Step Ladder Records takes over Withington Public Hall Institute with a queer-punk ethos

Leeds-based heavies DRAAGS headline as part of their UK Tour with unrelenting energy

SUPPORTS:

Milkmaiden delivers some cheeky cabaret-infused chaos and charisma from London,

Manchester local Lavender Rodriguez brings a genre twisting solo set bouncing from electronic dance, to alt-pop & punk

DRAAGS combine queer punk, hardcore, funk, hip-hop, prog and dance, with theatrical vocals, screaming horns and heavy groovy rhythms. Based in Leeds, their music is both an escape from and a direct sucker punch to capitalism and the oppressive state. Their lyrics focus on social justice, alienation and dystopia in society. They want people to move with frenzied ecstasy and share a radical message of love and connection with one another.

DRAAGS’ eponymous album is landing May 23rd 2025 and their UK tour is hitting up Middlesbrough, Manchester, Glasgow, Leeds, London and Bradford from May 25th-30th.

MilkMaiden is your new favourite low–budget gaffa-tape bimbo cuntry music star. She is inspired by a legacy of divine, ethereal women such as Kate Bush, Courtney Love, and Dolly Parton with a big, crude and rude attitude. You might have seen her grace the stages of Sexquisite Cabaret as a resident act, and various dives throughout Manchester to London and New York to New Orleans  MilkMaiden is for the working grrrls, the dykes, and the dog. None of the above? Stand in the back x

Death of All Men EP will be released on bandcamp May 8th for your purchasing pleasure.

Photo by this_is_pidge

Behold, government’s most feared - blue haired, pronoun-ed, queer menace, Lavender Rodriguez, a force in spinning plates of alt-pop, electronic dance and punk-ish anthemic tunes, bound to rally the masses and hypnotise you into dancing. 

Their stories celebrate the intersectionality of queerness and being mixed-race as they take the Manchester scene by storm with their genre-bending, head-bopping music. Inspirations for their sounds include Porij, Mysie, Master Peace, Caroline Polachek, Hemlocke Springs and Hayley Williams.

Additional Info:

Queer-run space

Ground floor & hall (gig space) is wheelchair accessible apart from the toilets - for any additional information please get in touch!

Inclusive ticketing: This is a judgement-free ticketing structure - we understand if you can't contribute as much as you'd like to. If you can't afford the baseline ticket, please let us know and we'll see what we can do. We'd rather have you there, enjoying the music with us!

Contact: stepladderrecords@gmail.com