At the end of this week Manchester Punk Festival finally returns and the CPRW team could not be more excited. The line-up is always stacked but in 2022 the festivals organisers, Manchester based punk legends Anarchistic Undertones, Moving North and TNSRecords, have well and truly surpassed themselves. There are six of the CPRW team attending this year and we wanted to write about so many of the fantastic bands playing, so over the next three days we’re treating you to a three-part, sixty band preview of some our top picks for the weekend.
We haven’t listed the specific times for each band as we understand that these are potentially subject to change before the weekend. Please check the official Clashfinder to be certain you don’t miss anyone!
The warm-up gig also features a really awesome and diverse line-up of bands that aren’t playing MPF so it’s a real bonus and a great way to get prepared for the epic weekend to come.
Toodles And The Hectic Pity – Thursday, at Rebellion (Emma)
In 2019, the MPF folks treated us to an official warm-up show on the Thursday night before the festival began properly on the Friday. We’re pleased that this is something they’ve brought back for 2022 and are over the moon that CPRW favourites Toodles And The Hectic Pity are one of the bands scheduled to play. The Bristol-based trio play an emotional brand of folky indie punk and I can’t wait to see them win over the Manchester audience – which no doubt they will. Having seen them live fairly recently, I can vouch that their brand new tracks are sounding particularly good.
Burning Flag – Thursday, at Rebellion (Brett)
If you are lucky enough to be in Manchester on the Thursday before MPF, you would be remiss to be anywhere else but at the official MPF warm-up gig at Rebellion. One of the bands I’m really excited to see is Burning Flag, who play a NYC-style hardcore, with powerful lyrics, relentless riffs and a slightly higher bpm. But it comes without the white-shirt-macho-masculine themes and tendencies so often ingrained in the scene. It feels like forever since I’ve been to a hardcore show and Burning Flag’s latest album, Matador, nearly made it into my top 10 last year so I’m very much looking forward to this set.
Smoking Gives You Big Tits – Friday, at Yes (Emma)
Tasked with the job of opening the entire 2022 edition of MPF are the four-piece riot grrrl influenced Smoking Gives You Big Tits from Bolton and Salford, respectively. I admit to not being an especially big fan of their name but Shout Louder’s Sarah has had nothing but good things to say about this band and, after checking them out on the MPF playlist myself, I’m definitely keen to see what all the fuss is about. From the tracks I have heard, they seem like a lot of fun and should be the perfect band to kick off the festival.
Nexø – Friday, at Zombie Shack (Brett)
With my recent move to Denmark, I am much more alert to Danish punk bands and have picked up on a few that I wasn’t aware of before. Nexø is one of my favourite discoveries so far. Their aggressive hardcore punk is raw and full of energy and is sure to get the early crowd at Zombie Shack ready for what promises to be an amazing weekend ahead. Their 2019 album, New Normal, is an exceptionally strong debut and if the singles released so far this year are anything to go by, Nexø show no signs of mellowing or slowing down.
In Evil Hour – Friday, at The Union (Brett)
In Evil Hour was on my shortlist of bands to see before MPF 2020 was cancelled so I was very happy to see the band on the line-up for 2022. Melodic punk rock that takes on important topics with aggression, passion, and intelligence. The comparisons to Rise Against and Bad Religion are on point. The songs are fast, the vocals are perfectly raspy, with the politically charged lyrics and loads of “woah-woah” moments to lose your voice to. I have no doubt that In Evil Hour will deliver a fierce live performance that any fan of melodic hardcore punk will enjoy.
The Lab Rats – Friday, at Yes (Emma)
I saw The Lab Rats, a Manchester-based folk punk duo, when they played MPF back in 2018 and had a wonderful time bopping along to their rousing activist anthems – with the subjects of their tracks ranging from anti-war to veganism and mental health. Last time around, they were actually joined by a third person to play percussion so I have no idea what the 2022 incarnation of The Lab Rats will be like but I’m hoping to find out.
Just Panic – Friday, at Gorilla (Colin)
I feel like Just Panic might be a name that not a lot of people attending MPF will be that familiar with. I was lucky to see them play at the first MPF in 2015 and they haven’t played again since. I absolutely fell in love with them that day with their own take on punk rock. If you’re a fan of old school Against Me! or Crazy Arm, then I thoroughly recommend going to see Just Panic. They’re brilliant and who knows if/when they’ll play again. Also, they might just throw in an Against Me! cover.
