Interview: New Junk City / MPF 2024

Hi! Emma here. Bringing CPRW back from the dead for one day only.

The highlight of the UK punk rock calendar is almost here! It’s two weeks until Manchester Punk Festival 2024.

I’ve been attending the festival since its second edition in 2016 and this year the lovely folks that organise the festival asked me to write an article for the programme. I immediately jumped at the chance to ask one of my favourite bands, New Junk City, some questions.

I had to lose quite a lot of the details for the programme, which you can view digitally online now and pick up physically with you wristband at the fest. So, here’s my full, unedited Q&A with John Vournakis (vocalist/guitarist).

This is your first time at MPF and in the UK, has it been in the works for a while?

Yeah, we have friends all over the UK, and have been trying to make it happen for quite some time. We started planning an EU/UK tour back in 2022, but it just didn’t work out. We had a record come out late in 2022 and wanted to spend 2023 promoting it in the US, so we had to push the trip again and wait until this year.

Had you heard of the festival before being asked to play?

Yeah! A number of our friends have played, and we’d been in talks with Kieran about trying to get over to the UK. We’re so stoked to finally get to play MPF!

How would you describe New Junk City for anyone who hasn’t heard you yet?

Always such a tough one to answer, so I’ll just name some influences: Superchunk, Jimmy Eat World, Big Computer, Ben Folds Five, David Bazan, Townes Van Zandt, Mr T. Experience, The Wild, Blink-182, The Get Up Kids, Panty Sweat, Bad Mammals, Dillinger Four, Samiam, etc. If you’re into the more emo side of pop punk, I think we fit nicely there.

Having seen you play at Hamburg Booze Cruise and Florida’s Fest, I’m excited you’ll be at our equivalent best weekend of the year. What other bands on the line-up are you looking forward to playing with/seeing?

I’m really excited to finally see Martha! I’ve been a big fan for years and never gotten to see them. Besides them, Pissed Jeans, our homies Reconciler that we’ll be on tour with, Perkie, Catbite, Cheekface, Antillectual, Cosmit, Big Mess, Erica Freas, Brightr, and I can’t wait to see some bands I’ve never listened to before! It’s the best part of fests like this.

Your 2022 album Beg A Promise – album of that year, some say – seems to have gained you a bigger following (the ‘at capacity’ venue at Fest last year comes to mind), why do you think that is?

Honestly the response to that record surprised us! Hopefully I can say this without sounding like a jackass, but I think it’s just because Beg A Promise is better than our other records. We’ve been a band for 10 years now, and we had the luxury of writing and recording it during lockdown, so to me it’s much more cohesive and intentional than the previous records. We’ve also played a lot more shows in the past two years than we had in previous years, which I think has a lot to do with it as well.

What are your favourite songs from it to play live?

I think my favorite [songs to play live] are the first 3 songs on the record: High Contrast, Quitters and Cavities. Cavities is probably my favorite of all our songs to play. Sold in Bunches is really fun as well.

Do you have a follow-up planned?

By the time folks are reading this, we’ll have a new split 10” record with our friends, Rutterkin, out in the world! As far as a 4th LP, we’re in the middle of writing now. We’ve got about half a record done. No solid plans for recording or release yet.

Anything non-gig related you’re looking forward to in the UK? The weather?

Tons! I’ve never been to the UK so honestly the whole trip is pretty exciting. My wife is a total Anglophile (she can recite all of the English Monarchs dating back to the 900s by heart!) and she’s coming to meet up with us at the end of the tour. She’s got a million things planned for us to explore. I’m just excited to be somewhere new, eat some good food, hang out in some pubs, and hopefully make some new friends.

New Junk City start their Europe and UK tour on Tuesday, with their Atlanta buds Reconciler. So, even if you’re not going to MPF there’s a chance to catch them elsewhere. If you’re London based, they play CPRW’s favourite venue the New Cross Inn on Thursday 28th March – a gig I am very sad to miss!

They finish the tour by playing MPF on Saturday 30th March at 15:50 in Gorilla. 

See you there!

Interview: ALLDEEPENDS Interview For Manchester Punk Festival 2023

Who are ALLDEEPENDS?

Hooligan: Alldeepends is a collective of artists that are based in Dundee. The name is quite well suited because it’s a pun on all dependent but also going really deep into things, giving extra layers. So sometimes we might be putting on plays, or doing shadow theatre, putting fanzines out, playing music, putting records out, painting together, vandalising the streets. 

John: Hooligan was quite adamant that we’re an art collective, we were looking at Crass and how they describe themselves as an art collective, not just a band and that inspired us to have a broader approach. 

How would you describe ALLDEEPENDS’ sound?

John: It’s very difficult to have the frame of reference to the points that the band references. I’m personally inspired a lot by the Minutemen. One of the early hardcore punk bands from LA, who played with Black Flag and Dead Kennedys. They were one of the bands that focussed on funky basslines, had a bit of a post-punk outlook. One of the things that their lead singer D-Boon said was ‘punk is what we make it’ – it’s not a sound, it’s not a style, it’s a way of doing things. They would bring in other elements to the punk scene like dub, reggae, to a certain extent ska, funk. I was inspired by that. 

Nikki: Something I always like to point out is that all of us have a deep appreciation for music but also a very wide appreciation. Obviously the banjo as an American folk instrument has a really long tradition of these very simple songs that get passed down, these lyrical motifs that appear over time but also the fact that the banjo is all based in triplets. I don’t really use a pick, I never have even when playing the guitar, but the banjo is all based in triplets and they create that almost rolling, galloping sound which I think translates really well to punk and folk music brought into a modern context and brought into modern electric, distorted sounds. 

John: It’s harder isn’t it, it’s harder than playing in a guitar based punk band. I think that’s something that lends credence to the name ALLDEEPENDS as well because our shows can vary wildly and it’s up to chance how things go on the night and whether everything works okay, there’s a lot more things but we embrace that. 

Do you find that you end up on a lot more mixed genre bills because of your style?

Nikki: The UK has quite a defined DIY scene, there’s different venues that you go to pretty consistently, you know what to expect from the bands that you support. But even still, the range of bands that we end up playing with – Cocky Horror and Endless Swarm, very heavy, very technical, almost power violence type stuff all the way to Café folk songs. The ability to push and pull the amount of distortion, even Hooligan stripped down to just a washboard at times, doing street busking – to Grateful Dead bars, to Sunday Oi matinees, to somebody's basement – the flexibility and the ability to evolve and respond to circumstance and environment is really important to us as musicians. 

You spoke about being an art collective. In art there aren't any rules, does that approach follow on into your music?

Hooligan: The outlook that we have towards music comes from art, it is a big umbrella where within you can find art itself in music. 

Nikki: I think that all three of us are coming from a background of creating something of our own style, something with our own voice and being able to incorporate it into a collective and being able to collaborate and make something greater. I think of our sound generally as a musical collage in that everybody has a very specific outlook and voice and nobody’s phoning it in and trying to follow a specific guideline. Everybody’s doing something creative constantly in the way we all have very different styles artistically as well.

