Shonen Knife

Shonen Knife play Brudenell Social Club on Wednesday 2 June 2027, with guests on the bill. They're an all-female trio from Osaka, Japan, formed in 1981 by sisters Naoko and Atsuko, long before terms like 'riot grrrl' and 'girl rock' were part of the conversation. They cut their teeth on imported Ramones covers and settled into an infectious brand of feelgood pop-punk that's been credited as a huge influence on alt-rock acts from Sonic Youth to Nirvana.

Over the last forty years they've kept up their enthusiasm for live performance, drawing on a back catalogue that ranges from solid thrash rock to hit-parade melodies, with songs as idiosyncratic as 'Tortoise Brand Pot Cleaner'. In 1989 the cream of the alt-rock scene, including Sonic Youth, L7 and Redd Kross, covered their songs on the tribute album Every Band Has A Shonen Knife Who Loves Them. They toured with Nirvana on the Nevermind tour and with The Breeders, played Lollapalooza, recorded sessions for John Peel and appeared on MTV's Beavis and Butthead. Kurt Cobain wrote: 'When I finally got to see them live, I was transformed into a hysterical nine-year-old girl at a Beatles concert.'

It's a long run for a band that started out playing Ramones covers in Osaka, and they're still out on the road. The Brudenell show is a standing gig, with doors opening at 19:30 and tickets at £18 in advance.