Bikini Kill, '90s Riot Grrrl Icon, Announces Back-to-Back Miami Shows

Douglas Markowitz February 25, 2020 11:00AM

Bikini Kill is coming to Miami for two nights. Photo by Debi Del Grande

Bikini Kill is coming to Miami for two nights.

Photo by Debi Del Grande

Grrrls, prepare to riot: Bikini Kill is coming to Miami this fall for a pair of shows at the Ground.

The seminal band of the '90s feminist punk movement known as riot grrrl (the three r's are mandatory), the fearsome foursome of singer Kathleen Hanna, bassist Kathi Wilcox, drummer Tobi Vail, and guitarist Billy Karren led the charge against the ingrown sexism of punk and DIY culture, first in the bandmates' hometown of Olympia, Washington, and then around the world. Songs such as "Rebel Girl" and "I Like Fucking" displayed their militant, angry feminism for all to see, but backlash from the media and the co-oping of their radical message by the likes of the Spice Girls and others led the members to call it quits and move on to bands such as Le Tigre and the Julie Ruin.

Fortunately, Bikini Kill's message of female political power resonates today. The bandmates reunited last year for a series of sold-out shows in New York, Los Angeles, London, and a headline set at Chicago's Riot Fest (Billy Karren was replaced by Erica Dawn Lyle on guitar, while Hanna, Wilcox, and Vail remain).

Now, thanks to the folks at Sweat Records — a proudly female-owned record shop, by the way — Bikini Kill will play two back-to-back performances in Miami this September. The concerts are scheduled to happen the weekend of September 12. Tickets for both shows will be available via Eventbrite beginning at 11 a.m. EST this Friday. According to Bikini Kill's official tour itinerary, a fan presale will begin at 11 a.m. this Thursday.

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Check out this excellent poster by artist Brian Butler, and prepare for Revolution Girl Style — in a few months.

click to enlarge

Bikini Kill performing in Miami as interpreted by Brian Butler.

Artwork by Brian Butler

Here are Bikini Kill's recently announced fall 2020 tour dates:

September 12 - Miami, FL @ the Ground

September 13 - Miami, FL @ the Ground

September 15 - Orlando, FL @ the Plaza Live

September 16 - Ponte Vedra Beach, FL @ Ponte Vedra Concert Hall

September 18 - Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle

September 19 - Charlottesville, VA @ Jefferson Theater

September 20 - Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel

September 22 - Knoxville, TN @ the Mill & Mine

September 23 - Louisville, KY @ Headliners Music Hall

September 26 - Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse

September 27 - Birmingham, AL @ Iron City

October 21 - Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Bikini Kill. Saturday, September 12, and Sunday, September 13, at the Ground, 34 NE 11th St., Miami; 305-375-0001; thegroundmiami.com. Tickets will be available via eventbrite.com beginning Friday, February 28.

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Douglas Markowitz is a former music and arts editorial intern for Miami New Times. Born and raised in South Florida, he studied at Sophia University in Tokyo before earning a bachelor's in communications from University of North Florida. He writes freelance about music, art, film, and other subjects.

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Twitter: @dougmarkowitz