Hooligan: That’s also observable in the artwork for the music that we’ve released in the way that Nikki was mentioning. A musical collage, in this case, is a 2D visual art piece where the three of us come together with our ideas and put it together for it to be the cover of our albums. 

John: It’s like translating us visually into us sonically and vice versa. It’s like three quite idiosyncratic people in an idiosyncratic band then on the flip side you’ve got the visual side of that as well which corresponds quite directly.

How did ALLDEEPENDS form?

John: We all met in the basement, Conroy’s Basement. Hooligan probably tells the story best.

Hooligan: The first time I met Nikki was when Joe McMahon (Smoke Or Fire) played the Basement. In the middle of his set he pointed out Nikki and said they just moved here a few days ago, someone go and speak to them. That was the first thing I went to do and then I heard about their project named Misery Guts. We started jamming and we knew John from the scene and also from art school.

John: We just happened to all be from the same school as well. 

Hooligan: It just all came together after we had some practices.

Nikki: Playing in the band was preceded by a lot of very long conversations about the ethics of punk and about what we want to do in an outlook sort of way and a general understanding of what punk is as a concept. 

John: It’s an ongoing conversation.

You mentioned Minutemen as an influence, what other bands influence you?

Nikki: Oooh, I’m gonna say Beastie Boys, Nomeansno and Defiance, Ohio. So folk punk, hip-hop vocal delivery and almost theatrical, a lot of rise and fall actions, that’s for me personally.

Hooligan: Recently I’ve been finding joy in my friends making music. There’s a new band called Wrecking Joy who are a bunch of my friends. The Sewer Cats. To me there’s nothing more inspiring at the moment than being at an event where everyone is part of it. The people onstage are not any more devine or majestic than the people on the other side of the stage. I think that people that are my friends or people that I know, going for it, that is what really inspires me at the moment. 

John: A band for me, both musically and ethically like Fugazi are really important for having a model of what DIY punk can be and how far it can go. Digressing a bit from this question, like Hooligan was saying, being inspired by the ethics of breaking down the divide of the audience and the band, as well as the spaces being safe spaces for everybody and everyone feeling comfortable in those spaces is really important. Also, Fucked Up. 

What are you most looking forward to about MPF?

John: All the bands, it's the pinnacle of DIY punk in the UK isn’t it? Super stoked to be a part of it. 

Nikki: It’s such a fun structure with all the venues being in walking distance and just the really unique sensation of seeing all these people around with T-shirts and patches that you recognise just crisscrossing.

What bands in particular are you looking forward to seeing?

Hooligan: I’ve been listening to the MPF Spotify playlist with all the bands. I’ve been listening to it and every time there’s been a song I like I tried to make a note of it so that whenever we know the times I can end up going A, B, C to venue to venue, like an abstract map. I found this band called Ithaca that I enjoyed and there’s also this power violence called Krupskaya. Also Cherym and Throwing Stuff. 

John: I’m stoked for Petrol Girl, that’ll be good.

You’ve played Manchester before, how did it go?

John: It’s a beautiful experience. We really like playing Manchester, it’s quite similar in tone to our Dundee scene. People go for it. The TNS crowd, the Garlic Bread Club nights are just wild. People come out for shows and it’s really supportive. We’ve had a good time there. 

Nikki: It’s quite fortunate that people are really swinging hard for it. We’ve played Fuel. I really enjoyed playing Fuel, I love the straight stage and I love the floor bouncing with people jumping.

John: We had complaints from downstairs at Fuel because everyone was jumping at the same time and they came up to beg us to get people not to jump at the same time because they thought that the ceiling was going to cave in or something and said ‘could you please get people to jump up and down at odd intervals or something?’

Nikki: The overhead lights were swinging back and forth.

John: It’s a cool place, it’s very stripped down. It’s kind of reminiscent of house shows in the USA where a lot of the sound people would just turn things up, turn mics on and away you go. It feels very punk rock, it’s not like these twenty minute sound checks. People are just setting up and going for it. We enjoyed the sound and the people who we were with, the bands we played with. It’s one of the best places to play in the UK.

Hooligan: I think that The Sewer Cats are a lot to do with the good times that we’ve had there.

John: Yeah, we’ve got connections there. Josh in The Sewer Cats is my brother, so it’s proper family. We always laugh because me and my brother are in our 30s and we got into punk and the DIY scene and we’ve got no business doing this at this time, being over 30 and doing these punk shows. It’s just a really nice feeling and it’s brought us closer together, it’s all we ever talk about on the phone now, gear, guitar stuff or bands.

Anything else you want to mention?

Hooligan: We have new music coming out, we recorded it a year ago just before our USA tour. Hopefully it will be up on all digital platforms before MPF.

You can stream and download that new music, Banjoviolence, Hooligan mentioned on Bandcamp here.

This interview was for the Manchester Punk Festival 2023 programme which you can read here – there’s loads of great articles and information in there.

See you at MPF!

Interview: Plot 32 Interview For Manchester Punk Festival

Ahead of their performance at Manchester Punk Festival, Colin caught up with Plot 32 for a lovely chat.

How did Plot 32 start?

Gaz: Myself, lead guitarist Adam and Stash were at Rebellion 2016 and we just watched Bar Stool Preachers play an acoustic set and were all feeling very emotional and said “there doesn’t seem to be that much ska punk going on in Leeds at the moment besides the usual suspects, how about we form a band.” Then Stash said “well aye man, that sounds cannae.”

Liz: I remember recruiting Rachel, we were on a Rocky Horror night out, we dressed up, and I was like “you’d be the perfect person to join our brass section and then you agreed so that was nice.”

Rachel: “I somehow ended up accidentally in a ska band when I was at school and I randomly mentioned that to you on a night out.

Liz: I Had to learn drums for this band, Gaz had to learn the bass.

Stash: A few had to start from scratch.

Liz: We started in February and we had our first gig in May which was very soon as I’d never played any drums before.

Stash: That’s pretty punk rock that, innit.

Who are the members of Plot 32?

Liz: I’m Liz and I play the drums, shall we tell you our favourite vegetable as well?

If you want, the answer is broccoli.

Liz: Yeah, my answers broccoli.

Gaz: I’m Gaz, I play bass guitar and my favourite vegetable is a beetroot.

Stash: My name is Stash, I’m 42 years old, my favourite vegetable is mushroom and I’m the singer.

Cat S: I’m Cat, I’m the rhythm guitarist and my favourite vegetable is a carrot.

Rachel: I’m Rachel, I play saxophone and my favourite vegetable is fresh peas.

Liz: We’ve got Adam, he plays guitar and his favourite vegetable is sweetcorn because he’s a sweet person and he’s pretty corny and then there’s Cat Robbins, she plays the trumpet, she love an aubergine apparently.

Who are your influences?

Stash: I think we’ve all got different influences. The bands probably influenced by bands like Operation Ivy, Bosstones, ska punk….

Cat S: I listen to a lot of Reel Big Fish, Less Than Jake, also I love anything a bit pop punky like New Found Glory as well.

