All-Female Psychedelic Rock Bands You Need to Know About

In a male-dominated industry, these women are taking charge and rocking out. Here are some all-female psychedelic rock bands you need to know about.

The Spinderellas

In the mid-’60s, a group of girls in Southern California started playing music together. They called themselves the Spinderellas, and they quickly became one of the most popular all-female psychedelic rock bands of their time. Their music was a mix of surf rock and garage rock, with a heavy dose of psychedelia thrown in for good measure. The Spinderellas were known for their wild stage shows, which often included fire-breathing and pyrotechnics. They were also known for their elaborate costumes, which they would often change several times during a single performance.

The Spinderellas released two albums during their brief career: Psychedelic princesses (1966) and Spinderella rides again (1967). Both albums are now highly sought-after by collectors of psychedelic music. The band broke up in 1968, but their legend has only grown in the ensuing decades.

The She-Devils

There’s something about the combination of Women and Psychedelic Rock that just seems to work. Maybe it’s the free-flowing, dreamlike quality of the music, or the way that it can transport you to another place entirely. Whatever the reason, we’re here for it.

The She-Devils are a Canadian duo consisting of Audrey Ann Boucher and Kyle Jukka. Their sound is a mix of 60s surf rock, garage rock, and pop, with heavy use of reverb and delay. Their debut album, The She-Devils, was released in 2017 to critical acclaim, with Pitchfork calling it “one of the year’s most promising debuts.”

The Besnard Lakes
The Besnard Lakes are a Canadian band consisting of husband and wife duo Jace Lasek and Olga Goreas. They formed in 2003 and have released five albums to date, including 2016’s A Coliseum Complex Museum, which was nominated for a Juno Award for Best Alternative Album. Their sound has been described as “epic” and “cinematic,” with Lasek citing Ennio Morricone and Sergio Leone as influences.

The Black Angels
The Black Angels are an American band from Austin, Texas. They formed in 2004 and have released five albums to date, including 2018’s Death Song. Their sound has been described as “psychedelic garage rock” or “stoner rock,” with heavy use of fuzz bass and distorted guitars. Singer Alex Maas has said that their music is “meant to be played loud [and] create an alternate reality or experience for people.

The Aquarians

Formed in 1968, The Aquarians were an all-female psychedelic rock band from New York City. They were active for two years and released one self-titled album in 1970. The album was produced by Jeff Baroni and features covers of The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, and Grateful Dead songs. The band broke up in 1972 but reformed in 2009 and continues to perform and tour.

The Ladybugs

The Ladybugs were an all-female psychedelic rock band from Australia who were active in the late 1960s. The band was formed in 1967 by guitarist Judy Hughes and bassist/vocalist Bronwyn Stanford. They were soon joined by drummer Vicki Peterson and keyboardist/vocalist Maureen O’Connor. The band’s sound was a mix of psychedelic rock and pop, with elements of Indian music and sitar. They released two singles, “Mr. Spaceman” / “Summer In The City”, and “I Can Fly” / “Driftin'”, both of which received airplay on radio station 2SM. The Ladybugs disbanded in 1968, but reunited briefly in 1974 to record a final single, “Do You Love Me Like You Say?” / “Don’t Let Me Down”.

The Dollyrots

Hailing from Los Angeles, The Dollyrots are one of the most fun and high-energy all-female psychedelic rock bands out there. Comprised of Kelly Ogden on lead vocals and bass and Luis Cabezas on guitars and backing vocals, the two have been making music together since 2000. With four studio albums under their belt, including their latest release,Whiplash Splash, The Dollyrots show no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

If you’re a fan of punk rock with a heavy dose of girl power, then you’ll definitely want to check out The Dollyrots. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed!