The Monthly Visitor

The Monthly Visitor is BACK! A regular gig night swapping between Bath and Bristol dedicated to music by female writers, hosted by How Dare She. Delightedly kicking off again in May in its new bi-monthly home, upstairs at The Grapes Bath, with special guest Ruth Hammond.

Ruth has played alongside many inspiring musicians as an instrumentalist, from touring and recording with Morcheeba in their heyday, to playing alongside jazz greats like PeeWee Ellis, Fred Wesley and Bobbie Shew at Ronnie Scott’s, as well as collaborating with many of the amazing musicians to be found in the Bristol musical community. She loves variety and uses her own songwriting as a space where anything goes, where she’s open to being influenced by pretty much all the people she has heard or met along the way. A few random names include: Roberta Flack, Victoria Wood, Debussy, Annie Lennox, Reggie Watts, her family. And always Stevie. Her playing has been described as sumptuously beautiful, deeply melodic and incredibly groovy.

How Dare She is an all-female band based in the South West of England. Combining catchy originals and carefully curated covers, expect everything from love songs to twisted tales. With a line-up of raw acoustic guitar, bass/synth and sweet harmonies, you might place them somewhere between The Staves, Laura Marling and First Aid Kit. Unafraid though they are of dark themes, the warmth and fluidity in their delivery has you smiling, nodding along and settling into their laid-back acoustic vibe. The band have graced the stage at Komedia (Bath), Worcester Music Festival (2025), The Bell Inn (Bath), The Crafty Egg (Bristol) and Bristol Folkhouse (supporting Katey Brooks).