Ridiculous– Shimmering psych pop of a sunny disposition, think XTC via Lightning Seeds, and big fave raves for Bugbear back in the as they say day…and they’re back! Huzzah! The Band featured then as now drummer extraordinaire Jon Moss after Culture Club split 1st time round, he’s back in the band alongside songsmith Sebastian Wocker, vocals/guitar (Yeah / Hair / Michel Van Dyke) Erran Baron-Cohen: vocals/keys/trumpet (composer of film music for Borat / Bruno / The Infidel and brother natch of Sascha) And Pete Noone : bass/vocals (Roger Daltrey / Roger Taylor, Mick Ronson). All star cast, all star audience. Probably. Get yer selfie sticks out. Oscar Mic – minimal but mahoosively funky hiphop noir with a cheeky post modern twist, and not a little sophistication. Nicely nagging experimentally birthed riddims with vocalese part croon part rap atop from yer man Oscar, all supercool and slinky. For fans of Digital Undergroud, De La Soul and Missy Elliot to name but three.

The Soapgirls-infectiously hooky punk pop via grunge, Armed with unforgettable melodies and catchy choruses, The SoapGirls energy, rawness and authenticity live, has earned a formidable reputation. Performing internationally and continuously since 2015, these fearless French born sisters Millie and Mie, have slayed critics and earned a global dedicated group of followers known as the ‘The SoapSuds’, some of who follow the band across the UK and Europe. Queen Of Uncool- Our fave rave grunge power trio with psych bliss out vocal empowerment from Dee upfront. Some great songs in here people, check em out. Talent. Leisure Tank– Strident gal plays guitar and sings, bookish looking chap plays drums….lofi, scratchy, syncopated stuff with tunefulness in the vocal lines via Beefheartian tendencies in the music…vocally more on a B52s thru Exene fromX in the vocal stylings…or Sheryl Crow even…the music is quite outre though…damn interesting… They look good too.Fortune Cookie- Spiky punk/grunge played with venom and fire  A bit rough round the edges but bags of enthusiasm. A certain rough-hewn charm is ever present. Neat. Twister –  Tech tinged progressive hard rock with melodic pop sensibilities and intelligent playing and arrangements. Terrorvision meets Bon Jovi with a dash of Muse maybe. Based in the Northeast …and they have some lofty fans.. “I Love all of your original material and that Floyd cover was outstanding” – Francis Rossi (Status Quo)

Sid Manson Presley– Psychedelic blues rock from the wrong end of the tracks. Ape shit rock and roll. Psychopathic Romantics –  the folky, acoustic, slowmo punk band performs their original Bread and Circuses album.  You are in for a treat as the guitar players put down their guitars and plug in the bouzouki, mandolin and indian harmonium, layered by warm deep vocals. Occasionally distorting the mandolin and bouzouki just to make a point. They will bring you on a mental ride as they get into their psychedelic groove. Excellent new single ‘The Gathering’ is receiving radio plays as we type. Stone Cold Buffalo-Snappy garage pop with some lovely swirling n swelling organ that reminds of ? and the mysterions, but a grunged up version thereof, it rocks intensly but also skanks admirably and they’ve decent hooks too, fine work Sister Mercedes – Ex Junkbox / The Intolerable Kidd & Friends / Lonesome Cowboys…sensationally ramashackle and groovy garage tinged indie rock with a fab feeling of gay abandon and joie de vivre. The Buddha Pests – Indie with a very strong post punk element… think Can gone indie maybe? a bit of Pixies, a bit of Pigeon Detectives (gone punk), a lot of Buzzcocks here too… Superb ramalama.  

The Collective A.K.A- Magnificent mod/2 Tone/punk and new wave covers act- so you get Specials, Jam, Madness, The Beat, Clash, Small Faces, The Who, The Kinks– all done with musical chops to die for and a whole lotta soulful attention to detail. Always a fantastic night out in the Dublin, and playing an extra long set for your delectation. Top Ranking, No Full Stop! Subculture – young mod band with all the cool ’79 mod revival trappings style wise and a good deal of Jam/Chords/Purple Hearts stylistic traits musically too- do it well, loadsa passion and energy and bangin’ tunes. The Ritz – exciting young mixed gender modernist indie rock band from Sheffield. DJs We Got …Dexys- We Got Killers drop some blue-ees and maximize the ace face RnB for your dancing pleasure tonite. Til 2am.