Much The Same – Friday, at The Union (Brett)
The amount of excitement I feel about finally getting to see Much The Same live is difficult to put into words. If you’re not familiar with the band, they are making the trip from Chicago, IL, and play melodic skate punk infused with super catchy hooks, in the same vein as No Use For A Name, Slick Shoes and The Swellers. Their latest record, Everything Is Fine, released in 2019 on Lockjaw Records was an almost flawless return to form and one of my favourite releases of that year. Much The Same has been on my MPF wish list for a number of years now and I am ready to cry tears of joy when they take the stage on Friday afternoon.
Chloë Glover – Friday, at Yes (Emma)
I’m really digging a lot of the acts on the ‘acoustic’ stage of the Friday of MPF this year – it doesn’t have to all be about loud, fast punk rock and the wide variety on offer is what makes the festival so great. One of the artists I’m particularly looking forward to seeing is Manchester local Chloë Glover. Chloë was one of the last artists I saw live before the pandemic hit back in early 2020 and I was captivated by her incredible voice and heart wrenching songs. Chloë is also teaming up with Helen from SGYBT and Sarah of Shout Louder fame to host a sober social at Sandbar on Saturday at midday – so, see you there!
Misfortune Cookie – Friday, at Zombie Shack (Richard)
Coming from the right side of the Pennines(!) it’s inevitable I’d recommend watching Yorkshire’s finest! Comprising 3/4 of Bear Trade and led by the ever impressive Helen Chambers, Misfortune Cookie are the kind of band its easy to fall in love with. Their debut album, Heavy Seas, was high on my list of albums for 2019, and in a live setting songs such as ‘Callumbus’ and ‘All Dogs are Nina’ will be huge. Anyone who has gruff punk legends A Wilhelm Scream on their must-see list for the weekend should add these to their itinerary pronto!
Wolfrik – Friday, at Gorilla (Dan)
After seeing Wolfrik tear it up at the last MPF I'm going back for seconds! They play a unique blend of metal and skate punk which is ridiculously techy. With their new album "Clones" they have furthered that sound, with songs like "Fend & Turn" managing to have some awesome tempo changes which are so smooth they sound like an orgasm for the ears. I can't wait to have my jaw well and truly dropped by them again.
Haest – Friday, at Zombie Shack (Richard)
Another band from the TNS roster that need to be checked out is Hastings’ Haest. Whilst you might not instantly think doom and punk make comfortable bedfellows, Haest meld the sounds effectively and creatively, generating enough grove and rumble to get people excited. When we’ve covered Haest previously we’ve thoroughly enjoyed them and given new material is in the offing it’s a great time to get on board this juggernaut!
Throwing Stuff – Friday, at The Bread Shed (Brett)
I would call Throwing Stuff the UK’s answer to Paint It Black. Pure emotion backed up by gut-punching beats and driving guitars, this is some of the best no-frills hardcore punk you can experience. As far as I know, Throwing Stuff is one of the few bands that has played every MPF so far, but their performances are anything but complacent. The set put on by the band at the 2019 after party was explosive and I can’t wait to experience the onslaught again.
Triple Sundae – Friday, at Gorilla (Colin)
If you’re a regular reader of CPRW then you’ll know how much we love London’s Triple Sundae. The four piece have been a big part of the South London DIY scene for years now and it’s been amazing to see them grow as a band over the years. Playing melodic pop punk music with powerful messages, in particular mental health, the dual vocals from Hassan and Zandro are always a treat. Expect plenty of sing-alongs, fists in the air and crowd surfs for this one. Don’t sleep on Triple Sundae, this is going to be a memorable moment in MPF history.
Belvedere – Friday, at The Union (Brett)
When I wrote about seeing Belvedere in my preview for the MPF that didn’t happen in 2020, I said that Belvedere is as close to perfection as I could think of for skate punk. Since then my feelings have not changed, but the band has unleashed a new album which was one of my favourites of 2021 and raised the skate punk bar once again. Still fast, still technical, and still packed with enough hooks, melodies, and harmonies to fill me with delight at the thought of witnessing Belvedere live. With such an extensive back catalogue of fan favourites, I can’t imagine anyone not having a blast.
