Rock And Roll Book Club – Smashing It Up. A Decade of Chaos With The Damned By Kieron Tyler – The Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned were the originators of British punk rock, forming a three-pronged attack on a self-satisfied rock elite and were the inspiration to a new generation of music fans: the fans who would define the future. Forming in 1976, The Damned went on to be the first punk band from the UK to put out a single – New Rose in 1976, an album – Damned Damned Damned in 1977, and the first British punk act to tour the US.  They went on to have 9 singles feature on the UK Top 40 singles chart (so far!)…. Putting The Dammed in context for the first time as one of the UK’s great rock bands, Smashing It Up is the history of this important band and their original members. Packed with tales of the band’s encounters with other key musical figures of the time, Smashing It Up also investigates their permanently strained relationship with the wider music business in general. Julie Hamill and Tony Gleed host this DC RNR Book Club spesh with the usual kick ass Q and A with Kieron Tyler plus bespoke roots, shoots and fruits Damned good soundtrack topping and tailing the experience. Strawberries all round… Drawing on interviews with the original band members, their friends, associates and eye witnesses on their chaotic journey, Smashing It Up is the definitive history of The Damned, putting the record straight once and for all placing them as pivotal ground breakers of punk rock. About the author: Keiron Tyler writes for Mojo and The Arts Desk, and has written for The Independent, The Guardian, Q, Billboard and Music Week. He is a lifelong fan of The Damned. The London SS – The Damned were initially sparked from a musical meeting of minds engendered when Brian James and Chris Miller did a brief stint in a proto punk London rocknroll institution.  The London SS not only briefly  featured these 2 Damned stalwarts but bridged the gap between the Dollsy glamerama of The Hollywood Brats (Eunan Brady is still in the band today) and the pre punk milieu, with Mick Jones (The Clash) and pre Gen X/Sigue Sigue Spitnik Tony James calling the shots. Indeed it was Tony James who first gave Chris Miller the name Rat Scabies, having noted the rash suffering drumming genius had more than a passing likeness to the rat he’d killed with a brick in the fetid London SS rehearsal space one afternoon. Anyway, The London SS live on, performing a furious and feral punk rock roll fulla Dolls, Stooges and Dead Boys like bangers. No rats will be harmed in their performance….

The Trusted-are a young 4 piece band originally from Leigh On Sea in Essex. Coming together with a host of influences ranging fromU2, 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. The 502s-Fun and frothy folk rock from The U.S  with a new orleans ragtime jazz slant, really up-beat tunes played with verve, recently scored a facebook hit with over 650k views Electric Sofa-An amalgam of indie and jazz, with  some quite tasty mike Garson-esque ivory tinkling, it’s  female fronted prog and jazz tinged indie rock,  sounds very 70’s with hints of Floyd and Fleetwood Mac, neat. The Wilbur Project-Snappy r n b played with conviction and verve, a nod to the pre-punk pub rock scene of the 70’s, not as hard edged as Dr Feelgood but has the same rootsy vibe, more yer Kursaal Flyers or Ducks Deluxe.

Beat Goes Bang– After performing with The Beat and releasing three albums in the early 80’s, which included a string of hit singles such as ‘Mirror in the Bathroom’, ‘Tears of a Clown’, ‘Ranking Full Stop’ and ‘Too Nice to Talk To’, original drummer Everett Morton (the beat behind The Beat- and a fantastic percussive talent) has now taken it a step further and introduced a brand new incarnation of that feeling and sound, joining forces with former Dexys Midnight Runners and General Public keyboard player Mickey Billingham and Neil Deathridge of International Beat with The Beat Goes Bang. As you might expect from Everett’s deft reggae chops at the drumstool, BGB channel The Beat, but with a more laid back and soulful reggae vibe on board. Perfect Summer music.

Minneapolis Rapper  Cerious Note will be invading London again August 19th with special guest Icon & more.