Dubvocaliza – pop reggae (Marley, Horace Andy) and rootsier fare (Peter Tosh, Burning Spear) and soul (Prince, Marvin Gaye) mixed effortlessly with some weighty rock tropes (Pink Floyd, The Beatles) to make for a groovy impassioned whole.  Tiffany Twisted-Classically trained singer-songwriter but describes current work as “pure Rock n Roll”, very hip aesthetic which matches a very unexpectedly powerful and soulful voice i’d liken to Paloma Faith.  Immigrant007 – filmic post punk thru hard grunge and alt flavours.  The Uncommon Earth- Kooky but engaginley tuneful indie-folk duo

Brandon Rivers – Highly polished pop RnB with a breathy  and emotive vocal like a young George Michael or perhaps Justin Timberlake. BBC Introducing ‘One To Watch’ // New Single ‘GIRLPLAY’ out now.Topping a night of urbane urban techy pop with soulful, impassioned artistry throughout. As exemplified by the greatly talented Teri Eloise, young singer outta London with a pop reggaeton feel to her sweet soulful wares. Ostrich Ensemble – a full live band performance fronted by the very talented Helen Sceales…Somedays – something rather different to open tonight, Somedays are an alt rock group rocking disjointed chords and fast-paced songs with a nicely pitched vocal performance. Something of  The Strokes here with  Julian Casablancas  influence in the lead vocal. Good stuff.

Killing Joe – epic rock with some heroic guitar playing- tastefully done with layers of stratospheric sound…could take yer head off and probably will, but it’s an adult orientated blissed out kind of soulful rock…will appeal to Floyd fans as well as perhaps people who dig a bit of Blue Oyster Cult or even Fleetwood Mac.  Bit of Stones, bit of Verve, bit of all sorts. Good band, and utterly danceable too. The Filthy Spectacula – steam punk oompah polka business, dressed up to the nines, or maybe tens: extravagant hats, dreads, frock coats and exotic appendages all over the shop. Violins weeve over rowdily bashed acoustic guitars and there’s a large dollop of gypsy jazz.  ‘We are The Filthy Spectacula, Musically we are a mixture of creepy twisted gypsy punk, pirate extravaganza ,ska, steampunk & dark cabaret- yup kind of unique! ‘ Yes, that. Kin Sound System – From Trinidad and Tobago with a bit of a back story- because singer/guitarist Kin completely lost his singing voice after recovering from throat cancer- but after a few years he managed to hone it back into shape. Remarkable. Dubby bass lines, grunge aesthetics, a combination of indie rock sensibilities and Caribbean good time vibes, nice. Slater – For fans of Led Zeppelin, The Who, Rival Sons and The London Souls, SLATER is the brand new solo project of the UK’s Harry Slater. Hard hitting rock n’ roll with punchy classic rock riffs and hailed as a “guitar virtuoso” by Planet Rock Radio.  Raw throated rawk  n God damn roll, Saxon meets AC/DC.

Sir Reg – an energetic seven piece from Sweden fronted by Irishman Brendan Sheehy on vocals, who left his home-town of Dublin to come to Sweden to fulfill his dream: to put together the most amazing band possible. With songs about everything from the issues of modern day society to finding the right bar on a Saturday night, combined with strong melodies and explosive live shows, SIR REG have made a name for themselves in the Celtic punk and rock scene. Follow The Crows – Not to be confused with the apocalyptic film…although this lot do portentously brilliant things to Irish and Scottish folk, bluegrass and cajun flavours with a great chunking rock sensibility care of the crack rhythm section. Influenced by The Pogues, The Bad Seeds, The Waterboys, Tom Waits, The Clancys, Velvet Underground, Dylan etc etc etc.

Come Together! Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of The Beatles Crossing Abbey Road! Starring ‘Fab Gear’ a Beatles tribute ‘supergroup’, featuring Phill Marshall Agourakis as John, Joe Kane as Paul, David Machin as George, and Dave Stark as Ringo. Also starring the great duo ‘The Fab Twins’. There will be many special guests, making this a Fab celebration of an event that has brought Beatles fans together from around the World. Tickets £10 in advance, or £13 on the day. This is a matinee show happening after the re-enactment event at Abbey Road. Doors 2pm. (Live Circuit show in the evening)

The Pogue Traders are back, and what a joy it is to have them. If you love the music of The Pogues have no fear it’s in extremely good hands with these boys and girl, who play a wide selection of classics from all eras of Shane MGowan and company’s illustrious back catalogue and do it so incredibly well you don’t whether to dance, laugh or cry. Or drink…heavily… if responsibly. About as good a night out as you could hope for..plus The Homing– country rock and sweetly toned folk pop with sunshine in every chord.

