{"id":204103,"date":"2026-07-12T08:51:39","date_gmt":"2026-07-12T08:51:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tahrir2day.com\/news\/2026\/07\/12\/women-only-gig-group-grows-to-700-members\/"},"modified":"2026-07-12T08:51:39","modified_gmt":"2026-07-12T08:51:39","slug":"women-only-gig-group-grows-to-700-members","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tahrir2day.com\/news\/2026\/07\/12\/women-only-gig-group-grows-to-700-members\/","title":{"rendered":"Women-only gig group grows to 700 members"},"content":{"rendered":"
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An all-women group set up so people would not have to go to music events alone has grown to more than 700 members, with one saying it “changed my life”.<\/b><\/p>\n

The Girly Gig Army was started by Lucy Havard in Eastbourne in East Sussex and had grown to cover Brighton and Hastings.<\/p>\n

Helen Foster, who joined after losing her husband to cancer, said: “It was two years of hell.<\/p>\n

“This has really helped me become me again. It is the best thing ever. It has literally changed my life.”<\/p>\n

The Girly Gig Army, which started as a WhatsApp group between colleagues and organisers, said it allowed women to build confidence, enjoy live music and make friends.<\/p>\n

Harvard said: “No woman should have to miss out on live music because she doesn’t have someone to go with.”<\/p>\n

Alongside evenings at live music venues, members also meet during the day, giving newcomers the chance to get to know people before attending larger events together.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Havard said: “To start with I was sceptical that people would actually come out. But they did.<\/p>\n

“A lot of people were very nervous to start with. They didn’t know anyone, but they did it anyway.<\/p>\n

“What has been absolutely remarkable is that every single event we have had, people have got together and it’s like they’ve been friends for years.”<\/p>\n

Member Karen Bird said simple touches helped break the ice.<\/p>\n

“No one wants to go out on their own. No one wants to walk into a bar and not know anybody. You feel a bit awkward,” she said.<\/p>\n

“That’s why we have the t-shirts and the badges so people know somebody and they can just come up and say, ‘Hi, I’m Jane’, ‘I’m Karen’ or ‘I’m Lucy’.<\/p>\n

“Everyone is welcome. It’s like a community.”<\/p>\n

Follow BBC Sussex on <\/i>Facebook<\/i>, external<\/span>, <\/i>X<\/i>, external<\/span>, and on <\/i>Instagram<\/i>, external<\/span> and listen to BBC Radio Sussex <\/i>on Sounds<\/i>. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n