Festival Review: Evil Hoof Picnic 3: This Time It’s Personal

Dodging between the torrential downpours that punctuate Manchester’s summertime we’re heading back to Gullivers for my first experience of the established annual event that is the Evil Hoof Picnic. The meeting of Evil Music and Horn And Hoof Records is now in it’s third year, this year the event features twelve bands, each of which gets an egalitarian short sharp half hour, over the course of a long day spent in the heart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter. After grabbing a swift beer sponge in burrito form the rain steadily gives way to a hot and humid day that promises that this years Evil Hoof Picnic will be sweaty and sticky day, and as you are greeted with a complimentary shot of Jägermeister on arrival you can probably add messy to that list as well.

Stokes’s Only Strangers kick off the Evil Hoof Picnic, i’ve wanted to catch them ever since I reviewed their self titled debut album, it’s taken a while but they don’t disappoint with a set of gruff melodic hardcore that is centred around their impressive sounding new material, despite their guitarist having a monumental hangover, having the early slot and opening to an initially sparsely populated venue, they mark a fine start to the day that can be easily be heard in the surrounding streets and downstairs in the increasingly busy bar. The pattern for the day has been set, after each set the venue empties and the crowd occupies the bar and smoking areas before piling back into the venue for the next band. Clayface are next on the bill, they bring an intense blast of raw punk into the Evil Hoof Picnic that is the perfect accompaniment to my second pint of the day, loud, fast, abrasive and distinctly more sober than usual due to early hour, requests for drinks to be bought to the stage indicate this will not remain the case.

After a swift gallop down and back up the stairs next up is the anarchic hardcore ska infused chaos that is Pat Butcher, that sees the first, but not the last, band that head off the stage and into the crowd. They instigate audience participation for carrot eating that has to be completed in under a minute, why this is a thing I have no idea but it adds to the overall good natured chaos of their set. I make not apologies for the fact that by the time that Tio Rico take the stage things are getting hazy, I’m handed photography duties during this set as Scott Bradley takes a break from organising, shooting and running the day to take his stand on the stage. They deliver a faultless set of grunge tinted punk rock that suggests their upcoming new full length is going to be something special.

Following on from Tio Rico‘s appearance is the bizarre spectacle of Rites Of Hadda, they blend psychedelia and punk via the spirit of Edgar Broughton to create something truly unique. All the intensity of punk is present but this is intertwined with elements of space rock and an experimental edge that means they stand alone on today’s line up. I can honestly say that for those who are in attendance and intoxicated, which by now is most people, there is no better spectacle than Rites Of Hadda in full extravagant flow, they end their set chanting ‘hail the horned god’, utterly bizarre in the best way imaginable.

As with many things you wait to catch a band and then they turn up twice in the same month, we covered Don Blake a few weeks ago in this very venue and my opinion hasn’t changed, blistering pop punk done exactly as it oughta be. A shift back to the left field is signalled by The Mighty Bossmags, raw garage punk with a distinct bounce and groove that fits perfectly into the electic roster of the Evil Hoof Picnic. Part punk, part ska, part hallucinogenic garage and part who knows what, they are evidence of the diverse nature of the UK’s punk scene and they bring a further random element that prevents the deja vu that can haunt some punk festivals. With ten minutes left they snap the bass drum skin, your trusty reviewer provides gaffa tape and we’re swiftly back in business for the finale of their set.

AVAS bring an old school hardcore wake up call to the Evil Hoof Picnic that is much is needed as the day starts to transition into the night. AVAS are the perfect soundtrack for this cross fest event, defiant, political and taking no shit, they deliver a heartfelt tribute to the much missed Kathy Rocker, whose shop Rockers is located just a few doors up the road from Gullivers, and glasses are raised in salute to one of of the Manchester punk scenes finest daughters. By now the Evil Hoof Picnic has become a social event, whether you know attendees or not you can’t help but meet or make friends, something that means I only catch the end of Early Mojo’s set, I immediately regret not forgoing that last drink as they are delivering a set of perfectly pitched punk rock that blends hardcore intensity, indie creativity and pop punk hooks perfectly.

What can you say about the next band that hasn’t already been said, Nosebleed are the bastard garage punk sons of Motörhead, they never disappoint, and tonight’s compressed 30 minute set is everything you’d expect. No stage has yet contained them and tonight is no exception as they descend into the crowd and encourage you to get up close and personal. Their intense rock ’n roll is stripped to the bone and delivered at amphetamine driven speed levels, you couple this with an MC5esque fervour to spread their gospel and you should be converted. If you haven’t experienced Nosebleed live then this really should be something to add to your bucket list.

Eat Defeat take the penultimate slot for today’s picnic, despite having the unenviable task of following Nosebleed. they deliver a perfect set of hard edged pop punk that ticks all the boxes and delivers feel good anthems in abundance, before The Kimberley Steaks close the Evil Hoof Picnic. They deserve tonight’s headline spot, The Kimberley Steaks are that rare breed of punk band that cross genres, something that makes them the perfect closing act for this years Evil Hoof Picnic, although this is something of mixed blessing as the majority of the crowd have long since passed the vanishing point, regardless they close the Picnic in fine style. The Evil Hoof Picnic has been a revelation, every band has brought something different to the day, the crowd has been beyond friendly throughout the long and sweaty day, new friends have been made and there are hazy memories. The Evil Hoof Picnic will return next year and if you can you should be here for this DIY showcase that spans genres and may introduce you to your next favourite band.

Live photography is by Scott Bradley, his Phukin Photos website is located here and you can click on any of Scott’s photos to view a slide show of the images

The Horn And Hoof Records website can be found here and their Bandcamp is here

The Evil Hoof Picnic website is here