Peter & The Wolves – Rockabilly heroes of Calgary, Canada, sharp suited and bequiffed stand up piano dude rocking N’Awlins type proto boogie woogie rocknroll. Think Fats Domino, Little Richard, Jerry Lee etc. Fun time for sure, this is upright bass powered good old fashioned rock and roll bent on makin’ you wanna kick out your chair shake it all night long! Wonderful stuff, ably assisted by the superb DJ talents of one DJ Strop. Playing two long sets tonite. Prepare to jive.

The Trusted-are a young 4 piece band originally from Leigh On Sea in Essex. Coming together with a host of influences ranging from U2, The Clash, Catfish and The Bottlemen, to The Strokes, Elvis Costello and Muse they quickly discovered a shared passion for crafting intelligent, rocking indie tunes evolving into a fierce but melodic indie rock beast with a reputation for high-energy live shows. Alex Larsson – Singer-songwriter with an electro, sunny side up soulful pop feel with rocky touches- somewhere between Paul Weller like blue eyed soul and older coves such as Michael McDonald. Dance enabling, commercial, catchy, can do pop with hints of lo-fi hip hop. Saramona – Young fellas doing a soulful indie/rock/pop melange with an insistent riddim and an impassioned vocal.D-Kel & Los Bandidos – Mixing a mighty agreeable and engaging yelp of a rap with some heavy funk rock…think perhaps Wiley fronting Funkadelic…kinda. Frontman D-Kel takes inspiration from London where he was born and bred and Latin America where his roots lie, and draws inspiration from Artists such as Roots Manuva, Slaves, The Beat, The Specials, Jamie T, The Streets, Calle 13 & Tego Calderon. Social conscience with a cool creative spin of verbals.

One Eyed Wayne’s debut album Attack of the Luxury Flats depicted the wealth chasm of broken Britain with sharp and wry humour, and their blistering follow-up, Saucy Postcards Super Creeps, hones their unique viewpoint to make maximum, skewering impact. Echoes of The Clash, The Only Ones and The Libertines abound, in songs written and performed by men who’ve lived, hard and well, and returned to tell their peculiar and riveting tales in songs whose titles alone – “The Body’s Gone”, “Waste Of The Day”, Old Man’s Balloons” – tell their own, colourful tales. Brilliant stuff. Ex Bob/ Jamie Wednesday…

Cruel to Be Kind is the definitive account of Nick Lowe‘s uncompromising life as a songwriter and entertainer, from his days at Stiff Records, to becoming the driving force behind Rockpile, to the 1979 smash hit ‘Cruel To Be Kind’. Nick’s original compositions have been recorded by the best in the business, from enfant terrible of the New-Wave, Elvis Costello, to ‘The Godfather of Rhythm and Soul’, Solomon Burke; from household names, including Engelbert Humperdink, Diana Ross, and Johnny Cash, to legendary vocalists such as Curtis Stigers, Tom Petty, and Rod Stewart. His reputation as one of the most influential musicians to emerge from that most formative period for pop and rock music is cast in stone. He will forever be the man they call the ‘Jesus of Cool’. ‘Nick’s poise as a singer, his maturity, and his use of tone is beautiful. I can’t believe it’s this guy I’ve been watching since I was a teenager’ Elvis Costello ‘The master of subversive pop’ Nick Kent, NME, 1977. Will Birch, something of a genius pop songsmith himself of course, will be in conversation tonight with Julie Hamill as Tony Bugbear provides the Lowe Down with a bespoke roots, shoots and fruits of Nick Lowe DJ set.  

Hercules II- They’re back thank the Lord…everyone’s favourite one chord wonderhorse. A slab of noise like no other. Krautrock meets Black Sabbath and instrumental grooviness gets as far away from The Shadows as is possible. Aural attack of joyous proportions. Redford- Rousing indie rock that dips a toe in prog and sounds a bit Killers…  from an album c0-produced by the fabulous Edwyn Collins. Room 11 – Strident rocking fare, vocally sounds a little like Simon Le Bon goes rock…yes it’s rather Duran Kerrang...arf…it’s not quite metal but it’s certainly rocking out with some crisp riffology,and catchy tunes ripe with tood. Epstein – “A one man psychedelic orchestra” – assorted loop pedal generated shenanigans, underpinned with trancey house beats and whimsical folk passages. From Japan with love.

