About Violent Femmes · Milwuakee, USA
On their 40th anniversary, Violent Femmes will perform their full debut album and second album Hallowed Ground. Formed in 1981 as an acoustic punk band playing on the streets of Milwaukee with a goal to rock harder than any other acoustic act on the planet, they’ve become loved for their signature raw sound and honest lyrical perspective.
Decades ago, they got noticed playing outside a Pretenders gig after being rejected for an audition by a local nightclub. Lead singer Chrissie Hynde asked them to open that night’s show, giving the young band a publicity boost and gaining the attention of Richard Hell. A rave review in the New York Times eventually led to a record deal, spawning worldwide touring.
Violent Femmes eponymous debut album became the first and only album in Billboard history to enter the charts with a platinum certification- eight years after its release. Over the ensuing four decades, the Femmes have become festival, club, and theater mainstay worldwide.