Liz: Cat and Adam tend to write most of our songs but then other people chip in, Gaz and Rachel and Stash have all written some things, I haven’t written anything so I guess my influences wouldn’t come out that strongly but I love things like drum n bass, dance music but all of my favourite gigs growing up were Reel Big Fish. I think me and Cat spent years going to every single Reel Big Fish gig. I used to love King Prawn and saw lots of ska punk in Leeds back in the day.

This is your first time playing MPF, have you been before as attendees?

Stash: I’ve volunteered there before. We’ve been there as punters.

Liz: I’ve been almost every year. Infact I met Cat Robbins at the thing that was before MPF. There was some sort of anniversary show that the same people put on the year before MPF and I met Cat Robbins in the queue so we wouldn’t even have her as a friend or band member if it wasn’t for MPF. This sounds like a proper geeky thing to say but my drum teachers reminded me of it last week. I was talking about playing MPF and the stuff I wanted to work on and they were like “ooh, they said last year that playing MPF was your dream” and I was like “I wouldn’t of said that would I?” but clearly I did.

Gaz: You say it all the time Liz, when you’re drunk.

Cat S: I’ve never been, I’m really looking forward to it. It’s normally difficult for me to get time off work to get to it. But we’re playing some I’m forced to get time of work for it so it’s great. I can’t wait! It’ll be a good opportunity to see loads of bands that I’ve never seen before and get introduced to new stuff  and seeing some old friends as well.

Stash: It’s nice when all you’re mates are there from all different cities coming together. You can spend a lot of time chatting to people with people you’ve not seen for a while.

Liz: It’s one of those few festivals where you know that everyone you know from across the country will be in the same place and you’ll bump into them at some point over the weekend. And they always have an amazing line up too.

Stash: I normally miss a lot of bands just through nattering and smoking.

Who are all you looking forward to seeing?

Liz: I have been doing so much research on this, I’ve got a playlist that I made myself. They do have an MPF playlist but I wanted to extra curate it. Shai Hulud, I know they’re quite famous but I’ve never listened to them before I knew they were playing MPF. Really love them. Really love Belvedere, Elephant March is a great song, just love all that relentless, fast pop punk stuff. And then there’s some really nice ska like Popes, JB Conspiracy, all the people that we love seeing and have maybe played with before. I quite like Riskee, some of that rappy stuff, Karl Phillips, we’ve played with him before haven’t we. Jeff Rosenstock. I’m trying not get my hopes up too much with anybody because you don’t know who’s gonna clash and you don’t know who’s going to have to pull out.

Cat S: We’ve had Brassick at Nice As Pie before so I’m looking forward to seeing them.

Liz: There’s all of our friends bands as well. Smoking Gives You Big Tits, I love them. Great name, great band. Monolithian, that’s Simon from Rash Decision’s band with that lady in Bobby Funk. They’re gonna be great.

What can people expect to see from your live set?

Stash: They’re probably see seven drunkards falling about all over the stage.

Liz: We’re not a polished performance but we’ll be very friendly.

Stash: If we’re anything we’re friendly.

Cat S: We want everyone to have fun and we’ll be having fun and hopefully that’s all that matters.

Liz: There might be some cheesy, bad jokes. You might get some very light political and environmental messaging  but the overriding theme will be fun.

What’s your best experience at a Plot 32 gig?

Stash: Outciders always a good thing.

Liz: Remember when we played that really weird festival and then somebody came up to us and told us and told us that she was Miss Chesire 2018. I don’t know if this was the same person or I’ve got it confused in my head…

Stash: Didn’t she call us weirdos?

Liz: She said you’re the weirdest bunch of weirdos that I’ve seen in the same place at the same time and I thought to myself that I really understand what you mean; we are all quite different to each other, we’ve got quite different opinions and we act quite differently and I just loved that she thought we were so strange.

Cat S: Illusive Festival was dead good as well.

Liz: That was definitely the weirdest festival that I’ve ever been too.

Stash: It was like a drum n bass festival with a random ska stage.

Liz: Everyobdy was off their face to the point where they’ve built little sort of caves under the stage for people to go and hide if they want to have some private time.

Stash: That sounds rude.

Gaz: We played two sets that weekend. We played one of the first sets on the Friday and we were all fresh and energetic and there weren’t that many people watching us. Then on Sunday we were all a bit worse for wear, we were depleted with serotonin and dopamine and I think the majority of us were hung over and we played the other set and people were absolutely loving it.

Stash: I think between us we probably introduced ourselves to everybody at the festival by that point .

Liz: They really had no choice but to come and watch us after we bombarded them with our friendship for the whole weekend.

That’s a solid plan, are you going to do that in Manchester as well?

Liz: We’ve already said that we really hope we play the Sunday so we get so we get to make friends with absolutely everybody at the festival and then relentless pressure them into coming to see us.

Do you know where you’re playing yet?

Liz: It doesn’t really matter. Early is good, late is good, middle is good. They’ve all got there advantages.

Have you got a venue that you particularly want to play?

Liz: I love the Zombie Shack which I guess might be where we play as it’s a bit of a small one. It’ll be lovely to play in a smaller venue that’s packed out.

Stash: I’d rather play a smaller venue with more people in than a bigger venue with the same amount of people.

Cat S: Somewhere with a big enough stage to fit seven of us.

Liz: Yeah, so basically we want a venue where the stage is half as big as the crowd space so we’ve got room but no-one else does.

Stash: Not too high though, as I’m prone to falling off.

Liz: I would like a drum riser so we could have a combination of those things.

Cat S: Are you going to build our ideal stage here Colin?

I will send Tree a message and ask him very nicely.

Stash: It would be good if the drum rose over from the floor, that would be good.

Liz: We played for Tree the other day didn’t we and the drums were on a bit of a riser. It was the first time that I thought people could see me and I loved it.

Stash: I mean coming up from the floor as you’re playing.

Just fly across the room.

Liz: Who is it that does that?

Cat S: Do Slipknot do that?

Stash: A zip wire would be good. A good entrance on a zip wire.

Liz: Nobody had done zip wire drumming have they? Perhaps I could be the first.

That would be a lot of wires that you would have to time very precisely to make sure all the kit is in the same place.

Stash: You’d imagine that the kit would already be on stage and you’d just arrive and land on the chair.

Liz: Oh no, I imagine you’re going to zipwire a platform with the drums set up already.

Gaz: This is just sounding like a death clock out of metalopolis with the ridiculous stage set up.

Stash: When people book us we should start requesting these things and see what we can get.

Liz: We must be halfway between getting nothing on a rider and getting some flying drums. Perhaps if we aim high we might get a crate of beer.

Stash: We’ll take £20 if we can get a zipwire.

Is there anything you’d like to add?

Gaz: I guess we could say we’d like people to come along and make friends with us. We’ve been told we either get the party started or we keep the party going or we end the party really well so really your choice is across the board.

Stash: Take care of yourself and each other.

Plot 32 play at Zombie Shack at 22.15 tonight!

Check out Plot 32 on Facebook here and Bandcamp here.