Skiffle – Russian grunge rock acoustic trio back in London once again following in the footsteps of their earlier incarnation Crisis Dance. Slip Digby – Pacey blues infused Grunge rock with soulful vocals on a rockin’ Fu Manchu slomo sludg n roll tip with melody aplenty. Great work. iALPHA – Post rock ethereal shoegaze with elements of trip-hop, think Holy F, Caribou etc… Lake Acacia – Caustic but heartfelt and melodic alt rock with pretty harmonies topping  a pound-along rhythm section and a nice overdriven crunch to the guitars, possible influences being Dali- Alice In Chains via Therapy? Hooky Punked up Grunge infused alt rock with a bit of a brian molko aspect to the vox, without really sounding like Placebo.  

The Aim – Ace faces and modernist pop fans ahoy! “After playing a storming set at the Punk 4 Mental Health gig back in March The Aim are really pleased to be back at the wonderful Dublin Castle. Playing with us on this night are The What if Generation, blending a wide range of influences into an energetic and passionate live set. See you at the front!” Listen to what the man said!! The Young Moons – shoegazing post rockisms some nice glacial guitar that reminds of  The Chameleons, nice.

King Cuda – ethereal mood pieces and electronica with slomobeats – puts you somewhere between Massive Attack and The National perhaps…nicely done, oozes atmosphere with a melancholic but accessible vocal. Some very tasteful keening. sky scraping guitar too.  Centrefolds – Part Weezer, part Jimmy Eat World, part lad-rock. “Multi-genre breakfast of champions, combining the best bits from punk, electronica, French house, trance and rock”  said BBC 6 Music. Following critically acclaimed 7 track EP ‘Fashion’, Centrefolds (based in Bath, UK) grabbed the attention of BBC Introducing, NME, BBC 6 Music, Absolute Radio,…

Avalon Highway – Good time Americana and alt pop country  with a cool, considered edge. Perfect Summer fare, and it it is still Summer, so get yer dancing feet on the Avalon Highway. Mick Lewis & The Fine Print – Mick’s debut LP I Think I Hear Your Voice was released on June 28, 2019, and was produced with Don Piper (Syd Straw, Guster, The Lilys) and Kevin McMahon (The Walkmen, Titus Andronicus, Real Estate).  Midnight Mouth – Superfine 4 piece making thoughtful, artful, considered indie pop with rich harmonies…sweetly done, a step beyond the damp sheeted Coldplay fare of yore for sure…nice folk cum azz cadences and a thoroughly English vibe… a bit of XTC at their most bucolic and Ben Watt maybe, this is lovely fragile intelligent pop. Like it you must. Bella Barton- Having just made a co.parison to Ben Watt here’s a thing… shades of his Everything But The Girl significant other Tracey Thorn here with Bella B. Lovely laconic songcraft that isn’t afriaid of a bossa riddim or a jazz nuance amidst the strident alt pop attack of the lyrics. Great stuff now with full band.

The Small Wonders- all covers , all corkers, played with small wonderment but huge enthusiasm and fire…it’s yer punk, post punk, indie and new wave  tribute party with these fellas rocking up Joy Division , Buzzcocks , The Clash , Kaiser Chiefs and loads more . Righteously up for it they are too. As no doubt are Al from Lord Numb and co in Radio Generation– who also perform other people’s songs from the new wave era but do so in an original, interpretative, conceptual style. Fascinating stuff that kicks beautiful butt. This is a fab party if you like good music with guitars and tood. Joining the throng tonite SoulHM – a very interesting concoction embracing classic post punk indie flavours (Joy Division/Cure) with millenial positivity.

John Rossall is a founding member of The Glitterband, the silver clad powerhouse behind the disgraced one we don’t need to bother with anymore…it’s all about these guys. This is John Rossall’s glorious Glitter Band, and now they’re even better, augmented by Hello’s Bob Bradbury plus the very glam-orous Mrs B  on sassy sax…So prepare yourself for an uninhibited,  joyous journey through their amazing run of superb 1970s defining hit singles. And what a primal, mould breaking, magnificent pop noise they made in their 1970s heyday…check the record… Rock And Roll Part 2, I love You Love, Angel Face, Hello Hello I’m Back Again, Just For You…so many more!…loads of ace numbers…so here’s a reet treat for you all. The Glitterband playing all them fabulous numbers again, book early! Let’s Get Together Again…plus brilliantly appropriate support from SLADY – who are: Gobby – Singer/Guitarist, Jem Lea – Bass, Donna Powell – Drummer, Davina Hill – Lead Guitar/Singer- Yes!! An all female Slade tribute band! What’s not to adore. C’mon Feel The Noize…