The Dublin Castle Redrock Jam– Every Tuesday. Featuring the superb house band  Red Wire and a multitude of artists. Every Tuesday FREE ENTRY. Sign up to participate from 7.30pm…

The Bleeding Stars – excellent romping 1960s inspired fare with The Kinks , The Animals and Hendrix all apparent in the influence. A lovely thing it is too. Diaphragm Failure-out of it psychedelic jams with big fat dubby basslines and more than a hint of pranksterism from Steve Folk and his conceptual krautrock krazies. Hawkwind via Can with a hint of Pil and something altogether more extra terrestrial….Aaron Wright – excellent young singer songwriter out of Edinburgh who, but don’t fear that descriptive handle, Aaron has more in common with George Harrison or Glen Tilbrook than Sheeren. With Scots accent satisfactorily singingly intact Aaron had the cream of Scottish talent working up his album with him (Teenage Fanclub, Belle And Sebastian, Camera Obscura).

Montpellier- Psychedelic emotive indie rock, nods to early verve later stone roses as well as the likes of Mansun and Coldplay, highly  accomplished playing and they’ve decent tunes to boot. Hani- Retrorock that references the narco-swagger 0f The Stones, just after B Jones snuffed it, but filters it through brit-pop era indie, spesh Oasis but also the Manic Street Preachers and Suede, great stuff. Masdo- 60’s influenced indie pop From Kuala Lumpa Malaysia,  with some great twangy Hank Marvin-esque guitar it’s like an indie Shadows via Last Of The Shadow puppets, with beatles harmonies, upbeat toe tappin’ stuff. Neat Edgar Duke- Psychedelic rock heavy and hypnotic in places but in no way shoegazy, catchy and uplifting, despite the heavyosity

Loud Mute Rage- a bright and breezy take on glammed out rock with a Kasabian meets 1980s Cure indie rock feel, plenty of energy and as I say ‘glam’ although more in the dynamics than the look. Mortimer’s Wish– ex Mastermindz  and Immigrant 007, still demonstrating some of that filmic new wave vibe of yore but rocking a little more of a metal/post grunge thing now a la Nirvana,  Soundgarden  etc  but very good. The Ancient Unknown – Janglesome indie meets Americana… Daniel Johnson springs to mind with spectral guitar motifs like Felt in the 1980s. And the Sunset Burns-Gritty, blusey post grunge rock inluenced by the likes of Avenged Sevenfold, Falling in Reverse, Black Sabbath,Guns n´Roses.

Mad Manson 303– psychedelic blues with countercultural MC5 type nuances, ripping some frenzy out of virtuosity. Faith – Citing influences like The Cult and Joy Division, and hitting some jangly indie pop inflections with soaring anthemic choruses, a bit like Mighty Lemon Drops filtered through Doves and Missing Andy all rocking really strong tunes and a crisp production culture, cool. Dark Actors – The Dark Actors play in glorious technicolor. With soulful vocals delivering enchanting melodies, backed with intelligent harmonies and full-blooded guitars. Influences vary widely from legends like David Bowie, Pink Floyd & Supergrass as well as embracing the energy of the Americana scene led by bands such as Tom Petty, The Eagles & My Morning Jacket. 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 intensley but also skanks admirably and they’ve decent hooks too, fine work

Usselman-Tongue Tied’ is the debut single, on the esteemed Blow Up label, from Southend-On-Sea based multi instrumentalist Chris Usselman who under the artist moniker USSELMAN has created a debut album full of a rich alternative pop intensity. “Sounds like it should come from New York but it’s from Southend” STEVE LAMACQ, BBC 6 MUSIC“Stunning” BBC ESSEX INTRODUCING Tiny Little Teeth-2 piece consisting of drums n keys, the keys are really interesting, very off kilter analogue sounds with tight but loose drums, like Trans Am if a 70’s Eno were involved, great.

