Punk band of women aged 50 and over marks three-year milestone

The HorMones, a nine-member punk group from Oxford whose members are aged 52 to 79 and had not previously played instruments, is marking three years since forming in March 2023 and has performed locally, written original songs and raised funds for community projects.

The HorMones, a nine-member punk band from Oxford, is marking three years since it formed in March 2023. The group's members are aged between 52 and 79 and none had previously played their instruments when they began. They came together after bassist Deb posted on Facebook seeking players for an over-50s women's punk band. The group embraced a DIY punk spirit and moved quickly from a two-song repertoire to live performances at local events. What we know: - The band formed after a Facebook post by Deb and now includes nine women aged 52 to 79. - None of the members had played their instruments before they started rehearsing together. - Their first gig was on the Variety Stage at Flofest three months after forming, where they played two songs to an enthusiastic audience. - Since then they have performed at festivals and venues across Oxfordshire, written original songs, and crowdfunded a recording session to professionally capture two tracks. - They regularly organise "punk party" fundraising gigs and have raised hundreds of pounds for the Young Women's Music Project and Florence Park Community Centre; the next fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday, March 7, at the community centre and will feature Death of the Maiden and a DJ set from DJ Tarantina. - The band's setlist mixes classic punk and riot-grrrl covers with original material, and the oldest member, Viv, aged 79, plays the washboard and described the experience as "fabulous." Summary: The HorMones have grown from a local social post into an active performing group that records original songs and supports community causes through fundraising events. They continue to play festivals and local venues, and their next organised fundraiser is set for March 7 at Florence Park Community Centre.