Julie Hamill and Bugbear are very pleased to welcome Lucy O’Brien to the The Dublin Castle. Writer and broadcaster Lucy O’Brien is the author of the award-winning She Bop, a definitive history of women in popular music.  Currently she is Course Leader for Music Journalism and Marketing at the University for the Creative Arts. And tonight we explore Lucy O’Brien’s brilliant books on Madonna and Dusty Springfield. Madonna is the biggest-selling female recording artist in the world and has sold over 300 million albums worldwide and holds the record for the top grossing concert tour by a female artist. With each pioneering album she has consistently reinvented her music and her image, transcending the world of pop to become a global cultural icon. Lucy O’Brien’s extensive and well-researched biography looks at Madonna the artist, offering a detailed analysis of her music with input from acclaimed musicians and producers, as well revealing interviews from her intimate inner circle and previously unseen photographs. She follows Madonna from her difficult childhood and those frenetic early years in New York, through the shocks and scandals of the 1990s Sex era to her twenty-first-century incarnation as an outspoken activist. ‘Enduring superstar gets the biography she deserves’ – Mojo ‘O’Brien is a capable and intelligent writer…a refreshing biography of the iconic popstress’ – Guardian Rock N Roll Book Club  Dusty Springfield was one of our greatest pop singers. From 60s hits like ‘I Only Want To Be With You’, ‘Son of a Preacher Man’ and ‘You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me’ to her 80s collaboration with the Pet Shop Boys and beyond, she was a musical pioneer and the very essence of authentic white soul. A member of the US Rock and Roll and UK Music Halls of Fame, international polls have named Dusty among the best female pop artists of all time. The book fully explores her life and legacy, from a troubled Home Counties childhood to 60s mod queen and solo star, to her struggles with addiction and mental health issues, to her status as an influential LGBT heroine and enduring pop icon.Book signings. Interviews and DJ Sets by Julie Hamill and Tony Bugbear. 

The Shan-Alt Rock n Roll band with roots in punk rock, garage and psych from the 50s to present day. Influences such as The Stooges, Ramones, The White Stripes, Black Flag, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Kinks and The Flaming Groovies are combined by the band to bring you rock n roll delivered with a ferocious, neurotic, intensity with catchy hooks to match.–Urgent hooky indie pop in the vein of Catfish And The Bottlemen and Arcade Fire, quite dramatic and emotive but, catchy and melodic too, great stuff. Stella Wembley – From Los Angeles, a flame haired singer songwriter steeped in opera and classical music but tapping into a Celtic fringe introspective pop. ‘No society has been so deeply alienated as ours from nature. I play music because it’s all I can do’Lost On Broadway– Pistols packing punk n roll with a v0cal that could be a girl could be a boy but is cool anyway…like Johnny Rotten got metrosexual

The Limerence – Impassioned pop songs with soul and rock elements played by some very fine musicians, blended keys and guitars warmly awash with hooks and a modicum of joie de vivre. Liam Whitby– singer sogwriter with a beautiful , soulful voice. A blend of astute covers and fine originals.

The Strays – Combining alt/groove rock textures with tight riffology that’s pretty darn funky and some beautifully beefy drumming. The Strays are rocking a sassy ragbag mix and match look and with girl singer coming on like a souped up fem rockabilly rebel so they have the visuals sorted too. Described in some quarters as ‘No Doubt meets Imelda May‘- which was actually exactly what I was just thinking. Neato. Benjamin Gabe – emotive indie pop with a possible nod to Coldplay by way of Muse (so shall we say Radiohead) but pretty much their own sound, very nice, from Slovakia with love.

The Pukes – Friday the 13th! What a perfect date for reacquainting your good selves with The Pukes…Punk ukulele band The Pukes are back and will be celebrating the release of their new album Never Mind The Buffet with a party at The Dublin Castle. The Pukes are infamous for their quirky ukulele-fuelled takes on punk classics, belting out songs by the likes of Dead Kennedys, Buzzcocks, Cock Sparrer, Misfits and loads more. After a couple of years off they return with a smaller line-up – but bigger sound than ever – and an album of original tunes inspired by the bands they love. Expect to hear some of your favourite punk songs done in The Pukes own inimitable style as well as bangers from the album.

