The Wimmins' Institute

The Wimmins' Institute was a four-piece all-female indie rock band from London, England, formed in 2015.

The band was formed by Jennifer Denitto on drums/guitar, Cassie Fox on bass guitar, Melissa Reardon on trumpet/drums, and Deborah van der Geugten on guitar. All four members provided vocals.[1]

Fox and Reardon also played together in Socialist R&B band Thee Faction; Denitto and van der Geugten had both been members of riot grrrl band Linus.[2] Reardon and Denitto also play in Keith Top of the Pops & His Minor UK Indie Celebrity All-Star Backing Band.

The group played their first gig in 2015 and subsequently played with Grace Petrie, the Ethical Debating Society, Vice Squad, the Monochrome Set[3] and Bis.

Their debut album, Badass Lady Power Picnic, produced by Charley Stone, was self-released in October 2015. It was rated 4/5 by R2, who described it as "just wonderfully, tunefully, angrily unprofessional".[4] The Morning Star described it as a "brilliant debut".[5] Tracks from the album, including lead single "Mansplaining", have been played by Steve Lamacq on BBC Radio 6.[6][7]

In 2016 the band released the new song "Nando's" as a single, with accompanying video.[8]

In 2017, the group split, with Fox continuing with new band Guttfull,[9] and Reardon continuing with Foxcunt.[10] Denitto and van der Geugten later joined Argonaut.[11] Denitto, Reardon and WI 'fifth member' Charley Stone also play in The Fallen Women.[12]