Live Review: 2019 Manchester Punk Festival (Saturday) – Manchester, UK, 20th April 2019

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Manchester Punk Festival (Saturday)

Manchester, UK - 20th April 2019

The Manchester Punk Festival is now in its fifth year, In just under a mile, from the it’s most southerly venue, The Union, to its most Northerly outpost, Rebellion, the Manchester Punk Festival sprawls over eight venues (and numerous pubs) for the bank holiday weekend, unlike the majority of punk festivals that take place over the Spring and Summer months the Manchester Punk Festival is focused almost exclusively on up and coming DIY and independent punk bands, along with a healthy addition of films, poetry and pretty much anything else you can think of. All of this leaves one question, why haven’t I been before to the only festival that is practically on my doorstep? The honest answer is I don’t know, but it’s something that I’m putting right this weekend.

I was unable to attend the pre show and opening day and, despite the local Metrolink being its usual helpful self and stopping for the whole weekend, I’m in Manchester on an unusually sunny Easter weekend for the final two days of the 2019 Manchester Punk Festival. After collecting my wristband the first stop is the gloriously chilled basement of the Font Bar to catch The End Of Everything, a film documenting Revenge Of The Psychotronic Man’s final show that took place last October that I had the privilege of reviewing for The Punk Site. Members of the band are present to watch their last stand, as well as those who were present and have hazy recollections of the end of that night, I include myself amongst the latter category.

Manchester is awash with punks from across the world, every venue and pub on this side of Manchester has been taken over by those has come to Manchester for the celebration of DIY punk and I’m already regretting the missing the last four years. My first live band of the weekend is Follow Your Dreams who are the opening band at the Zombie Shack, you couldn’t ask for much more from the first band of the day, brutal female fronted politically sussed complex hardcore that incorporate unexpected technical breakdowns. Follow Your Dreams front woman Kaz Hinsley ended their set with the words “have a good time, look out for each other and get wrecked”, sound advice on every level that I plan on following.

A swift dash over to Gorilla sees us catch The Hard Aches who have travelled over to the Manchester Punk Festival all the way from Australia, their emotive melodic poppy punk is in contrast to the previous band but is no less welcome, two bands in and I’ve already discovered two amazing acts I hadn’t previously encountered. I’m staying put in Gorilla as next up is Millie Manders And The Shut Up, who have been on my must see list since they released the stunning Shut Up EP. Millie Manders vocals are as stunning as ever and they are everything I had hoped they would be, if you haven’t heard them then you’re missing out. They deliver, despite Millie Manders being hampered by having a cast on her leg, a perfect joyful hyperactive ska fuelled set.

A wander down to the Brickhouse Social find the wonderaully named Boom Boom Racoon delivering acoustic anarcho ska to an absolutely packed room with a raucous and lively pit, Boom Boom Racoon arguably have the best name of anyone at the Manchester Punk Festival but they are another band I haven’t previously encountered. Whilst I’m at  the Brickhouse Social I hang on to catch a heartfelt and emotive acoustic set from he legendary Leatherface front man, Frankie Stubbs. A set that indicates he is the next generation TV Smith with his gravelly vocals, every chorus is met with a heartfelt singalong from the crowd that has packed into the Brickhouse Social. It’s now 5pm and I’ve been in three venues for five bands, each bringing their own diverse element to the punk scene.

It’s over to the southern tip of the Manchester Punk Festival next for Goober Patrol, a band I always wanted to see back in their Fat Wreck Chords heyday. After a brief Teutonic introduction that causes some confusion they launch into a set of irreverent melodic skate punk that’s hits the spot, whilst the main venue isn’t full, although this may be related to the vast queue for the toilets and bar, and I assume a fair few are intrigued by what Crywank, who are playing at the same time across town, will sound like, they deliver a set of that would make any fan of Fat Wreck Chords cry with joy. After this I find myself in conversation with members of Tio Rico and Hummer about all things punk prior to the appearance of Snuff who are headlining The Union, I last saw them over twenty years ago In Manchester but they’ve always remained a constant on my playlist so of course they’re a must see on my debut at Manchester Punk Festival.

From the opening Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads the decades fall away, Snuff are an unchanging force of nature, their set spans the decades from their debut album, Snuff Said..., onwards with the inevitable crowd favourites that became their hallmark. Snuff may be the elder statesmen of the Manchester Punk Festival but they deliver a stunning set that’s only missing Galloping Home, a personal favourite of mine, being included. Meanwhile over at Rebellion a set of punk rock karaoke is taking place ahead of the planned all star cover sets of Alkaline Trio (performed by members of Astpai, James Choice And The Bad Decisions and 7 Years Bad Luck) and Less Than Jake (performed by Call Me Malcolm), more alcohol is consumed and things become very hazy at this point until I pour myself into a taxi to catch a few hours sleep ahead of the last day, is there anything else quite like Manchester Punk Festival, the short answer is no.

Live photography by Marc Gärtner, his Adventures inPunkrock and Photography website can be found here, you can click on any of Marc’s photos to view a slide show of the images.

The Manchester Punk Festival website can be found here