Punk’s Payday Karaoke–  Payday Punk Rock And New Wave Karaoke is our monthly fourth Friday of the month regular Dublin Castle sing and be Damned happening. Featuring our bespoke punk and indie covers crack team The DPRK– AKA Democratic Punk Rock Karaoke– and their mahoosive book of fabulous songs that you can perform live on stage in London’s most iconic venue.  And the great news is it may be payday but you no longer have to pay…free entry all night long, so you can party hearty in the best venue possible for such a joyous happening.  DJ Fuzz at the musical controls to keep the party going til the wee wee hours, this will be your monthly must attend event in Camden Town and certainly the only one where you can unleash your inner Johnny, Debbie, Joey or Joe. Some of those songs- Beastie Boys – Fight for your right Billy Idol – White Wedding/Blink 182 – All the small things/Blondie – Hanging on the Telephone /Blondie – One way or another/Blur – Song 2 /The Buzzcocks – Every Fallen in Love?/The Clash – I Fought the Law /The Clash – London Calling /The Clash – White Riot/The Damned – New Rose /Dead Kennedys – Holiday in Cambodia/Elastica – Connection/Electric Six – Gay Bar /The Fall – Totally Wired/Green Day – American Idiot /The Hives – Hate to say I told you so/Hole – Celebrity Skin /Iggy Pop – I wanna be your dog/Joan Jett – I Love Rock n Roll/Joy Division – Transmission/Kings of Leon – Molly’s Chambers/Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit/Ramones – Blitzkrieg Bop/Ramones – Wanna be Sedated /Rancid – Ruby Soho /The Ruts – Babylon’s Burning /Sex Pistols – Anarchy in the U.K. /Sex Pistols – God Save the Queen /Sex Pistols – Pretty Vacant /Stone Roses – I wanna be adored/Talking Heads – Once in a lifetime/Talking Heads – Psycho Killer /UK Subs – CID /The Undertones – Teenage Kicks The Vapors – Turning Japanese/Weezer – Hash Pipe. 

Dubvocaliza https://www.facebook.com/DUBVOCALIZAMUSIC/ and Jah Time International Reggae Band https://www.facebook.com/Jah-Time-International-2226367164258073/ BETH DUCK https://www.facebook.com/BethDuckyyy/ playing live at Dublin Castle. It’s going to be a Reggae night to remember. The opening set will be by Beth Duck at 8:15 PM. Be there when the gates opens at 7:30 PM.

The Dublin Castle Jukebox Festival- See Sixties, See Seventies, See Eighties Go! with tributes to The Smiths, Joy Division and Mott The Hoople….. A celebration of three decades of vital British music complimenting The Greatest Jukebox in Christendom and the Best Venue In London with The Most Fabulous DJs In The World! Starring Wott The Hoople – Mott reimagined  brilliantly. All The Young Dudes.  Roll Away The Stone . The Golden Age Of Rock And Roll. Damn right. The Joneses  channeling the extraordinary diversity of melody and mood found in the remarkable music of The Smiths,  one of the most influential bands of all time. Shadowplay– A conceptual and artistically sophisticated take on the stunning Joy Division canon, Shadowplay seek to portray and subtly re- interpret this startling music in their own way rather than commit a carbon copy. 

Julie Hamill of 15 Minutes With You fame interrogates the legend that is Kevin Cummins on his wonderful new Mozzer book. Get the supercheap earlybird tickets early and dont miss out on this exclusive day of publication book signing, Q and A and Smiths/Morrissey discoteque experience. Morrissey: Alone and Palely Loitering is a photographic retrospective of Morrissey which chronicle Morrissey’s world as he emerged from The Smiths and established himself as a solo artist. With a backdrop of some of these ace photos on show as Kevin talks about the subject.

Fire Fences – Emotive alt-pop with a polished production and oodles of commercial appeal, somehow bridges the gap between Catfish and the Bottlemen and Foo Fighters. Panoptes – Guitar drums duo,and a bit more interesting than yer usual White Stripes/Royal Blood plagiarists, being very fuzzed up and rocking ultra-phazed guitar… puts ’em more in Spacemen 3‘s ball park, without sounding too much like ’em, quite a unique sound, cool.  The Dead Pollys – Swedish folk punks playing rumbling post punk cum yob punk with additional swathes of sawing fiddle….kick ass it is too. Doc Snipp– Rockabilly informed garage punk with pounding Burundi drums and raw garage guitars, ramshackle but joyful and spirited, think Billy Childish vibes with a whiff of The Cramps, neat.

