Since Yesterday: The Untold Story preview

By Jess Crighton

A new documentary unearthing forgotten Scottish girl bands has just been released. 

Since Yesterday, directed by Blair Young and the award-winning musician Carla J Easton, is now showing. The documentary showcases the history of girl groups hailing from Scotland who did not achieve the same success as their male counterparts.  

Visionary women from bands of the swinging 60s to the 90s share their experiences of being a musician. The name of the documentary is homage to the single released by Strawberry Switchblade in 1984.  

The McKinleys (By Stanley Bielecki/ASP via Getty Images)

Notable contributors to the feature include the aforementioned Strawberry Switchblade, The McKinleys, The Ettes, Sophisticated Boom Boom, The Hedrons and more. Director and narrator Easton discusses the musical boundaries which women faced when playing a crucial part in Scotland’s male-dominated music scene.  

Easton is a member of the Scottish all-girl band TeenCanteen, so this topic resonates with her. She currently is the keyboard player for The Vaselines. 

Combining personal experiences, unseen footage and unheard demos, the documentary stitches together a unique patchwork perspective on Scotland’s music scene through each decade.    

The documentary was released earlier this month and is now showing at the Glasgow Film Theatre and in different venues around Scotland. 

Strawberry Switchblade (By John Rodgers via Getty Images)