Scarborough Punk Festival - Scarborough Spa, Scarborough 30th & 31st March 2024

None of us really knew what to expect and, on the way, Pete got lots of texts from some of his mates telling him to turn back! Once we got there it was clear this couldn’t have been one of those places Morrissey wrote about, and Pete’s mates were all wide of the mark. Scarborough was a nice place with Victorian buildings one of those things we don’t have in Scotland – sunshine.

Our first stop was the venue to get our wristbands ahead of Saturdays start. What a great team of people there were, on hand, to sort it out. None of us could download our tickets due to a lack of webbage, “no problem, what’s your name, it's on the list”. All sorted and banded up and it was off to the AirBnB.

After dumping our bags, we headed out and spent the first half of the night in the midst of a scooter club rally. They were all many pints deep in the pub but had some pretty banging tunes going on so we stayed a while and enjoyed it all. After a rather good Chinese meal and a catch up with some other guys from Edinburgh, we found ourselves at a pub where a guy dressed as Elvis was running the karaoke, and a group of old skool skinheads were in and having a great time. One of the skins knew every word to every song sung that night, and that included a ton of Meatloaf and a Doris Day song from Calamity Jane. “Just love me music” was what he said to me when I asked.

The festival was an early start. Doors at 1200 and first band 30 minutes later. We arrived in plenty time and were delighted we got our wrist bands the previous day, as the queue for Saturday bands was a long one.

Once we went into the Scarborough Spa there was a big outside drinking area, much appreciated in the sunshine. There was only one stall selling food. I think it would have been useful to have had more. We didn’t work out till the next day that they sold food in the bar, but the wait for that was massive. Given the short turn around between bands, it was inevitable that we would have to miss some music to eat. More fast food on site would have solved that for us, and I reckon, many others too.

So, through to the hall we went. This was a big square room that held around 1600 with loads of free balcony seating. Quick turnarounds were only possible due to all bands using the house drumkit. There was a single backdrop throughout, the a Scarborough Punk Festival logo, which I really liked so no fancy signs going up and down or big drum kits being wheeled in.

Bang on 1230 the first band of the day appeared, Face Up. Just as they came on Big Al said to me that you can always tell how good a festival was going to be by the first band. I think that’s spot on. Some festivals don’t invest in a good opening act, either because they’ve spent so much on the headliner and money is tight, or, in the case of a couple I’ve been to, they just don’t seem to care. Now, I have no idea what Face Up were paid, but they certainly set out a clear intention to rock and the positive intention of the organisers was clear from the band’s first chord; this was going to be a top couple of days.

Green haired singer Roxy prowled every inch of the stage and really gave the crowd something to bang along with from the start. Check out their stick out “Stand Fight Live Die”, it was a banger.

Next up was Hung Like Hanratty, they got the biggest standing audience of the weekend. The room was packed. I’ve seen them a few times and they never disappoint; they are funny and pick on some things that really need picked on – yes you should clean up your dog shit; they also have a pretty competent set of musician underpinning Al Sations wit. The only thing for me is around inclusivity. One of the great things about punk is that everyone is welcome, I wonder if it's about time to retire “Danny…” I saw a few folk who were a wee bit uncomfortable with that one.

Quick beer, which was priced at a very reasonable £5 a pint, later and we were back to see The Members. They had a bit more success in the US than in the UK but that success was “Sound of the Suburbs” and that was what most of us were waiting to hear. I did think “I Fell in Love with a Working Girl” was a top song too but, overall, they were not totally my thing.

I have seen Goldblade a few times and was looking forward to this set. The punk polymath that is Jon Robb took to the stage and, along with the rest of the guys, tore it up for their forty minutes. “Juke Box Generation” and “Psycho” were stick outs and, having asked so many members of the crowd, it appeared we all believed in the power of rock and roll. Jon complained of a sore throat, but any additional raspiness simply added to the show. Every other band would have been stepping over all that Jon Robb left onstage, cos he put it all out there. Goldblade threw their all at it and were one of the stick out performances of the weekend for me and my mates.

By this point hunger had set in and we took the decision to miss Chelsea in favour of a plate of fish and chips. The word on the streets was that they were very good indeed. I will hopefully see then again, I have never quite managed to catch a Chelsea show at any festival we have both been at. Next time.

I was keen to get my chips munched so we could be back in time for Ruts DC. They are always a favourite of mine and absolutely hit the mark today. The filled their slot with ten top songs. Kicking off with “Something That I Said”, the Ruts DC made the most of the big crowd that had come to see them by taking us through all the tunes we wanted to hear. “Staring at the Rude Boys” and “In a Rut” are favourites of mine but nothing compares to “Babylon’s Burning”. Seggs was playing a bass borrowed from Chelsea, not sure if he forgot his own bass, but he could use that one again – it sounded great. A fabulous set over, it was time for a beer.

Now here was an interesting thing about this festival, once a band finished the room emptied and I mean emptied. That was okay because Scarborough Spa had plenty of spaces for merch, a few bars and lots of places to hang and chat. It was a really good venue that offered a bit of comfort to all the aging bones that were beneath many-a mohawk.

Next up was a bit of flying saucer punk. I really like the Rezillos but the last few times I’ve seen them they have been beset with sound issues. Not today! Like the sound for pretty much all performances, I thought the Rezillos had a really good production behind them and they made the most of it. “Somebody’s Going to Get Their Head Kicked in Tonight”, started things off, followed by some things old and some things new. All of which were good. Faye and Eugene were in top voice; I really enjoyed their set.