Greenhaus –  originally an electronic 3 piece founded by Steve Bellamy, Frank Drake and Andy Page in the late 1990‘s, (with releases under the Beggars Banquet and Kickin’ Records labels), are about to release their 5th studio album….an exciting proposition for all admirers of this stark and startling post punk electro-conceptual outfit. Gon von Zola – Out-of-the-box rock musician Gon von Zola has recently hooked up with Sunrise Records. Formerly known as ‘The Budda Cakes’ Gon has performed at festivals such as Glastonbury and Secret Garden, as well as having his releases played on BBC 6 and Radio X. The first Gon von Zola single on our label will be the song “Blue Is…”, which will also mark Gon von Zola’s first release under his own name. Expect frantic uber pop with a lovely lilting skank and some adroit female BVs.. somewhere between a progressive approach to Lilly Allen‘s street pop and artnik outings like early Prefab Sprout and The Divine Comedy– wonderful work, great tunes, lotsa wit, love it. Simon Kent  A band rather than merely an individual it seems-  a dang good stab at turning the post Coldplay style into something a lot more biting, care of a genuinely fresh and impassioned vocal style- coming on somewhere between Jon Anderson and Julian Cope a la falsetto…nice vocal, highly accomplished music played by top musicians too.

The Distractions- “One of the great lost bands of the New Wave era” (Blurt magazine. USA) The Distractions in the late 70s and early 80s were very well known on the post-punk music scene. They released records on the TJM, Factory, Island and Rough Trade labels to excellent reviews, as well as sharing bills with Joy Division, The Buzzcocks, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Fall, The Members, Squeeze and many others. They played all corners of the UK and Ireland as well as doing gigs in New York before splitting up. Respected music journalist David Hepworth described their debut album, Nobody’s Perfect as, “An enchanting and vaguely disturbing collection of vulnerable pop” Last year two of the original members, vocalist Mike Finney and drummer Alex got together with some friends after being asked to play at a memorial gig for Manchester punk legend John the Postman. It went down so well they decided to continue as a live act playing their singles as well as songs from the album “Nobody’s Perfect”– if this show is half as good as the last time they played The Dublin you’d be a fool to be distracted from attending ya get me?  Landspeeder-Gritty indie rock from a bunch of old faces from the 1990s Britpop scene, ex-members of Reuben, Mandelbrot Set and F.O.N.D, have worked with Suede, Echo & the Bunnymen, Kingmaker, Cast and loads more in the intervening years. Purple Implosion- Mixing spiky post punking punk funk with counter cultural garage birthed rocknroll featuring out there front man antIcs…but always pretty damn funky. Ex Diary/Pink F.A… great! Inhaler– Punked-up indie rock with a vivacious eye on image and intensity, channeling the more abrasive side of Nirvana, via old school punk and a bit of something akin to an arthouse Manics , nifty.

Mongrel Dogs– Frippery free classic hard rock with a Brit accent and a high melody quotient and nods to Lizzy, Motorhead and The Almighty. With a heaviosity that recalls Led Zep. Ace. Candidates- overdriven alt rock with a nicely laconic backbeat but vocally and attitudinally they’re coming from a bit of  a bit of an psychedelicized Oasis/Kasabian/2nd Roses album Scally Brit rock area The Big Dirty-  Snappy alt rock decent tunes executed with verve, it;s classic rock a-la Aerosmith or Guns n roses, with a classy modern twist and a brit accent People Are Things- Alt rock that manages not to stray too far into emo territory, akin to 30 Seconds To Mars, Incubus and Muse without being a total rip-off good voice on the front bloke, fine playing all round and they’ve decent tunes too.

 The Skatuesques– All female Ska/Reggae crew from Dublin, got a really nice lightness of touch, bit like 2-Tone faves The  Bodysnatchers, do covers and originals all fabulously well, with their own unique twist. The Feckin Ejits-Fiery Celtic Punk with storming  tunes and big rousing choruses. all played with bags of conviction