Chernobyl Sunshine Club-Folk infused indie rock with a cinemascopic, beautifully realized sound, reminds of Last Of The Shadow Puppets in places, cerebral and compelling stuff with decent tunes to hold the attention. Jakobi– Gritty post-punk informed indie rock, sounds a bit like The Gun Club in places and there’s some interesting dissonant guitar sounds,  pretty unique and they’ve strong tunes, fine work.  Johnny’s Gun –  3 piece female fronted grunge and garage rock outfit also exploring a few textures a little more sensitive and folkish – rocks a strong vocal. Nice emoting.

Roddy Radiation’s Skabilly Rebels – The Specials may go on without that classic sweet Roddy lead guitar of yore, and without a fair few other elements too, but don’t worry about, no need to be wondering now, just enjoy the Skabilly Rebels. The yearning and zippy licks of Mr Rad’s playing ain’t bin dimmed none. Specials classics, excellent Roddy originals and other surprise gems make the cut and it’s a punky reggae rocknroll party to die for. Always a great night out in The Dublin, dancing shoes essential. Steve Hooker Stripped Down Stompin Band – A super charged dirty Essex Delta rocknroll trio fronted by a Hooker…stop it now! The very talented Steve Hooker that is, a great guitarist who masters a grinding riffology going and takes it to the dancefloor with a sleazy Link Wray twang…elements of The Feelgoods, early Stones, Bo Diddley and George Thorogood too

Diamond Dogs- RELOAD, REWIND & RECALL ROCK N ROLL “The glam boogie blue-eyed soul rockers Diamond Dogs are back to set things straight!” After the loss of saxophone player and longtime band member Magic Gunnarsson (who died in a drowning accident 2014) Sulo and the rest of Diamond Dogs called it a day. They released the album “Quitters & Complainers” 2015 and went on a farewell tour ending in Oviedo in October together with Iggy Pop. Since then Sulo’s released 3 solo albums, working with Chris Spedding, Paul Young, The Crunch etc and the rest of the members been busy with other projects. During this time a lot of Diamond Dogs gig requests have been dropping in from all over the world and when they found out that 4 of the 10 previous studio albums have been out of stock for a long time and unavailable as down loads they started to make a plan. Sulo & Honk (Henrik Widen), the remaining original members thought it was time to set things straight and release “that” compilation they’ve been talking about for many years. One thing led to another and soon “RECALL ROCK & ROLL”(Cargo Records) will be available, a double album including 30 tracks. 25 old and 5 brand new. At the same time Cargo Records will re-release 4 previous albums on vinyl/Cd & download. The albums are “As your greens turn brown” “Too much is always better than not enough” “That’s the juice I’m on” And the split album with legendary US Punkrock singer Jeff Dahl. “Atlantic Crossover”. DIAMOND DOGS 2019 are Sulo – Lead vocals Lars Karlsson-Guitar Martin Thomander (ex Electric Boys)-Guitar, Backing vocals  Henrik “Honk” Widen – Keys, Backing vocals  Stefan Bellnäs- Bass Thomas Broman (ex Glenn Hughes)- Drums Playing over two nights in the CBGBs of London, the legendary Dublin Castle, Sulo and co. will feature special guest artists both nights and offer a special cheap double show tickt with album included. Book now to avoid disappointment! Special Guests – Special Guests – London SS– London’s finest punknroll heroes with a lineage that goes right back to 1976 and The Clash, Generation X and The Damned...not to mention The Hollywood Brats, whose guitarist Brady still rocks the licks and the slingbacks for the London SS…

