Proudly presented by AGMP Concerts, Metronome is delighted to welcome legendary British post-punk band Au Pairs as they celebrate 45 years since the release of their studio album Playing with a Different Sex, performing their first concerts in over 40 years.

The Au Pairs formed in Birmingham in 1978, a much-loved band who combined fun, dancey music with an innovative and – for that time – daringly progressive feminist messaging and critiques of gender roles and power structures. Fronted by Lesley Woods (lead singer, songwriter and guitarist), she was once described as “one of the most striking women in British rock”.  Their first album, Playing with a Different Sex, is a post-punk classic – a critic from The Guardian praised it for its “viciously well-observed lyrics on contemporary life, love and the role of women”.

2026 sees the re-forming of the band as they embark on a UK tour with Lesley Woods and new members. Au Pairs blend political lyrics with a tough funk-dance-rock idiom, which is as relevant today as it ever was.

Special guest support comes from Gina Birch and the Unreasonables. Born and educated in Nottingham, Gina Birch was a founding member of influential post-punk group The Raincoats, later establishing the band Dorothy who were signed to Rough Trade Records. Gina’s debut solo LP I Play My Bass Loud was released in 2021 and her second release Trouble is out now.

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