In 2024, Wales Millennium Centre proudly supported community ambassador Jude Price in delivering the Nana Punk project. This inspiring initiative brought together women from South Wales to explore their musical potential and connect through shared creativity and live performance. Partnering with Newport’s The Cab venue, musician Efa Supertramp, and a network of musicians from the original punk generation, Nana Punk celebrated the power of music to break barriers and build community.
Cardiff-based Jude Price, an experienced community outreach worker and musician, had long envisioned forming a music collective in response to the lack of creative for people over 50, having approached Wales Millennium Centre with the idea just before the pandemic struck. After suffering a stroke in 2023, Jude’s recovery journey underscored the isolation faced by older women, particularly those with chronic illnesses or caregiving responsibilities. Out of this journey, Nana Punk was born - a bold, female-led initiative offering a lifeline of creativity and connection.
With support from Arts Council of Wales, the project was able to launch in summer 2024 as part of Wales Millennium Centre's annual international arts festival, Llais. It invited women from all walks of life to ignite their musical curiosity, build confidence, learn new skills, and create lasting connections.
'It's a very encouraging atmosphere. you don't feel too self-conscious or as if you're going to be judged, you can just have a go and it's fun.'
NANA PUNK MEMBER
In the months leading up to Llais, we ran open workshops at The Cab and several other independent venues in Newport, working closely with Jude and 10 freelance musicians. The sessions featured inspiring artists like queer punk band Menstrual Cramps, Cassie Fox of I’Doris, and folk-pop singer Efa Supertramp, who played a key role in facilitating the bilingual project.
Across 31 workshops, 17 women explored a wide range of instruments, from guitar and drums to viola. A dedicated band of 10 then emerged, who met weekly to refine their skills through regular rehearsals in Newport and Cardiff, crafting original bilingual songs, and covering punk classics. Their journey culminated in two high-energy performances at October’s Llais for over 180 people, followed by a sold-out December gig at London’s iconic Hope and Anchor.
'We have a good time and we encourage the audience to join in which is the philosophy of it all.'
JUDE PRICE
Nana Punk has had a transformative impact. Its members have commented on their newfound musical skills and confidence, but even more profoundly, have reflected on a renewed sense of self, connection, and well-being. They cherished the opportunity to meet like-minded women, forging bonds through shared interests and collaboratively learning and growing together. Above all, they celebrated the sense of joy and playfulness that defined their experience, making Nana Punk not just a creative journey but a deeply uplifting one.
‘It was good to have a space / project that encouraged women over 50 to come together and create together with a shared interest ... also the sharing between everyone to help each other learn and develop.'
NANA PUNK MEMBER
Nana Punk's story has captured national attention, with S4C commissioning a documentary about the project, set to air in March 2025. The group has future gigs lined up, including a headline performance at The Cab, and plans to release an EP. Additionally, Nana Punk aims to perform at festivals such as Blue Lagoon and Green Man, and to further expand their reach by forming an official open collective.
By fostering creativity and connection, Nana Punk has not only empowered its members but also strengthened ties between Wales Millennium Centre and the local creative community. We will continue to support Nana Punk and are excited to see what the future holds for them.
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