are ready to turn their creativity – and their futures – up to 11!