Faintest Idea – Friday, at Gorilla (Colin)
Faintest Idea have a long history with Manchester, you could be forgiven for thinking they are a home town band. The band are always a big festival highlight and get some crazy reactions from the MPF crowd. I managed to catch the band in London in December and on that night they came with a four piece brass section and sounded better than ever. I believe that they’ve been working away on their long awaited new album and I’m hoping they play some new material alongside plenty of old favourites. As a cheeky request, I’d love it if they played Two Years Conscription – I’ve not seen them play that in years.
Zombies No – Friday, at Zombie Shack (Brett)
As with a lot of music festivals, there are always opportunities to find gems of bands that you never knew before they were added to the line-up. Zombies No first caught my attention because of their cool band name, but after listening to the band’s latest EP, All You Can Hate, I was hooked and knew I would need to make an effort to see them. Described as a multi-national band, it’s easy to hear the different influences come together to create a cohesive style of thrash-y skate punk with a few metal flourishes, reminding me of bands like Lagwagon and No Fun At All. And how often do you get to say you’ve watched a band called Zombies No playing at a venue called Zombie Shack? This can’t be a coincidence.
Apologies, I Have None – Friday, at The Bread Shed (Robyn)
AIHN easily put on one of the best sets I saw at MPF in 2018, completely captivating the crowd and showcasing some fantastic musicianship. Their songs are carefully arranged, often building up a thick emotional atmosphere before bursting open into soaring choruses. It’s a phenomenal live experience that really shows why the band has such a huge following. This is one set that definitely should not be missed.
Random Hand – Friday, at Gorilla (Colin)
Is there a more beloved band in the UK ska scene than Random Hand? After they took a hiatus in 2015, the band returned in 2018 at MPF and they’ve been killing it ever since. I don’t think there are any bands that can match the energy that Random Hand emit when they play and it always oozes into the crowd. Hearing songs such as Scum Triumphant, Bones and Anger Management being sung by every single person in Gorilla again is going to be a lovely time. Also, expect some shenanigans between Faintest Idea and Random Hand as they continue their prank wars.
Fair Do’s – Friday, at Rebellion (Dan)
Speaking of amazing Lockjaw skate punk again, Fair Do’s deliver amazing riffs and some serious speed! Being local to Manchester and playing to a home crowd they are gonna be completely in their element melting faces and blowing socks off! I am a huge fan of their “Leopards” album and can’t wait to see them again after 4 long years!!!
The warm-up gig also features a really awesome and diverse line-up of bands that aren’t playing MPF so it’s a real bonus and a great way to get prepared for the epic weekend to come.
Toodles And The Hectic Pity – Thursday, at Rebellion (Emma)
In 2019, the MPF folks treated us to an official warm-up show on the Thursday night before the festival began properly on the Friday. We’re pleased that this is something they’ve brought back for 2022 and are over the moon that CPRW favourites Toodles And The Hectic Pity are one of the bands scheduled to play. The Bristol-based trio play an emotional brand of folky indie punk and I can’t wait to see them win over the Manchester audience – which no doubt they will. Having seen them live fairly recently, I can vouch that their brand new tracks are sounding particularly good.
Burning Flag – Thursday, at Rebellion (Brett)
If you are lucky enough to be in Manchester on the Thursday before MPF, you would be remiss to be anywhere else but at the official MPF warm-up gig at Rebellion. One of the bands I’m really excited to see is Burning Flag, who play a NYC-style hardcore, with powerful lyrics, relentless riffs and a slightly higher bpm. But it comes without the white-shirt-macho-masculine themes and tendencies so often ingrained in the scene. It feels like forever since I’ve been to a hardcore show and Burning Flag’s latest album, Matador, nearly made it into my top 10 last year so I’m very much looking forward to this set.
Smoking Gives You Big Tits – Friday, at Yes (Emma)
Tasked with the job of opening the entire 2022 edition of MPF are the four-piece riot grrrl influenced Smoking Gives You Big Tits from Bolton and Salford, respectively. I admit to not being an especially big fan of their name but Shout Louder’s Sarah has had nothing but good things to say about this band and, after checking them out on the MPF playlist myself, I’m definitely keen to see what all the fuss is about. From the tracks I have heard, they seem like a lot of fun and should be the perfect band to kick off the festival.