Do It Together: Meet Just Say Nay, Toodles & The Hectic Pity and Katie MF

Do It Together 2020 is just one week away and we wanted to help you get to know some of the amazing acts that are playing the weekend. Thanks to Jak from Just Say Nay, Callum from Toodles & The Hectic Pity and Katie from Katie MF for answering our questions.

Callum from Toodles & The Hectic Pity

Hello, who are you and what band do you play in?
Hey! I am Callum and I played in Toodles & the Hectic Pity.

Can you describe your band please?
Toodles are a three-piece folk punk band from Bristol, taking influences from bands like AJJ, Neutral Milk Hotel and The Mountain Goats. Honestly, it’s mostly pretty up-beat stuff but the themes are very much not and I think some of the songs we’ve been writing recently owe an awful lot to emo  and pop punk as well – which is a fun space to be in, sat in between a lot of interesting genres.

The three of us have known each other since we were teenagers and started a band when we were leaving school, but because we went to different unis it was a bit of a slow-burning start and for the most part I was sending demos that I recorded on my phone over to the other two. We got to practice maybe once every few months and then I went to Canada for six months – but we very slowly wrote the songs that would be part of our first record, Call In Sick, which our close friend and indispensable collaborator Iwan of Invisible Llama Music released for us in 2017. We have a new release due from Specialist Subject Records in February which is called Ghosts, Guilt & Grandparents. Hopefully we will have copies in time for Do It Together!

How was your 2019?
We started off 2019 by playing a rare Bristol show with Chewing on Tinfoil, then touring around the UK with my brother’s band, (then Jake & the Jellyfish, now known as Sunliner) which was super fun. We played a whole bunch of places we’d never been before. Then we also got the chance to play with Spanish Love Songs and Microwave, and we did two shows with Jeffrey Lewis in Bristol and London, which was nuts – and then got to play Specialist Subject’s birthday all-dayer to celebrate 2 years in Bristol, which was honestly such a fantastic show with the likes of ONSIND, Garden Centre, Grand Pop and Me Rex.

To be honest, we’ve been laying low a little bit since then and working on writing and recording the new EP, Ghosts, Guilt & Grandparents. We recorded with Tim Rowing-Parker of WOAHNOWS and Dogeyed fame over the summer and had an absolutely lovely time with it, too. Since then we’ve been working with Specialist Subject on planning this release and focusing more on 2020 – which is going to be a busy one.

What was your first exposure to DIY punk rock?
To be honest my first exposure was my brother’s band, Sunliner (formerly Jake & the Jellyfish). Jake is about five years older than me and was, naturally, involved in DIY punk music way before I was – organising gigs for himself and other bands at The Croft in Bristol and around the country – and introducing me (through the fact he was simply playing them in the car or wherever else) to a whole bunch of bands.

Also, weirdly enough, it came from the other direction too. My sister who is two years younger than me is an avid music-discoverer in a way that I am definitely not. When I hear something that I love, I’m into it and I’ll listen to it to death. I go to gigs a lot too but I don’t spend time browsing Bandcamp or Spotify in search of new things. But my sister really does spend a lot of time discovering new music and, to be honest, most bands I’ve ever liked have come through her recommending them to me. From late in school and then at uni, I started to attend DIY shows more regularly in Cardiff and Bristol – most formatively at the Deadpunk Alldayers. I think that’s when we all realised that we wanted to make music but also that, unlike some young musicians, we didn’t have our eyes on stardom or anything: we really did have our vision of success as being part of the DIY scene. So in that sense, we’ve essentially achieved our dreams.

What does “Do It Together” mean to you?
To me, it’s really about the fact that the DIY scene really is about collaboration. It’s not just “Do It Yourself” in an individualistic sense, it is about “Do It Yourselves” – plural. Essentially it’s an anti-gatekeeper, anti-industry-insider, anti-fame-and-fortune approach to creativity. DIY punk is, or should be, a real fuck you to certain ideas about musicianship and creativity – who’s allowed to do it and what that means. It should attempt to break down fan/artist divides and accept that people making and organising are part of the same project as people who are participating. And basically, a fuck you to the marketisation of everything in our lives including music. In fact, bands, musicians, creators, consumers, participators – we’re not in competition with each other and we’re not trying to get ahead. We’re trying to build shit together and promote solidarity and community.

Tell us about the DIY scene where you’re based?
Bristol has a thriving music scene and DIY scene – which goes without saying. But that’s not to say that everything’s ok and everything’s easy. Venues are still closing down, for one thing. For another, DIY promoting is a pretty thankless task. We could do with more smaller DIY spaces for cheaper, smaller shows. We’ve got a lot of mid-size venues in Bristol which can be a daunting prospect for most bands. Plus, promoters are taking big financial risks putting on shows and have more bands looking for shows than they can reasonably organise. It’s a rough game! I wouldn’t want to do it, but I’m thankful for those hardworking people who spend time and energy doing it.

We’ve gotta find a better model for supporting DIY shows all over the UK, because right now the weight falls heavily on the shoulders of those with real drive and passion and there’s always a danger of burnout and financial trouble. In Bristol, I’ve got massive respect in particular for Eat Up and Eat Up For Starters who are doing some of the best, most inclusive, most radical work carving out room for feminist, queer, trans and non-binary friendly spaces in the DIY music scene. But it’s also on us, the music-lovers, to cherish what we have and go out and participate and pay in and buy merch and support bands and promoters. Otherwise there’s a decent chance we could lose them. People give up every day and even more decide not to get involved to begin with. And that’s a real shame.

How would you sell Do It Together to someone who’s on the fence about coming?
I think that Do It Together seems like a real labour of love. There’s plenty of all-dayers and weekenders and gigs going on but, again, it’s really worth supporting the people who are putting the love into it. Be Sharp, Lockjaw Records, Colin’s Punk Rock World and Shout Louder are all projects born out of enthusiasm for live music. They’re not soulless profit making agencies looking for the next band to blow up. Otherwise they wouldn’t have booked us! Not saying this to sound up ourselves, but I know that we were put on this bill because the people involved really like us. And I think sometimes as a gig-goer you’ve got to put your faith in the hands of the mega-enthusiasts and say “Hey I’m going to trust your recommendation and see where it takes me.” And that’s rarely something you regret.

What other act are you most looking forward to seeing at Do It Together?
Triple Sundae. But also, to be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever had the chance to see any of the other bands on the line-up live before – so I’m really excited for that. Just a bunch of lovely new faces and new music to enjoy.

What song from another band on the line-up do you wish you had written?
Pollution by Triple Sundae. It’s just a perfect punk song, start to finish. And what a riff!

What does the band have planned for the rest of 2020?
So, us and Triple Sundae are playing some shows either side of Do It Together Fest – in Cardiff on the Friday and Oxford on the Sunday. Then February 7th sees us put out our second EP, Ghosts, Guilt & Grandparents, which is out from Specialist Subject Records. Really stoked for that! We should be doing a Bristol launch show in February, and then a UK tour in March on the week leading up to Chris Fishlock’s annual all-dayer at the Exchange in Bristol, “Fishstock”, which is on the 28th of March. That tour is almost fully booked now – playing a whole bunch of places we haven’t been before which is really fun. Then it’s a bit of an open book. We’re hoping to get over the Europe, too. But right now we’re just focusing on the immediate shows around the release.