Diamond Dogs- RELOAD, REWIND & RECALL ROCK N ROLL “The glam boogie blue-eyed soul rockers Diamond Dogs are back to set things straight!” After the loss of saxophone player and longtime band member Magic Gunnarsson (who died in a drowning accident 2014) Sulo and the rest of Diamond Dogs called it a day. They released the album “Quitters & Complainers” 2015 and went on a farewell tour ending in Oviedo in October together with Iggy Pop. Since then Sulo’s released 3 solo albums, working with Chris Spedding, Paul Young, The Crunch etc and the rest of the members been busy with other projects. During this time a lot of Diamond Dogs gig requests have been dropping in from all over the world and when they found out that 4 of the 10 previous studio albums have been out of stock for a long time and unavailable as down loads they started to make a plan. Sulo & Honk (Henrik Widen), the remaining original members thought it was time to set things straight and release “that” compilation they’ve been talking about for many years. One thing led to another and soon “RECALL ROCK & ROLL”(Cargo Records) will be available, a double album including 30 tracks. 25 old and 5 brand new. At the same time Cargo Records will re-release 4 previous albums on vinyl/Cd & download. The albums are “As your greens turn brown” “Too much is always better than not enough” “That’s the juice I’m on” And the split album with legendary US Punkrock singer Jeff Dahl. “Atlantic Crossover”. DIAMOND DOGS 2019 are Sulo – Lead vocals Lars Karlsson-Guitar Martin Thomander (ex Electric Boys)-Guitar, Backing vocals  Henrik “Honk” Widen – Keys, Backing vocals  Stefan Bellnäs- Bass Thomas Broman (ex Glenn Hughes)- Drums Playing over two nights in the CBGBs of London, the legendary Dublin Castle, Sulo and co. will feature special guest artists both nights and offer a special cheap double show tickt with album included. Book now to avoid disappointment! Special Guests – Paradise Alley- London’s sleazy glam punknroll heroes of the ’90s are back so lock up your daughters. Just lock up everything…. Headline Maniac – freshly signed hot to trot offshoot of the current Eddie and the Hot Rods lineup.

Totally Blondie are the best Blondie tribute around! Blondie were one of the most iconic bands of the 1970s and ’80s with Debbie Harry’s posters adorning most teenagers’ walls. With Totally Blondie’s lookalike and soundalike singer, you can expect all the classic hits like Hanging On The Telephone, Sunday Girl, One Way Or Another, Atomic, along with some of the finest album tracks. And when we see lookalike and soundalike we really really mean lookalike and soundalike…it’s uncanny. And whilst the band may not be dopplegangers for Chris Stein and his merry men they can utterly cut it as Blondie, sometimes giving it just a little more oomph and pizzazz than the real thing dare we say.  Relive that classic moment in time. It’s …Totally Authentic … Totally Superb …. Totally Blondie!

Wayne Hussey’s first book Salad Daze is published on May 23rd by Omnibus Press. And we’re very pleased to announce Wayne will be appearing tonight in The Dublin Castle for a RocknRoll Book Club Q and A and book signing event with bespoke Mission inspired DJ sets mirroring Wayne’s remarkable career. The book chronicles Wayne’s life from childhood up to The Mission and everything in between. Salad Daze is a confessional, engaging and explicit account of life in the eye of rock’s storm told with wit, warmth, humour and laugh-out-loud moments. A limited Special Edition version will include a personalised certificate of authenticity, a double A side 7” single of two unreleased demos, a bespoke USB stick with a further nine unreleased demos, and extra photographs. In addition, three Special Editions will each contain a golden ticket; one to win Wayne’s first guitar, and two to win exclusive art prints. Each chapter of Salad Daze is accompanied by a playlist specially curated by Wayne to listen to while reading, and features artists as diverse as Elvis, Radiohead, Suicide, Frank Sinatra, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, David Bowie, Television, T Rex, Cigarettes After Sex, Iggy Pop, and Telly Savalas. Stopping off tonight for an indepth interview with RNR Book Club’s Julie Hamill, Wayne has also announced a full European tour throughout the autumn. Born in Bristol and raised as a Mormon, Wayne had his epiphany as a young boy watching Marc Bolan and T. Rex on Top Of The Pops. Seeing his destiny in a blinding flash of glitter, mascara and dark curls, he decided he was going to be a rock star too. Later, leaving Bristol to move to Liverpool – home of his beloved Liverpool Football Club and birthplace his favourite band The Beatles – it wasn’t long before Wayne surrendered to excess and debauchery as he gained recognition and notoriety as lead singer and principal songwriter in The Mission, after previously being guitarist with The Sisters Of Mercy, Dead Or Alive, and a member of Pauline Murray’s Invisible Girls. “He is one of a kind, and whether he likes it or not, he’s an absolute legend, and I can’t think of anyone on planet Earth who has a better story to tell.” Gary Numan “I toured a lot with The Mission and Wayne was much too bright and nice a guy to be in the rock business. He always had a sense of humour.”  Iggy Pop “After years and years of living with repression and religious guilt, I had finally shaken off those shackles to become the clichéd licentious, degenerate, promiscuous rock star – everything that my mother feared I’d become.” Wayne Hussey   NB Advance tickets are available inclusive of a book which will be signed on the night at just £23.00, or you can simply buy the book on the night.    