Nexø – Friday, at Zombie Shack (Brett)
With my recent move to Denmark, I am much more alert to Danish punk bands and have picked up on a few that I wasn’t aware of before. Nexø is one of my favourite discoveries so far. Their aggressive hardcore punk is raw and full of energy and is sure to get the early crowd at Zombie Shack ready for what promises to be an amazing weekend ahead. Their 2019 album, New Normal, is an exceptionally strong debut and if the singles released so far this year are anything to go by, Nexø show no signs of mellowing or slowing down.
In Evil Hour – Friday, at The Union (Brett)
In Evil Hour was on my shortlist of bands to see before MPF 2020 was cancelled so I was very happy to see the band on the line-up for 2022. Melodic punk rock that takes on important topics with aggression, passion, and intelligence. The comparisons to Rise Against and Bad Religion are on point. The songs are fast, the vocals are perfectly raspy, with the politically charged lyrics and loads of “woah-woah” moments to lose your voice to. I have no doubt that In Evil Hour will deliver a fierce live performance that any fan of melodic hardcore punk will enjoy.
The Lab Rats – Friday, at Yes (Emma)
I saw The Lab Rats, a Manchester-based folk punk duo, when they played MPF back in 2018 and had a wonderful time bopping along to their rousing activist anthems – with the subjects of their tracks ranging from anti-war to veganism and mental health. Last time around, they were actually joined by a third person to play percussion so I have no idea what the 2022 incarnation of The Lab Rats will be like but I’m hoping to find out.
Just Panic – Friday, at Gorilla (Colin)
I feel like Just Panic might be a name that not a lot of people attending MPF will be that familiar with. I was lucky to see them play at the first MPF in 2015 and they haven’t played again since. I absolutely fell in love with them that day with their own take on punk rock. If you’re a fan of old school Against Me! or Crazy Arm, then I thoroughly recommend going to see Just Panic. They’re brilliant and who knows if/when they’ll play again. Also, they might just throw in an Against Me! cover.
Much The Same – Friday, at The Union (Brett)
The amount of excitement I feel about finally getting to see Much The Same live is difficult to put into words. If you’re not familiar with the band, they are making the trip from Chicago, IL, and play melodic skate punk infused with super catchy hooks, in the same vein as No Use For A Name, Slick Shoes and The Swellers. Their latest record, Everything Is Fine, released in 2019 on Lockjaw Records was an almost flawless return to form and one of my favourite releases of that year. Much The Same has been on my MPF wish list for a number of years now and I am ready to cry tears of joy when they take the stage on Friday afternoon.
Chloë Glover – Friday, at Yes (Emma)
I’m really digging a lot of the acts on the ‘acoustic’ stage of the Friday of MPF this year – it doesn’t have to all be about loud, fast punk rock and the wide variety on offer is what makes the festival so great. One of the artists I’m particularly looking forward to seeing is Manchester local Chloë Glover. Chloë was one of the last artists I saw live before the pandemic hit back in early 2020 and I was captivated by her incredible voice and heart wrenching songs. Chloë is also teaming up with Helen from SGYBT and Sarah of Shout Louder fame to host a sober social at Sandbar on Saturday at midday – so, see you there!
Misfortune Cookie – Friday, at Zombie Shack (Richard)
Coming from the right side of the Pennines(!) it’s inevitable I’d recommend watching Yorkshire’s finest! Comprising 3/4 of Bear Trade and led by the ever impressive Helen Chambers, Misfortune Cookie are the kind of band its easy to fall in love with. Their debut album, Heavy Seas, was high on my list of albums for 2019, and in a live setting songs such as ‘Callumbus’ and ‘All Dogs are Nina’ will be huge. Anyone who has gruff punk legends A Wilhelm Scream on their must-see list for the weekend should add these to their itinerary pronto!
Wolfrik – Friday, at Gorilla (Dan)
After seeing Wolfrik tear it up at the last MPF I'm going back for seconds! They play a unique blend of metal and skate punk which is ridiculously techy. With their new album "Clones" they have furthered that sound, with songs like "Fend & Turn" managing to have some awesome tempo changes which are so smooth they sound like an orgasm for the ears. I can't wait to have my jaw well and truly dropped by them again.
