Restless is an arts activism project about community, visibility and voice for survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA) that uses punky, anarchic art to shout it from the clifftops, that thing that most people can't talk about.

The project's flagship element is a four-part punk band, fronted by Viv Gordon Company's Artistic Director, Viv Gordon, performing songs that were inspired by coastal walks across the South West in Dorset, Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.

Appropriately furious … a howl against abuse that somehow everyone can sing along to. – audience member 

In collaboration with two fantastic co-composers, Quinta and Thomas Johnson, and later with drummer Sean Randle and bassist Andy Hamill, we developed the project and performed the resulting songs for the first time at a work-in-progress sharing in 2023 at Lost Horizon in Bristol, which turned out to be an epic, triumphant, amazing night with fantastic spoken word support from Clare Shaw and Anita Karla Kelly. And in July 2024 we shared more work-in-progress punk songs at Morley College in London.

Find out more about how the project developed here.

Viv Gordon performing at a Restless punk gig at Lost Horizon in Bristol. Photo (c) Paul Blakemore

Viv Gordon Company · Wide Ocean

What to expect at a Restless Gig

Are you angry? This band is angry. Come as you are, and bring anyone with you who needs an outlet to shout at the sky. Restless might be the most necessary hour in your week.

Restless brings together the loose ends of a rage that we feel but don't quite know what to do with and weaves it into a collective chord of FUCK YOU, DO SOMETHING. Kind of like a guided meditation, except if it had been made by The Sex Pistols and shouted through loudhailers.

The music pulls no punches; it's raw and visceral and urgent, but crafted too – both in the lyrics (simultaneously catchy and rich) and the skill of the performers.

But the real power comes from where the music takes the room. The set list leads the audience through a building narrative from abuse, to anger and, ultimately, action – all informed by the direct experiences of frontwoman and lyricist, Viv Gordon.

Restless punk gig at Lost Horizon in Bristol. Photo (c) Paul Blakemore

I didn't know how much I needed that. It was as angry as I am but then joyous and beautiful all at the same time. I'm crying. It's gonna take me a while to come down. – audience member

The [first] gig was a proper life high – so, so much fun - the sheer victory and reclamation of it. Shouting out the stuff that has been silenced and suppressed.
I was so, so frightened. All the desperation, grief, madness and rage of a life shaped by child sexual abuse condensed into these songs. All the hope, reaching and steeliness of a life shaped by activism - that has watched others put their hearts, minds and bodies into the fray because they KNOW things can't stay the same - sometimes there is no choice but to act - I honestly don't know what else to do ...
In the days after the gig I wept for the very sad, very scared, very desperate, very lonely little me self - I wish she knew how this turns out .... I'm so grateful to be here and to be supported by an incredible team of artists and collaborators who have stood beside me to birth this project. None of it would be possible without each kind, patient, brilliant, curious soul trying to work out how to tell these stories, how to make these sounds, how to hold these spaces, how to make this accessible, how to try and fail and be confused and keep trying, how to find the money and look after everybody who is courageous enough to want to be part of it, to keep coming back and keep engaging.
We are building an army - together we are a tide of unstoppable change. (Viv Gordon)

The Restless punk team

Viv Gordon - Lead Artist / Singer
Tom Johnson - Composer
Quinta - Composer
Sean Randle - Drums
Maddy Kiley - Bass

Kate McStraw - Producer
Lise Huber - Voice Coach
Lisa Hall - PA to Viv Gordon
Helga Brandt - Marketing & Communications

Camilo Salazar - Recording Sound Engineer
Paul Blakemore – Photographer
Andy Hamill - Bass at 2023 gig

Photos (c) Paul Blakemore

Restless is supported by public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England
with additional support from 101 Outdoor Arts, British Council Unlimited Micro Award, Exeter Northcott Theatre, Strike a Light, Devon Community Foundation and Morley Radio (Morley College London).