As I said, we had a fairly quiet 2019 but I think 2020 is going to be a big year for us.

Speaking of Europe – we’ve never been over as a band so if you are reading this and you want us to play your town or have any recommendations please send us a message!


Jak from Just Say Nay

Hello, who are you and what band do you play in?
Hello, I’m Jak and I sing and prance around in Just Say Nay.

Can you describe your band please?
Nonsense. It’s all just complete sugary, head bopping, tongue twisting nonsense.

How was your 2019?
For the most part it was pretty bloody amazing. JSN finally got our album out and for a while we all felt like nothing bad was ever going to happen again in the world ever.

What was your first exposure to DIY punk rock?
My first experience was when there use to be local gigs in Dartford town. This was around 2003 perhaps. A band called My Dad Is Big. Amazing fun they were. Paul Smith will know, he was there.

What does “Do It Together” mean to you?
Everyone’s stronger together right?

“It’s dangerous to go alone.”

Tell us about the DIY scene where you’re based?
JSN are based right in the heart of Be Sharp country. The scene we’re in is the best. Other bands don’t believe me when I tell them about how good we have it.

How would you sell Do It Together to someone who’s on the fence about coming?
You mean there would be people on the fence about coming?

I’d say, you can walk in knowing nobody and leave knowing the finest humans you can ever wish to know.

What other act are you most looking forward to seeing at Do It Together?
Lightyear always. Our boyfriends in Call Me Malcolm and Triple Sundae. And Our Lives In Cinema too, their bass player is so mysterious and moody it just makes me go all giddy.

What song from another band on the line-up do you wish you had written?
That’s easy, For years and years I have always wished that I had written “Life Jacket Water Wings” by Lightyear.

What does the band have planned for the rest of 2020?
Playing this album to death everywhere we can. I can’t imagine it’d be too long before you start hearing a bit of new music from us either, I say, I say.


Katie from Katie MF

Hello, who are you and what band do you play in?
Oh hey. I’m Katie MF and I play in, erm, Katie MF. We’re working on the name…

Can you describe your band please?
We are beyond description – a folk/punk reckoning for our times; an explosive force of nature, a… god sorry, I’ve had a coffee. We play poppy/folky/punky/angry stuff and have a bit of fun with it – think break-ups and Brexit. And dancing. Bad dancing.

How was your 2019?
Pretty great to be honest. We went on our first tour (3 nights counts) and started to feel really solid as a band – we don’t get to play full band shows that often (I do a lot of acoustic stuff), so it’s taken a little while to really gel but I think we’re there now and it feels GOOD. Ben (bass) and Tobias (drums) are infinitely better musicians than I am so it’s a consistent pleasure to play with them.

Plus we/I supported a few personal heroes, released another EP and, importantly, made a bunch of new friends.

What was your first exposure to DIY punk rock?
That is a difficult question. Probably when I was 16/17 – my friends ran a few (mostly metal) nights at The White Horse in Wycombe (where I grew up) and I’d hang around not really knowing what was going on but hoping someone else did. Then my punk side lay dormant until about 3 years ago when I starting ‘doing the music thing properly’ – my songs got faster and louder then, as a band, we got booked to support Wolves & Wolves & Wolves & Wolves at New Cross Inn, got written up on CPRW and found a whole new community. So thanks CPRW!

What does “Do It Together” mean to you?
I could write an essay on this, but in sum: family, community and sharing equally in the disappointments and successes. The whole is bigger than the sum of the parts. It’s taken me too many years to really appreciate that.

Tell us about the DIY scene where you’re based?
In a nutshell, it’s about being able to go down to NXI (or anywhere else putting on a punk show) and always seeing a friendly face or five – whether they’re on stage or in the crowd. It’s supportive and inclusive, and holy shit there’s a lot of talent.

How would you sell Do It Together to someone who’s on the fence about coming?
You’ll meet some of the best people there are and have a chance to see a few bands who are unlikely to still be playing local shows this time next year. It’ll be a guaranteed tonic to all the shit that’s going on in the world right now. Plus, Lightyear.

What other act are you most looking forward to seeing at Do It Together?
Eat Defeat. Always and forever. And Call Me Malcolm because, somewhat unbelievably, it’ll be my first time. And Goodbye Blue Monday. And Uniforms.

What song from another band on the line-up do you wish you had written?
Shortcuts [by Eat Defeat] – it’s in my head at least 5 times a week.

What does the band have planned for the rest of 2020?
More of the same, but better. I’m going to be announcing a little solo run with some pals soon and have a few louder and longer things in the works…

Check out the Facebook event page for Do It Together here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1260074194165046/

You can buy tickets here: https://newcrossinn.com/tickets/events/do-it-together-fest

Interview: Katie MF

If you're a regular reader of CPRW, you have probably heard the name Katie MF by now. We first discovered them last year after finding their EP Learning How To Lie on Bandcamp and they quickly became our Band Of The Week. We then got the opportunity to see the band live and were completely blown away. On Thursday the 9th of May Katie MF are throwing a release party for their new EP Everything Trouble Meant at the Black Heart which is released the next day. We decided it would be great to have a chat with Katie before the release, to find out about her start in music, her influences and some more about Everything Trouble Meant.

Colin: Hi Katie, Colin CPRW here. Ready whenever you are.

Katie MF: Hey mate – all good from my side, let’s do it!

Colin: Okay, question number one – For those unaware, please tell us about yourself.

Katie MF: Starting with the hard one I see… Haha. So I’m a folk/punk musician who used to play solo acoustic in the corners of pubs, then formed a band just over a year ago with my best mate, Ben, and an amazing drummer, Tobias, who I met at a gig in Bristol. It’s much more fun now.

I also have a day job but that’s best ignored…

Colin: I think we all have day jobs we like to ignore, haha.

Katie MF: Absolutely. 😂

Colin: How long have you been playing music?

Katie MF: Since forever. My dad’s a keyboard player and I muscled my way into his covers band at the age of 11, after I’d been playing guitar for all of 6 months, and never looked back! I’ve been writing since I was about 14 and performing my own stuff for, errm, just over 10 years now (it has improved, thankfully).

Colin: Oh, wow! What covers did you play?

Katie MF: Oh all the work party classics – Proud Mary, Gimme Some Lovin’, La Bamba, that kind of stuff. I still have a real soft spot for it, haha.

Colin: Ever tempted to work any cover into your current set list?

Katie MF: It’s funny you should ask… I’ve just finished rehearsal where we went through a fairly shambolic version of The Wanderer by Dion. American Girl and Dancing in the Dark came out at our first EP launch last year too.

Colin: What/who influenced your songwriting when you first started?

Katie MF: In the early days I was big into Stereophonics (always wished I could sing like Kelly Jones), but in the last few years I’d have to say Frank Turner, with a smidge of Bruce Springsteen and a wee bit of Brandi Carlile. Lyrics-wise I’m very much a confessional and autobiographical writer, I don’t often write things that aren’t true for me.

