Louise Distras

Career

She played her first solo gig in May 2011, and six months later was discovered by New Model Army's lead singer Justin Sullivan, who liked Distras' sound and invited her to join New Model Army on their five date UK tour the following month. Distras released her first download single 'The Hand You Hold' in March 2012, followed by 'Stand Strong Together' and 'Shades of Hate' later that year, picking up media attention from Radio 1, Rodney on the ROQ, The Independent and The Guardian after being vocal in the campaign to release Pussy Riot. In summer 2012, Louise Distras announced via social media that she had commenced work on her debut album with producer Steve Whale (The Business) and Pat Collier (New Model Army, X Ray Spex) at Perry Vale Studios in London, UK.

In June 2013, Distras played the Leftfield stage at Glastonbury Festival under the invitation of Billy Bragg, and on the 30th September 2013 she self released her debut full-length album 'Dreams from the Factory Floor' to critical acclaim. Music journalist John Robb, called her "the most important protest singer we have" in an article on the Louder Than War website. Immediately after the release, she embarked on a five-week Canadian tour and three week headline European tour. On the anniversary of Joe Strummer's birthday, she returned to the UK to perform alongside Mick Jones (The Clash) and Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols) at London's Coronet Theatre to raise funds in Joe Strummer's memory for the London Fire Brigade.

May 2014 saw Louise Distras released her first double A single 'Love Me the Way I Am/Bullets' on 7" vinyl, picking up radio support from XFM, Amazing Radio, and Team Rock Radio who played the single on heavy rotation making it their 'track of the month'. Shortly afterwards she was invited to support American punk pioneers Television at their sold out show at London's Shepherds Bush Empire.

In 2015, 'Dreams from the Factory Floor' was officially released worldwide via the American independent label Pirates Press Records. She auctioned the test pressings on eBay and donated the funds to California non profit organisation Justice Now, then embarked on a four-month solo tour of the UK, mainland Europe and USA. In the summer of 2015, she toured with the Buzzcocks and The Damned in support of the release, and announced that she would be accompanied by a full band on the mainstage of the worlds biggest independent punk festival, Rebellion later that year.

Following a winter break to work on new material, Distras toured the UK in Spring 2016 with Australian art rock band The Red Paintings, and returned to the USA to perform at the Punk Rock Bowling Festival in Las Vegas alongside Flogging Molly, Descendents and The Bronx. She was named as one of the 'Top 5 acts to catch at Punk Rock Bowling' by entertainment website AXS.com

To date, she has performed with acts such as Mick Jones, Billy Bragg, Glen Matlock, Television, Stiff Little Fingers, The Damned and several summer festivals including Bearded Theory, Camden Rocks, and Tolpuddle Martyrs.