Haest – Friday, at Zombie Shack (Richard)
Another band from the TNS roster that need to be checked out is Hastings’ Haest. Whilst you might not instantly think doom and punk make comfortable bedfellows, Haest meld the sounds effectively and creatively, generating enough grove and rumble to get people excited. When we’ve covered Haest previously we’ve thoroughly enjoyed them and given new material is in the offing it’s a great time to get on board this juggernaut!
Throwing Stuff – Friday, at The Bread Shed (Brett)
I would call Throwing Stuff the UK’s answer to Paint It Black. Pure emotion backed up by gut-punching beats and driving guitars, this is some of the best no-frills hardcore punk you can experience. As far as I know, Throwing Stuff is one of the few bands that has played every MPF so far, but their performances are anything but complacent. The set put on by the band at the 2019 after party was explosive and I can’t wait to experience the onslaught again.
Triple Sundae – Friday, at Gorilla (Colin)
If you’re a regular reader of CPRW then you’ll know how much we love London’s Triple Sundae. The four piece have been a big part of the South London DIY scene for years now and it’s been amazing to see them grow as a band over the years. Playing melodic pop punk music with powerful messages, in particular mental health, the dual vocals from Hassan and Zandro are always a treat. Expect plenty of sing-alongs, fists in the air and crowd surfs for this one. Don’t sleep on Triple Sundae, this is going to be a memorable moment in MPF history.
Belvedere – Friday, at The Union (Brett)
When I wrote about seeing Belvedere in my preview for the MPF that didn’t happen in 2020, I said that Belvedere is as close to perfection as I could think of for skate punk. Since then my feelings have not changed, but the band has unleashed a new album which was one of my favourites of 2021 and raised the skate punk bar once again. Still fast, still technical, and still packed with enough hooks, melodies, and harmonies to fill me with delight at the thought of witnessing Belvedere live. With such an extensive back catalogue of fan favourites, I can’t imagine anyone not having a blast.
Faintest Idea – Friday, at Gorilla (Colin)
Faintest Idea have a long history with Manchester, you could be forgiven for thinking they are a home town band. The band are always a big festival highlight and get some crazy reactions from the MPF crowd. I managed to catch the band in London in December and on that night they came with a four piece brass section and sounded better than ever. I believe that they’ve been working away on their long awaited new album and I’m hoping they play some new material alongside plenty of old favourites. As a cheeky request, I’d love it if they played Two Years Conscription – I’ve not seen them play that in years.
Zombies No – Friday, at Zombie Shack (Brett)
As with a lot of music festivals, there are always opportunities to find gems of bands that you never knew before they were added to the line-up. Zombies No first caught my attention because of their cool band name, but after listening to the band’s latest EP, All You Can Hate, I was hooked and knew I would need to make an effort to see them. Described as a multi-national band, it’s easy to hear the different influences come together to create a cohesive style of thrash-y skate punk with a few metal flourishes, reminding me of bands like Lagwagon and No Fun At All. And how often do you get to say you’ve watched a band called Zombies No playing at a venue called Zombie Shack? This can’t be a coincidence.
Apologies, I Have None – Friday, at The Bread Shed (Robyn)
AIHN easily put on one of the best sets I saw at MPF in 2018, completely captivating the crowd and showcasing some fantastic musicianship. Their songs are carefully arranged, often building up a thick emotional atmosphere before bursting open into soaring choruses. It’s a phenomenal live experience that really shows why the band has such a huge following. This is one set that definitely should not be missed.
Random Hand – Friday, at Gorilla (Colin)
Is there a more beloved band in the UK ska scene than Random Hand? After they took a hiatus in 2015, the band returned in 2018 at MPF and they’ve been killing it ever since. I don’t think there are any bands that can match the energy that Random Hand emit when they play and it always oozes into the crowd. Hearing songs such as Scum Triumphant, Bones and Anger Management being sung by every single person in Gorilla again is going to be a lovely time. Also, expect some shenanigans between Faintest Idea and Random Hand as they continue their prank wars.
Fair Do’s – Friday, at Rebellion (Dan)
Speaking of amazing Lockjaw skate punk again, Fair Do’s deliver amazing riffs and some serious speed! Being local to Manchester and playing to a home crowd they are gonna be completely in their element melting faces and blowing socks off! I am a huge fan of their “Leopards” album and can’t wait to see them again after 4 long years!!!
Thanks for reading! Tomorrow we will have Part Two of our Manchester Punk Festival 2022 Preview so be sure to check back for more of our picks.
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