The real-life Riot Women changing perceptions of punk rock

When you think of a typical punk band, the NaNaz may not be what springs to mind.

The group of six women formed last year at a Nana Punk workshop in Newport, aimed at getting women over 50 in south Wales into making punk music.

Off the back of a recent trip to New York City for their first ever international gig, they hope to inspire young people in their audiences to start their own groups.

So what is the story behind this punk phenomenon?

After a year of practising and gigging, The NaNaz have fast become one of the biggest upcoming bands in the British punk scene.

They released their debut single 60 Lies in August 2025, dedicating it to the Women Against State Pension Inequality campaign group.

Since then, they've performed at a variety of venues, including Bristol, Swansea, Cardiff, Newport, Aberdare and Chippenham.

The group - made up of Anne-Marie Bollen, Deb de Lloyd, Claire Symons, Ange Pearce, Marega Palser and Jade Ball - released their debut EP, Nanafesto, in April.

The group have been widely described as the real-life Riot Women, referring to the hit BBC drama written by Happy Valley creator Sally Wainwright, which aired in October and has been confirmed for a second series.

The Yorkshire-based show followed five menopausal women who formed a punk rock band to take part in a local talent contest and suddenly found they had a lot more to shout about than they ever imagined.

Anne-Marie Bollen, the lead singer, said the process has invigorated her.

"We realise we don't have many years ahead of us, so we thought we should go for it now," she said.

"I certainly don't want to be sat in a care home singing war songs."

Claire Symons had never played guitar before joining the workshops.

She said: "I just went along to the workshop because my husband saw the flyer.

"When we decided to start the band, they said we need someone on second guitar. So I thought I'd better learn then.

"I've written a song now. It's a very big surprise."

Jade Ball, who plays drums and is the youngest and newest member of the band, said: "We've just gelled really quickly.

"I've almost become the adopted granddaughter in a way, you know?"

From small annoyances such as loud people on the bus, to bigger issues such as social care, the NaNaz say their music is like therapy, an outlet to release anger and frustration.

They have also spoken about how it has helped them cope with going through menopause, coming to terms with changes to their body and their identity.

Bollen plays in the band while working in the NHS as a nurse, and said this, combined with the care home where her mother lives, was the inspiration for her song Carehome Robbery.

"I spent years working in services to do with mental health and in the community.

"My mum went into a nursing home after my dad died and I usually see her three times a week.

"It's socially very draining. You're going through prolonged grief periods.

"The song is in support of all the older people that are really wronged by having huge sums of money taken off them so they can be provided with care when they are at the most vulnerable stage of their lives."

As the band stepped further into the public eye, Bollen noticed they were starting to interact more with younger audiences.

She said one of the band's favourite parts of their journey has been giving advice to young people who come out to see them.

Bollen said: "The great thing we get when we play live is looking out into our audience and seeing all ages.

"When we were busking outside The Cabin in Newport, four young girls were talking to us.

"They had been to three of our gigs already and they are absolutely delightful.

"They were saying to us 'we think we are going to start a band now, what you're doing is so cool and so great', so we said to them they should just go for it."

On 16 May, after crowdfunding to help pay for flights and accommodation, the group performed their first international gig at Loud Women Festival at Main Drag, a second-hand musical instrument shop in Williamsburg, New York City.

Their set featured eight original songs and Bollen described the experience as "an absolute dream come true".

Reflecting on the experience while recovering from jetlag back in Wales, she added the group had been met by "a large audience of all ages" .

"We played underground in the cool industrial space that sheltered us from the hot temperatures outside. The Manhattan skyline provided a breathtaking surreal backdrop," said Bollen.

"Alliances were formed ready for future transatlantic exchanges. Watch this space."

Loud Women started out as a space for female musicians in London, but has now expanded to Canada, Australia, the US and Japan.

Founder of Loud Women, Cassie Fox, said she was a big fan of the band.

"I've loved The NaNaz from the start and it was obvious straight away how much talent and spirit they had. They're incredibly inspiring," she said.

"I know what it's like being a woman in music beyond your 20s - menopause, dodgy hips, caring responsibilities - and still getting on stage.

"The NaNaz represent that brilliantly and people really connect with it."

The NaNaz will feature in the tenth series of the BBC's Our Lives series, set to air in July on BBC iPlayer and BBC One Wales.