Subterranean Street Society-Blues infused folk rock from the Netherlands. there’s a nod to the likes of Radiohead, Bon Iver Nick Drake, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Paolo Nutini, but pretty much their own sound, emotive and reflective tunes with a wash of psychedelia Michael Lukes- Neatly executed contemporary pop which manages to avoid straying into the generic pop territory of Ed Sheeran et-al this is a little more soulsearching and cerebral, his voice is pretty unique too and tunes are strong. Pat And The Hats- Blue eyed soul and sunny side up Californian pop converge with a little indie rock to make a fairly palatable confection, soulful, commercial, a little sacharine but decent…harmonizing is great.

Alternative TV and fourth Dimension Records – First evening of a two day event bringing together a few of the artists Fourth Dimension Records has worked with in more recent years alongside a couple of others whose work is actively endorsed. There will be an exclusive release tied in with this available from the first day of the event onwards. A limited edition 10″ featuring exclusive tracks from a few of the artists involved and a couple of others. Please note- 100 early bird weekend tickets available Tonight- Alternative TV (newer material/more experimental set) with Gad Whip, Kleistwahr and Contrastate + DJ William Bennett 19.30 – 23.30

Alternative TV and Fourth Dimension Records – Second evening of a two day event bringing together a few of the artists Fourth Dimension Records has worked with in more recent years alongside a couple of others whose work is actively endorsed. There will be an exclusive release tied in with this available from the first day of the event onwards. A limited edition 10″ featuring exclusive tracks from a few of the artists involved and a couple of others. Please note- 100 early bird weekend tickets available Tonight- Alternative TV (The Image Has Cracked set) with with Map 71, JFK, Theme + DJ William Bennett   Splintered added so have to start early. 7?

The Vibrators – From Pure Mania in 1977 onwards The Vibrators set out their stall as the accomplished but still utterly kick ass end of Romantic punk n roll, showing the upstarts how it’s done. Searing, scintillating speedin’ rock and roll that they pulse along at such a pace commanded brilliantly by long standing lynchpin Eddie at the drums, you can’t possibly relax yer having such a good time. They don’t ease off the gas for a second.  With The Members’ Nigel Bennett on guitar and bass ace Pete chopping out the riddim. Hopefully original songsmith Knox will be popping by from RNR Rescue next door for a bit of Baby Baby action too… Steve Hooker Band – super charged dirty Essex Delta rocknroll trio, get a reet good and grinding riffology going and take it to the dancefloor with a sleazy Link Wray twang…damn good. Nuffin –  the legendary Roxy Club  ‘Audition Night’/Janet Street-Porter aTV spot captured the youthful ‘Boys who like to do Nuffin’ for posterity.  A mere forty two years later their debut album ‘Crowd Control’ appears, showcasing their charming, irreverent old school punk pop played clean and fast just like back in the day. Arrive nice and early for Nuffin!

Special Kinda Madness Christmas Party– We’re very pleased to welcome back to The Dublin Castle (as you must know by now, ‘The Ancestral Seat of Madness’, by decree of Viscount Suggs) the premier Specials AND Madness tribute act on the circuit. SKM will gift you a rip roarin’ two sets from each band, making up round about 2 hours plus of the top two triffic 2 Tone turns taken totally to the tippertop. And trying saying that with out yer teef in Mrs Dammers. You can’t ask for a better Christmas party of a Sunday afternoon into early evening. So don’t worry about it being a school night, just dust off yer loafers and fix your pork pie hat just so… we’ll be done and dusted nice and early. Fuck School, Let’s Dance… NB Doors 4pm

Festive Grrrlesque Burlesque Party – with Starsha Lee, The Weird Things, Polly Pikpocketz, Roxanne Fontana…When Weird Thing, Moped Johnny and Sensible Grey Cells batteur extraordinaire the lovely Mr Martin Parrot waited for Bugbear at the end of a dark alley one night rocking a perky proposition we knew we were in for a reet treat. And at Christmas! So tonight’s gift that keeps giving is all about combining four exciting and invigorating exponents of ferocious female fronted punk n roll  (Riot Grrrl des nos jours with that London twist) and the exotic dancing of empowered women – and maybe men- from the Burlesque/Boy-esque scene. So we’re very pleased to welcome Rachel Darq (Crumpet, Rock  N Roll Cabaret) back to The Dublin Castle with her supercool cohorts to really up the bump and grind ante… decadence, punk rock and crackers all round…Santa’s sack is that wee bit plumper this year.  Female fronted punk nite bands , a burlesque element, DJs til 2am, an iconic venue…’Grrrlesque Burlesque’ is born…