Ooh and Bright Eyes/Conor Oberst. Ugh so good.

Colin: So, with those influences how did you end up in a ska band with King Punch’s drummer?

Katie MF: Ha! Excellent question. It was very much his thing – he’s an amazing writer and multi-instrumentalist. We went to uni together and met at a jam night run by the rock society – he messaged me a couple of days later to ask if I’d be interested and Gandhi’s Flip Flop was born! I was honestly the worst musician there by a long way, but we had fun and I learned a lot.

Colin: Incredible band name. I feel like I should pre-face that for anyone that might not have read your top ten influences feature last year that you mentioned this band then.

Katie MF: Yes indeed. 😊

Colin: Professional interviewer over here. Haha.

Katie MF: Haha – more so than the interviewee! I’m unloading the dishwasher as we speak… 🤘🏻

Colin: Just don’t pop out for an apple turnover like the last person I interviewed!

Katie MF: I mean that does sound good… Don’t give me ideas.

Colin: We first discovered you after we found your previous EP Learning How To Lie on Bandcamp (It’s superb, check it out!). You’re now gearing up to release a new EP titled Everything Trouble Meant on May 9th. Tell us about that.

Katie MF: Ah thanks for the kind words! Yes indeed – the difficult second EP, ha. So I went through a bit of an emotionally traumatic break-up at the end of 2017 and the only thing I knew how to do was write about it, so that’s the inspiration behind 4 of the 5 songs on the EP. I wasn’t sure whether to go down that route as it’s become almost ‘concept’ (my leather jacket features heavily), but I took a few songs to Nick Harris, my producer, and we decided to tell the story. It’s not as frantically energetic as LHTL but, to me, it feels like a development, both in terms of the arrangement and production. I’m very proud of it. (Luckily!)

There’s also a cello on the final song which is incredibly punk, no?! Haha.

That makes it sound super melancholic – it’s not. Well, most of it isn’t…

Colin: You were kind enough to give us a sneaky listen of the EP and we have really enjoyed listening to it.

Katie MF: Well that’s great to hear, thank you.

Colin: Was there a reason you chose Praying For Rain as a lead single?

Katie MF: A couple – 1) they say we should all do more things that scare us, and the thought of people hearing those lyrics absolutely terrifies me because they’re things I’d never say in ‘real’ life. And 2), I just love the way it’s come together and the influence that Tobias and Ben have brought to it – to me, the way it’s constructed makes you want to listen to it at least twice in a row. But of course, people will decide for themselves. 😊

Colin: We’ve had it on repeat, so we agree.

Katie MF: You guys are the best.

Colin: Would you say that the whole experience of writing and recording this EP has been a cathartic experience?

Katie MF: Oh, massively. Highly recommend it to anyone looking to get over something… Haha. It was fairly tough at times – I definitely cried in the studio more than once (sorry Nick!) but maybe that was more to do with my total inability to sing harmonies…

Colin: Is there a hope that listeners will be able to relate to the songs and it might help them?

Katie MF: I’d be absolutely chuffed to bits if anyone heard something I’d written and found it affected them in that kind of positive way, yeah. That would just be amazing.

The world needs more hope, even in minuscule portions!

Colin: I couldn’t agree more.

What do you have planned for the release of Everything Trouble Meant?

Katie MF: A big party with everyone I love, and hopefully a few others! Said party will take the form of a gig (of course), at The Black Heart in Camden on the 9th May (tickets available now…), ahead of ETM’s release at midnight. I’m stoked that two of my favourite bands on the London circuit will be supporting us – my brothers in The New Heat and an awesome indie/punk outfit called Charles And The Big Boys.

Everyone through the door will get a CD, that they can either listen to or use as a Frisbee.

Colin: We’re looking forward to it.

How would you describe your live performances for someone who hasn’t seen you?

Katie MF: Well in the words of Pkew Pkew Pkew… ‘tight, but like, loose’. Haha. High energy, contagious and, occasionally, funny (depending on the level of my between song chat). We love what we do and I hope that comes across in the amount of sweat and, sometimes, blood. No tears though, yet. We’re entertaining.

Colin: Emma also adds ‘captivating’.

Katie MF: Ah thank you, Emma! That’s made me grin like a right fool, haha.

Colin: Do you mostly gig around London or have you had the chance to play further afield?

Katie MF: We’re pretty London-centric at the moment but I’ve played solo shows in Bristol, Hemel Hempstead, St Albans, Brighton and Downham (Norfolk). My aim for this year is to get a little tour together as I’d love to start expanding out of our bubble – so if anyone reading this might be able to help out, please let me know! Especially anywhere en route to Edinburgh in August…

Colin: Because you blur the lines between punk and folk, do you find you’re on more varied line ups? Or does it make it harder to get gigs?

Katie MF: Ooh interesting question. I think probably the former – I’m not sure we’ve ever been turned down because we’re not wholly one thing, but of course I don’t know what we haven’t been offered! I think sometimes people at a punk show would expect a bit more traditional punk stuff from us, but I’m hopeful that we win most of them over fairly early in the set. Then of course I get to kick back and enjoy a whole bunch cracking bands (How good are Eat Defeat? My word.) so it’s win, win really!

Colin: I know that you definitely impressed a good amount of people at the Pkew Pkew Pkew/Eat Defeat gig.

Katie MF: Oh awesome. That was such a great show.

Colin: What are your thoughts on the London punk scene in general?

Katie MF: I love it. There’s so much talent it’s unreal, and the people in and around the bands and venues (that I’ve met) are so lovely and genuine. You can’t be at e.g. NXI on a sold out Be Sharp night and not catch the good feeling. I just wish more people were aware of it so every night sold out!

Colin: I think by this point we all know about the CPRW love affair with Be Sharp so, of course, we agree.

Katie MF: Oh shit, do you guys know each other?! Haha.

Colin: We chat every now and then, for business reasons.

If those chaps said “Katie, we want to put you on your dream line up – money isn’t an issue” who would you choose?

Katie MF: Well, there’s a fairly tasty line up on the 11th May… Haha. OK I’m gonna go rogue here and pick the three best acts I’ve seen live, genre be damned: Frank Turner, Less Than Jake and Chewing On Tinfoil.

Spanish Love Songs only aren’t on there because I haven’t seen them live yet…

Colin: I’d go to that gig.

Katie MF: It’d be pretty spectacular.

Colin: Who are your favourite up and coming bands?

Katie MF: Ooh. The New Heat, definitely, I love Nik’s songwriting. Crushed Veneer are ace and I loved Our Lives In Cinema at the Pkewx3 show.

OK, also Resuscitators.

I know that’s 4. Oh you didn’t specify three, haha.

Colin: You can have as many as you like.

Katie MF: OK then, Eat Defeat as well.

Colin: We love all those bands.

Okay, I only have one question left and it’s a big one. It’s the first one I thought of when I was preparing this interview (I’m sort of a pro) – What does ‘MF’ stand for? Is it any of these – makes fudge, moves fast, mixes fruit, magnetic friend, might fly, mocked Frank?

