News
18 October 2026 – Heavens to Betsy Bring Riot Grrrl History Back to San Francisco as Their Reunion Tour Gets Underway
By Editorial Team - October 18, 2026
Summary
Influential feminist-punk duo Heavens to Betsy open their first extensive tour in three decades with a historic San Francisco concert at Bottom of the Hill.
Key Facts
- Feminist punk icons Heavens to Betsy play San Francisco's Bottom of the Hill on their first full tour in 30+ years.
- The duo features Sleater-Kinney frontwoman Corin Tucker and drummer Tracy Sawyer.
- Accompanies the release of 'Baby's Gone', an archival collection of previously unreleased early recordings.
- Entities: Heavens to Betsy, Corin Tucker, Tracy Sawyer, Sleater-Kinney, Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco, Calculated, Baby's Gone, Street Eaters, The Lilies
- Tags: heavens-to-betsy, corin-tucker, tracy-sawyer, riot-grrrl, punk-rock, sleater-kinney, bottom-of-the-hill
Influential American feminist-punk duo Heavens to Betsy have reached the opening weekend of their first extensive tour in more than three decades, with a historic San Francisco performance taking place at Bottom of the Hill. The group features Corin Tucker, subsequently celebrated for her defining work with Sleater-Kinney, and drummer Tracy Sawyer. Their original recordings emerged during the early 1990s riot grrrl movement, when independent musicians were directly challenging conventional expectations surrounding gender, politics and participation in underground music.
Heavens to Betsy released their influential album Calculated in 1994 before separating later that year. Their reunion activities kicked off with a surprise Portland performance in June, swiftly followed by the announcement of a wider North American tour. The San Francisco opening-weekend bill includes Street Eaters and The Lilies, uniting musicians connected across different generations of independent punk.
Further concerts are scheduled across Portland, Washington, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle and other American cities throughout the autumn. The renewed activity also follows the release of Baby's Gone, an essential archival collection featuring previously unavailable recordings and demos from the band's formative Olympia years. While the archival album arrived during Friday's release cycle, the reunion concerts represent an exhilarating live chapter in the group's remarkable return.
Heavens to Betsy remain an important reminder that independent music has frequently provided a platform for ideas excluded from conventional commercial entertainment. Their return is not simply another nostalgic exercise involving musicians rediscovering their old amplifiers; it is an invaluable opportunity for younger audiences to encounter an influential chapter of underground musical history. Read more punk history and news in our punk section.