Crowd pleasers, The Anti Nowhere League came up next. Animal and his revolving gang of gunslingers took the room by the scruff of the neck and shook it hard, as only the League can. “Can’t Stand Rock and Roll”, “I Hate People” and “Streets of London” ( I always wonder what Ralph McTell made f this version) were all there. Animal’s tribute to Charlie Harper, “Uncle Charlie”, was well received by a crowd who were already buzzing to see the Subs the following day. The ANL are always firm punk favourites and really manage to punk any room to the max. I guess in changing days they remain a constant of what punk rock is whilst wallowing in their reputation of being just a wee bit frightening. I loved it.

Headlining tonight were Buzzcocks. I’ve not seen them since Pete Shelley died, in fact the last time I saw them was Shelley’s last performance with the band in Belfast. Steve Diggle came on looking every inch the mod and took us through a set that, I guess, he felt suited him best. I was disappointed neither of the big fan favourites Boredom or Lipstick made the setlist, something many other fans felt too. Pete and his band put in a huge effort playing songs back to back, in the Buzzcock way, but, to be honest, Saturday’s performance never quite clicked into place for me. That was a pity.

By 10:30 and kicking out time, we were knackered. It was a 25 minute walk home. Andy and I went on the hunt to see Elvis again but instead found a great wee ska band still playing in the pub and, over a large malt and a seat, it was a great way to end a fantastic day.

It was bad luck that Sunday was the day the clocks changed, which made getting going for another early start just a wee bit beyond us. We enjoyed Big Al’s full cooked and a pint en route before getting to the Spa in time to see Northern Ireland mainstay punks – The Defects. They gave us a fantastic show. It was political, Tony Blair, Margaret Thatcher and a whole heap of others were in their crosshairs, it was funny but above all it was great songs delivered by a passionate and competent group of musicians.

Electric Eel Shock were not a band either I or any of my mates had heard before so we went to grab a pint before they came on. When I heard them start, I wandered through to see what they were about. I did a quick u-turn and bolted back to the bar to let anyone who might be interested know there was a naked drummer playing punk on stage!

Electric Eel Shock are Japanese and just very good fun. I’m not kidding about the drummer; birthday suit naked apart from a pair of gloves and four sticks in hand. They have just finished a short UK tour, if they are back again, go! You’ll not be disappointed.

999 were always at the interesting, rather than thrashy end of punk, one of the relatively few to have made it onto The Old Grey Whistle Test back in the day. Nick Cash led his band though 50 minutes of solid music. The crowd who were there, which wasn’t the biggest for some reason, loved it. “Nasty Nasty” and “Homicide” are always floor fillers. I really enjoyed the set and look forward to seeing them on their winter tour.

The happiest guy in punk appeared next. Peter and his Test Tube Babies have been around for years and every time I see him he smiles his way through his set. Today was no exception, “In Your Face”, “Up Your Bum” and “Banned From the Pubs” had the crowd pogoing away with as big a grin almost as wide as Peter’s. Great set.

One of the bands I was most looking forward to were The Meteors. I loved a bit of psycho-billy but I had never had the opportunity to see these guys, who were, arguably, architects of it all. Unfortunately, this set didn’t move me like it did others I spoke to.

One of the highlights of the weekend was always going the be the UK Subs. At 80 years of age Charlie Parker is the Keith Richards of the punk world. Nothing was going to stop him and his long-time side kick Alvin Gibbs, as they tore it up for 50 minutes. “Down on the Farm”, “I Couldn’t Be You” and “I Live in My Car” were tremendous, but, for me, “Warhead” took the song of the weekend prize. They got the only fan driven encore of the weekend.

Every time I see Charlie, I think that’ll be the last. If Sunday night was the last time, then it's an experience I will remember fondly.

Sunday’s headliners were Sham 69. Jimmy Pursey walked on the stage, throwing water all over the place, much to the annoyance of the stage crew, before “What Have We Got”? started us off and the bouncing began. “Tear Gas Eyes” was next and, by now, it struck me that Jimmy seemed a bit disengaged and was not doing too much singing, that fell to the crowd and bassist Dave Tregunna who, I felt, quarterbacked the whole performance. More water was thrown around as we went into “Borstal Breakout”, “That’s Life” and “Angels with Dirty Faces”. The big five came at the end, mainly with Jimmy starting it off and then hanging onto the mike stand as the community singing took over. “Questions and Answers” and Clash cover, “White Riot” have always been favourites of mine. “If the Kids Are United” took the main set to a close. After a short trip backstage the weekend finished with crowd favourites “Hersham Boys” and “Hurry Up Harry”. Tonight we saw the ’77 line up, the band have not lost their tightness and, certainly from my view in the mish pit, the crowd loved it.

And, just like that, two days in Scarborough came to a close. I thought this was an excellent festival. It was extremely well run, from ticketing, to reasonably priced food and beer, to getting the bands on and off all on time. The effort put into the weekend by the fans was equally awesome. I met one young guy who had spent hours getting his hair to a place where he could take your eye out at thirty paces with his spikes. Others who may have lost some of their locks managed, either through natural or assisted means, to get a mohawk on the go whilst many of us sported a Posh Spice look by wearing t-shirts bought on the original tours but which now came with added navel display.

My only worry for this festival, and others like it, is longevity. Punk is not dead, but it does now come with many free bus passes, a few walking sticks and the desire for a seat. The bands we saw were, by and large, great but to keep the whole scene, movement, call it what you will, alive, it's essential festivals like this invest in new talent. I hope we can see some of that next year. I will be there; I’ve already got my ticket. If you like a bit of punk, a few good days with likeminded souls and a very good time, I suggest you get one too.

Punk is certainly not dead.