Live Review: The Great British Alternative Music Festival (Sunday), Butlins, Skegness, UK, 7th October 2018

The final day is upon us, the sun has returned to the East Coast and Saturday’s hangovers are being ushered away and although I’m feeling the effects of the first two days a stroll along the beach, where a few hardy souls have gone for a swim, clears my head before we’re off into the first band of the day. Hung Like Hanratty, one of 2017’s Introducing Stage winners, deliver a well received raucous punk singalong the features songs about dog shit, tractors, the police, an ex-wife and more to a huge crowd who have made the effort to get into the Reds Stage for their early dose of old school punk rock.

In comparison the Centre Stage is almost deserted for The Transmitters whose brand of mod influenced indie rock is the square peg in the weekend as they don’t seem to fit with the other bands that populate the line-up. Having said this they go down well with those that are there, as do The Truth, another eighties mod and R ‘n B influenced combo. The Members make their afternoon appearance in a packed Reds Stage, as ever they deliver their own blend of punk and reggae that manages to retain a timeless quality that ticks all the boxes. Whilst they play the obvious hits, including a well received Sound Of The Suburbs, their set takes a few welcome twists and turns along the way. 

Afternoon on the Introducing Stage is kicking into life with Verbal Warning, as when I caught them at my first festival of the summer, Strummercamp, in May they deliver a spirited blast of old school punk rock that doesn’t take itself too seriously, including being pelted with plastic ducks mid set, and it’s an attitude that sees the win the Introducing Stage against stiff competition from Desperate Measures, a band who bring a harder edged sound that’s embedded deep in proto punk roots with the feel and energy of the earlier recordings by The Damned and The Saints.

It’s surprising to find Drongos For Europe playing the Introducing Stage given they are a fairly well known band with dedicated fan base and the crowd attending are testimony to this. Drongos For Europe deliver an intense set of vintage hardcore punk to a packed pavilion and are closely followed by Vomit who bring another set of charged aggressive punk rock to what has been the goto stage for me this weekend, one that has showcased several bands that I haven’t encountered before and a few that wouldn’t normally cross my path.

By the time the sun has set on the final day the festival has taken its toll on many attendees but regardless of the aches, pains and alcohol Spear Of Destiny have drawn the faithful into the Reds Stage for a career spanning set. Their post punk anthemic rock offers a counterpoint to the fast and aggressive style of many of the bands that graced today’s line up. The change of pace is also evident on Centre Stage where The Lambrettas knock out a sharp mod and ska influenced set, that of course includes their best know song, Poison Ivy, and sees outbreaks of skanking across the venue.

As the final day heads into the night many of the crowd are in need of a jolt to get them through the final evening and you can’t ask for a finer pairing for the penultimate sets than The Professionals, whose origins lie deep within punks year zero with Paul Cook of the Sex Pistols powering them along, and the Anti Nowhere League, an outfit who have had a greater influence on many bands than they’re given credit for. Despite numerous line-up changes over the years both have stuck to their guns and against all the odds are still kicking out new material and drawing crowds in 2018.

One last journey up the stairs to into the Reds Stage for a band we’ve been looking forward to seeing all weekend. I haven’t seen New Model Army in a long, long time but I’m assured they’re on top form nowadays and they don’t disappoint. Opening with the devastating twin drum attack of Stormclouds it’s clear they’ve lost none of their fury in the decades that have passed since I last caught them live. New Model Army are a band that defy description, drawing influences from across the board to create a musical and lyrical style that is unique and has a cross genre appeal that few can equal. Impressively they have retained all the characteristics that made them such an essential live act in their early years. Whilst they don’t rely on their back catalogue there are a few welcome inclusions from the early albums including a stunning No Rest mid set, Poison Street and a rousing I Love The World.

New Model Army are so good we couldn’t draw ourselves away meaning we miss almost all of the Angelic Upstarts set on Centre Stage, although I do mange too catch their spirited encore of I’m An Upstart and Police Oppression which is the perfect ending to a friendly and relaxed three day festival and our final festival of 2018. As for the festival itself, nearly forty bands, excellent chalet accommodation, food to suit everyone and their budgets, friendly people, fantastic atmosphere, great staff and great organisation, and all for around £100. Think about that. That’s a fraction over £2.50 per band, including accommodation. What’s not to like?

Tickets for Butlins 2019 Live Music Weekends can be booked here

Photography by Steve White and you can visit his Flickr site here,

Review co-written by Steve White