Katie MF: Hahahahahaha. Makes Fudge!! That’s my favourite thus far.

For all intents and purposes, it stands for motherfucker.

I might name my band the Magnetic Friends though.

Colin: You can have that for free. It was a productive afternoon at work coming up with those.

Katie MF: Pleased to have facilitated that!

Colin: Have you got anything else you’d like to add before we say goodbye?

Katie MF: Mmm I don’t think so thanks, apart from thank you for the chat and have a great rest of Sunday!

Colin: Thank you! See you at the Black Heart on May 9th.

You can pick up tickets for the release show here. Katie MF are also playing the New Cross Inn on May 27th supporting Western Settings and Bong Mountain, get tickets for that show here.

Like Katie MF on Facebook here.

Follow Katie MF on Bandcmap here.

Interview: Mike & Paul from Be Sharp Promotions

Emma and I have been going to Be Sharp Promotions shows at the New Cross Inn since the summer of 2017. During that time we have fallen in love with the community that Be Sharp have played a big part in and consider it our home scene despite it being two hours away. During that time, like most regulars of the Be Sharp shows, we have become good friends with brothers Paul and Mike Smith. With the tenth anniversary celebrations of Be Sharp Promotions in full swing, I decided to have a chat with Paul and Mike to discuss the history of Be Sharp as well as trying to see what they've got in store for the future. Read on to see what a bunch of ultra professionals we are!

Colin: I'm ready whenever you chaps are.

Mike Smith: Got a pint, I'm good to go.

Colin: Handy, first question is for you from Fishlock – how did you get so cute and what's your favourite biscuit?

Mike: Oh Fishy, I will never reveal my secrets. I'm not big on biscuits, unless I can count a KitKat. Or a Club.

Paul Smith: I'm here by the way.

Colin: Ace, sorry Fishlock has no questions for you.

Paul: Fine.

Mike: Hahahaha.

Colin: Question number one is how did you guys get into punk rock? … Mind blowingly original questions from the start!

Paul: Hearing Green Day on the radio in 1995. Then Offspring, Nofx, Rancid and deeper underground from there on.

Mike: Probably that copy of Americana that Paul left on our bedroom floor in 1999 (please clarify that we're brothers). And even then it was more the cover than the content. MySpace was where I discovered the more niche stuff off my own back.

Paul: We're not even related though...

Mike: That does explain a lot. My endless charm and inability to grow a beard finally explained.

Colin: Fun fact, Americana was the first punk album I ever owned. … What was the local punk scene like where you grew up?

Mike: Paul's answer but 10 years later.

Paul: 2000–2003 it was pretty strong, a lot of DIY shows, a lot of local ska and punk bands. Capdown, 5 Knuckle and the like all played 20 minutes or so away from our parents' house. But it's always been about 3 dBs Down.

Colin: You have told me many times about your love of 3 dBs Down.

Mike: It was massively centered around the Lion in Northfleet and the bands we saw and then started putting on, for me. Excluding the occasional My Chemical Romance at Wembley and Reel Big Fish at the Astoria, I grew up on the local bands and didn't really know any different.

Colin: Sounds like you grew up in a good scene. What made you guys start putting on your own shows?

Paul: Stupidity… and boredom. I put on my first show in 2005 because there was a lack of punk gigs at the Lion and I wanted to go to one.

Mike: It was more fun than school. Despite the trip to the cashpoint every few shows because we didn't make enough money to pay the venue or the bands… 10 years later, we can just use PayPal.

Colin: This was before Be Sharp was a thing?

Paul: Yeah, we didn't even have a promo name.

Colin: How long was it before Be Sharp started?

Paul: I put on local bands sporadically between 2005–2008 and then started properly when Mike muscled in in early 2009.

Mike: Originally as LSP before changing our name because of the Simpsons reference.

Paul: And LSP was an awful name…

Colin: Emma pointed out to me the other day that Be Sharp was a Simpsons reference.

Paul: Early flyers often featured Millhouse.

Mike: 'WE NEED A NAME THAT'S WITTY AT FIRST BUT THAT SEEMS LESS FUNNY EACH TIME YOU HEAR IT.'

Colin: So when Mike muscled in that's when Be Sharp started?

Mike: It's when it became a regular thing, with a bit more organisation behind it – an online presence and all that.

Paul: That's when we started seriously and put on bigger bands, touring bands.

Colin: Did you have any initial goals when you started out?

Mike: The same reason we started a band, to get into gigs for free.

Paul: To have fun, give our friends something to do, help touring bands out with a Kent date.

Mike: This way we just didn't need to learn songs.

Paul: And yeah free gigs.

Mike: Once we realised that we weren't completely awful at it, our goals changes a little. But essentially it's to help bands out and have a good time with our mates.

Colin: Who was the first big band you put on?

Paul: Jaya The Cat, somehow.

Mike: They did their own sound at that gig…Wait, they did their own sound the next time we put them on?

Paul: That was the second time, last minute to be fair. Stayed at mine, saved on sound and hotel prices. Had a week to promote that. Tuesday night 'n' all!

Mike: And smashed it!

Colin: How did you manage to book Jaya The Cat!?

Paul: Standard practice really. They were being booked by Ian Hidden Talent Bookings at the time, I sent a nice email pretending I knew what I was talking about.

Mike: Getting a contract for the first time was an experience.

Paul: Terrifying!

Colin: When did you start putting on gigs in London?

Paul: LSP LDN

Mike: Originally it was Hassan from Triple Sundae (New EP out soon, check them out on all your usual social media channels) who was putting on London shows under the LSPLDN name.

Colin: I hear Triple Sundae are alright.

Mike: We did a few gigs at various venues before finally settling in a more permanent way at the New Cross Inn. As for the first London shows, Paul will be able to answer that with his rainman-like calendar brain.

Paul: I think it was when we were doing DIY monthly shows at various venues with The Pisdicables, The Provokers, My Third Leg and Vibe Dial Circus, around 2012. I think NXI was just the easiest venue to deal with, had backline and didn't charge us hire fee. Unlike Bird's Nest and Unicorn, we could charge entry at NXI, so it was easier to meet guarantees through sales, rather than hoping everyone sinks 10 pints for that bar percentage.

Colin: That leads wonderfully into my next question. Be Sharp has become synonymous with NXI, how did the relationship start?

Paul: The events team at the time used to book My Third Leg as local openers on ska shows, so we got to know them. Once Katy (Just Say Nay) was running the show, we used to co-promote in-house gigs, as well as DIY-ing our own. Our first big one was Authority Zero in 2013 (or 2014). That was a learning curve for sure.

Mike: When they moved the bar from the middle of the room to the side, it was obvious they wanted to be a venue and not just a pub. The faith that showed in the community and the scene was a big factor.

Colin: What's the process behind putting on a DIY gig?

Paul: It depends if there's fees to make or if everyone is happy with door split to be honest. We've always promoted our shows equally, but if one has no overheads and the next has the potential to lose a grand we haven't got, there's different processes:
Step One: Find a band.
Step Two: Find a venue.
Step Three: Promote hard
Step Four: ????
Step Five: (Absolutely no) profit
Steps one and two could be swapped, it varies.

