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Manchester, UK - 9th April 2023
We’re back out into the Manchester sunshine for the final day, we promise ourselves that we’re not going to overdo it today, although finding out that my phone has decided to die it’s on arse might drive me to drink. Sadly my notes are toast, so much of this weekend’s reviews are largely done from memory, which is less than ideal in my case, but every festival has it’s casualties. Those early good intentions last about 10 minutes as we meet up with Rum Lads ahead of their Manchester Punk Festival debut and then it’s off to see our resident punk poet Cherry B who is opening the final day for us in the Sandbar.
We catch the end of Shout Louder’s podcast from the doorway as there’s no room inside, which includes the first human pyramid of the day, and then it’s time for Cherry B to make her Manchester Punk Festival debut. Opening with Punk Mum she is delivering her trademark brand of irreverent poetry that is laced with comedic moments and political nouse that is imbued with her Essex charm. Remarkably she seems unaffected by last nights meet up and her poetry is delivered effortlessly, given that I’m struggling to put a sentence together at this point in time I tip my glass to her.
In comparison to our relatively mellow start to the day Austria’s DeeCracks being the energy and volume with a full tilt set of punk rock that brings the energy and we’re back in the room. Austrian dark humour about all things Easter pepper the set, but apart from those moments this is four on the floor full tilt punk rock that is a welcome musical opening to day three that clears the damage from the previous day with a hit of Ramones fuelled punk rock that culminates in a revved top cover of Eddie & The Hot Rods’ Do Anything You Wanna Do.
The Meffs are next up, the duo start as they mean to go on with Broken Britain, Broken Brains, this is a straight up voice of opposition to the current government, a theme that we will revisit later today, and an intense voice of the streets that is delivered with humour between songs and full throttle fury when it matters. This is a band that addresses the issues our binfire of a government cause, the voice of dissent of protest is alive and well, and unlike the far right commentators there is humour and a reach out to discuss the issues, or maybe a raised middle finger for the far right. Just watching a band at Manchester Punk Festival is impossible, this is an endless social reunion as friendships from past years and other fests are renewed, often we can’t remember where we originally met, but all that matters is that we did.
Next up is Catbite, as the festival takes is toll on our feet we travel less, but on reputation, and name (as Phinky is somewhat catcentric) this is a must see band. And their high energy ska punk hits the mark from the off with the second human pyramid forming before the first track ends and by the time the second track in their set kicks in there is a bounce and skank happening across the pit as they bring Sunday to life. The excesses of Saturday are now forgotten with a hit of infectious ska fuelled energy that proves you can always trust a cat themed band! However, that’s not the end of the story, there are sweet and soulful moments in between the full on energy that allows some respite for our worn out party shoes.
Manchester’s own Sadaxe are lining up for just their 4th ever gig in the Zombie Shack. Channelling any nerves they might have, they launch into P45, a punchy, harmony-filled number that cruises along on bass and has a hooky bridge. “Here’s a new one..They’re all pretty new..” announces vocalist Molly, as they continue to meld 70’s punk, 12 bar blues structures and soaring pop choruses. With songs that tackle the controversy surrounding the Night & Day Cafe, medical misogyny and millennial malaise, they flit between straight-up rawk and showy solos. A setlist pick here would be Self-Assurance, a darker, choppier tune that has a bit more muscle behind it, and showcases the potential ‘bite’, or ‘edge’ that these lot could sharpen going forward.
Alongside Green Eyed Monster, skate-punk quartet Stone Leek are representing the Japanese contingent at Manchester Punk Festival in The Bread Shed, appearing as part of their first European dates for nine years. With a teasing, doom-laden intro, the band begin to crank up the energy to 11, the majority of the set comprised of tracks from last year’s Revival record, with incessant snare, shredding chords and breakneck solos. They’re clearly enjoying themselves, bouncing around the stage and encouraging bassist Takeshi to flash cheeky grins, swing his bass around his head and even take to the crowd. Testimonial, Silly Things and Goodfellas are fast and hard, satisfying the speed freaks. To close out the Sunday end-of-festival vibes, we’re treated to an anthemic version of Pink’s Who Knew? and an absolutely euphoric singalong to The Swellers’ The Best I Ever Had. “Arigatō” to our “Tomodachi”.
Next up is a painful walk down to Gorilla for Rum Lads’ Manchester Punk Festival debut, pulling from the same anger and frustration as The Meffs, this is blue collar full on set from a band that tell it like it is, including telling any tories to fuck off before they played a note, I doubt there were any but you can never be too careful. Rum Lads are full blooded and unapologetic from the off and they deliver on all fronts. By the this point in the afternoon the excess of the weekend have returned to haunt me and I find a comfy seat in Gorilla’s gallery to watch them deliver a set that shows all the promise of the their practice gig is not lost on a bigger stage, whilst Gorilla was by no means full they left an indelible impression on those present. Our return to The Union sees us catch the final number from Harijan who are skanking up a storm, whilst we only caught the tail end of the set it’s full blooded and slots perfectly into the ska heavy line up in The Union today.
With their debut record being released just a week ago, Nuremberg’s Melonball haven’t had much time for international audiences to get too familiar with their crisp, melodic stakepunk. They approach the task of winning over The Bread Shed super-professionally, and it’s not long before everyone has warmed to their controlled, technical cuts. Chord progressions ladder up and down the fretboard, and there’s opportunity to chug, punch and get spacey on some of those reverby middle-eights, as vocalist Oli tackles both social and personal issues. There’s a couple of covers thrown in for good measure, too – Danger Dan’s Kunstfreiheit goes for the serious, anti-fascist angle, while The Outfield’s Your Love becomes a heady slice of Europunk that unites the whole room. Mission accomplished.
Millie Manders & The Shutup return to Manchester Punk Festival after a triumphant appearance in 2019, what can I say about this band that hasn’t been said? This is life affirming and positive set from a band who bring a level of joy and enthusiasm to the set that you don’t often encounter. I’m not alone in this as The Union is rammed and the crowd are singing along with every one of the soaring choruses, there’s also new material in the set with their recent single Rebound concluding their set. Millie Manders & The Shutup should be huge, and based on the reaction today I’m hoping it’s just a matter of time. We bumped into the ever charming Millie Manders later in the evening and she confirmed there is a brand new album in the works and she is returning to Manchester later this year (no surprise given they are perpetually open tour).
Perennial favourites Wonk Unit close The Union on the last day, they are as irreverent and random as ever, something that makes them a perfect choice of closing act that seems to bring the tribes together, whilst dancing is beyond me the pit is lively as Wonk Unit do their own unique thing. Friendships have been renewed, drinks bought, t shirt collections refreshed, new bands discovered, a few old favourites found and other than our feet and knees, and Phinky‘s phone, this has been another perfect weekend celebrating the music we love with some of the finest people on earth.
Despite Phinky‘s exploding phone, our aching feet, muscle cramps and hangovers we would not change a thing about this weekend, (ok, maybe not the phone) but this has been another superb weekend that celebrates the punk scene in the here and now rather than forever looking to the distant past. Manchester Punk Festival is a friendly, welcoming, inclusive festival that is testament to those who work all year so the southern end of Manchester City Centre becomes the centre of the punk world for a few short days. As we hobble homewards as the festival approaches its culmination the rain once more returns, just as it did last year. It seems the sun always shines on Manchester Punk Festival and all being well we’ll be back in 2024.
Live photography courtesy of Gary M Hough of Shot From Both Sides. Words by Phinky and Adam Pytro
Tickets for the 2024 Manchester Punk Festival can be purchased here.