Colin: Has the way you promote changed much over the past ten years?

Paul: Facebook rather than MySpace for online promo. Still do analogue flyering when we can, but I don't think much has changed, Mike?

Mike: Sorry, I was buying apple turnovers in Sainsburys.

Paul: Fifa after this?

Colin: I hope you bought some for everyone.

Paul: One thing that's never changed is we discuss gigs and figure out supports whilst playing Fifa – or Pro Evo back in 2010. It centres the mind when you ping one in from 30 yards.

Mike: And then my phone died. I'm back. We have the backing of the venue now, we can take bigger risks and make things happen that we couldn't before. That helps hugely. In terms of the promo, we do what we can but the bands and punters all do their bit. When we started, I got people to our gigs by saying 'yeah it's a fiver in, but they don't ID at the bar.' We don't do that now…

Paul: That's necessary when you start promoting at 16 and the only people you know are your school friends.

Colin: Do you guys have any rules about which bands you book?

Paul: We try and be apolitical, but obviously there's some bands we'd never touch. Also, ska bands get gigs by default.

Mike: Now that there are so many bands that play under the Be Sharp banner, the rules we would've had before are less strict. But yeah, general rule is no dickheads. Some may slip through but in the scene you kinda assume that people are wise and understand the scene and the ethics. Some don't, but it's hard to vet every member of every band.

Paul: I can't think of a time when we've said 'never booking them again'. And we must have booked 1000 bands by now.

Colin: There are plenty of bands that could be considered "Be Sharp bands." How does a band get that status?

Mike: Come to gigs (even the ones you don't play) and have a good time. Not forgetting the £50 per member deposit.

Paul: Call Me Malcolm, King Punch, The Pisdicables all came to us to get ska shows (and all come to shows they don't play). We do have our regular local support bands and it's mostly those that have been there from the beginning in some capacity. Or bribe us.

Mike: A lot of our regular bands are ones that we've known since way back. But new members to our little community are always welcome. The likes of Codename Colin are 'new' and I wouldn't say there are specific rules. Just be cool with it.

Colin: Do you ever argue about which bands you should put on?

Mike: Errrrrrrr.

Paul: Not too much. We both have our favourites and tend to think like, Burnt Tapes love Pkew Pkew Pkew, they get on that; Fastfade love No Fun At All, they get on that.

Mike: There are a few exceptions but for the most part it's mutual.

Colin: Be Sharp shows are renowned for their "everyone there is your best friend" vibe. Is this something that's happened organically or something you've worked hard at achieving?

Mike: Organically. We've never said person A or person B isn't allowed in. It's self policed and we're very lucky that the vast majority of people are lovely and we're lucky to call them mates.

Paul: It was always what we wanted and luckily it's just happened that way.

Mike: It's pretty much impossible to be angry while listening to ska anyway. You can't crowd kill to Reel Big Fish.

Colin: Be Sharp are also known for their all dayers, which I love. What do you think makes them so special?

Mike: It's like having a mini festival. At Chewing on Tinfoil last week there were a couple of [young] kids there to watch their parents play in a few of the opening bands, they were done by 6 before it filled up. They couldn't do that if it was a 'normal gig' so that's a nice touch.

Paul: That community vibe. Every time. And when there's so many good bands out there, we want to see them all. Seeing a couple of under 10s at Chewy was heartwarming. The next generation.

Colin: I love them, as it's a day hanging out with mates between watching great punk bands.

Mike: Where's the downside?

Colin: Sore feet.

Paul: By the time the headliners start, it's carnage. If we had 2 supports, people are barely warmed up.

Mike: And, the sore head after 10 hours of drinking for some of us. Or 48 hours if you're a certain someone that goes to see the same band the next day.

Paul: I did not feel good on the way to Bristol. Glad Fishlock only had 2 supports!

Mike: Hahaha.

Colin: Do you guys have a proudest Be Sharp moment?

Mike: I have a lot, it's nice to know that something that started as a hobby means a lot to so many people.

Paul: Too easy to say Goldfinger I guess… watching Call Me Malcolm, The Pisdicables, King Punch, Codename Colin, etc. go from local openers to playing major festivals. Seeing 200 people go sick to a band that are playing because we like them will never get old.

Mike: Cramp In Your Leg Fest is up there, but that's more pride in our community as much as anything else. Watching Call Me Malcolm headline last time out was incredible and it got a little emotional. … Gotta point out that we don't manage these bands, they do it all themselves. We're just lucky that they carry on working with us when they can easily go somewhere else for a London gig.

Colin: Over the past few years, you seem to be getting most of the bigger American/Canadian bands coming to New Cross on their tours. How has this happened?

Paul: Reputation mainly. Agents tend to play it safe and/or have loyalties. They know they can trust us to promote, pay the bands and provide beer and hummus. The Hit The Switch and Cigar shows we got as we put on This Is A Standoff last year. Their front man, Steve, started a booking agency and approached us as he had a nice time.

Colin: Having such a good reputation must be something you're really proud of.

Mike: My whole time studying the music industry at uni was basically 'be a bastard to be successful' and that can get in the bin. Help your mates, help their mates and the rest is a bonus.

Colin: What have you got planned for the ten years of Be Sharp celebrations?

Mike: A quiet night in.

Paul: ALL OF THE GIGS! (See here) … Some old friends, some new, business as usual really, except we're older and possibly wiser. Only six years until Mike has been doing this half his life.

Mike: Fuck off.

Paul: 9 years for me.

Colin: And what's next after this year? Any plans to expand Be Sharp?

Mike: Well, I got sent an interesting email earlier.

Paul: I think we could potentially use bigger venues for certain gigs, but that wouldn't be a Be Sharp show. A 1000 capacity band in a 350 capacity spot is what we've always wanted. But also, watch this space…

Mike: We're not greedy. A good show is more important than a big one. If we can do both, happy days. But there's no rush.

Colin: That should be your tag line.

Mike: Maybe for the 20 year rebrand.

Colin: I'm all out of questions now, so I guess I should wrap this up. Anything else you'd like to add?

Mike: Shout out C-Rage for being our go to artwork guy. He redesigned our logo which you'll see on the new posters and it looks mint, as always.

Paul: Just a heartfelt thanks to everyone that comes to our gigs. We've spent the last 5 years constantly humbled that people come out with the same aim as us. To watch great bands and have fun.

Mike: We love you and Emma and all the CPRW crew. You guys rule and we're super grateful.  🙌

Paul: The bands are alright too.

Mike: And you suck at fantasy football. More than I do.

Colin: Guardiola ruined me yesterday. Bloody triple captain Sterling on the bench!

Mike: Ouchhhh. One of my other leagues had a guy who was 7th overall in the world. Nonsense.

Colin: Okay, I won't take up anymore of your Fifa time. Thanks for doing this interview and thanks for being Be Sharp and giving us somewhere we feel at home. CPRW 4 B#

Paul: ❤️ Thank you. ❤️

Mike: U da best.