Lunatics Lost– Fronted by Welsh vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Iain Richards with Joanna Khoo on bass/vocals and Mono on drums. With influences from grunge, stoner rock, new wave and punk, the band blend big riffs with melodic hooks giving a powerful platform for lyrics full of bite and edge with clear reference to the social commentary of The Clash and the Manics . “Lunatics Lost reinvents and renews your faith in rock in a way that satisfies all the promise of post – punk to a level other bands can only aspire to. Full of edgy, exciting riffs that will leave you in awe of a band that is set to blow your mind in 2018”  – Pure Music Live The Martyrials – “an undeniably explosive blend of all killer, no filler psychedelic synth-punk rock and roll, like if the Ramones had synthesizers and jammed with Slaves or if System of a Down had been fanboying over B-52’s in their formative years.” Yes!! See also Cardiacs…damn goodly. IPNO-Shimmering dream pop, an amalgam of The Cure, New order and early 90’s shoegaze, rather celestial and uplifting

The Ba -formed by guitarist and songwriter Nick Jacobs, co-founder of Bristol arthouse indie-rockers Blue Aeroplanes, with a name based on the first sound made by any child in any culture. The band was originally active 1976-78 and recently reformed. The music is straight down the line from that time, not exactly punk, but very much reflecting the mood of that era: described variously as “an alchemical fusion of Syd Barrett and Dr Feelgood” and “like a more primitive Talking Heads played by people who’ve never heard Talking Heads”. Back in the day,  played the Roxy and Dingwalls, and supported Johnnny Thunders (‘We came close to blowing them off stage!’) A remastered tape is in the pipeline. Brilliant, can’t wait… Get Set Go – “I hate everyone” as featured on Greys Anatomy is a lyrically incisive and despite it’s title wonderfully uplifting tune, has a Weezer vibe without really sounding like them, see also King Missile. Montpellier – Psychedelic emotive indie rock, nods to early Verve later Stone Roses as well as the likes of Mansun – very accomplished playing and they’ve tons of top tunes.

The Vultures– baroque country and folk- even gypsy- tinged pop with a deep dark gothic leaning. Like Johnny Cash got kidnapped by Andrew Eldritch and tied to the bed round Bert Bacharach’s gaff by Nancy Sinatra. Which is a very wonderful thing- all the better that tonight is The Vultures’ album launch party. Gambling Hearts– in contrast, some Neil Young like tendencies to the fore here, maybe a bit of Alex Chilton and Teenage Fanclub too. The return of Salisbury’s acclaimed Gambling Hearts has been an unexpected pleasure to behold in 2018. Paranoid Waves – Indie pop, psychedelic in parts from France. Sung in English, a bit of Gallagher tood to be sure.

Janis Whitehouse Talks To Julie Hamill about her book Loving Amy and the life and times of Amy Winehouse.  In Aid Of The Amy Foundation. Packed with exclusive material that has never been seen before, such as extracts from Amy’s teenage diaries, “Loving Amy” offers a new and intimate perspective on the life and death of the phenomenon that is Amy Winehouse. Arguably the most gifted artist of her generation, Amy Winehouse died tragically young, aged just 27. With a worldwide fanbase and millions of record sales to her name, she could have been an enduring artist and truly one of The Greats. In fact she IS one of The Greats, but was always an enigmatically down to earth if vulnerable individual, who came and pulled pints in The Dublin just for fun, and performed with her band on our stage in 2009, one of the greatest moments in the whole of Dublin Castle history. Sadly missed.

Punk’s Payday Karaoke–  Payday Punk Rock And New Wave Karaoke is our monthly fourth Friday of the month regular Dublin Castle sing and be Damned happening. Featuring our bespoke punk and indie covers crack team The DPRK– AKA Democratic Punk Rock Karaoke– and their mahoosive book of fabulous songs that you can perform live on stage in London’s most iconic venue.  Free drink for the first 20 full paying punters entering the on stage fray. Featuring special guest turns and DJ Fuzz at the musical controls to keep the party going til the wee wee hours, this will be your monthly must attend event in Camden Town and certainly the only one where you can unleash your inner Johnny, Debbie, Joey or Joe. You are a fucking star, see you at the fucking bar.  Those songs- Beastie Boys – Fight for your right Billy Idol – White Wedding/Blink 182 – All the small things/Blondie – Hanging on the Telephone /Blondie – One way or another/Blur – Song 2 /The Buzzcocks – Every Fallen in Love?/The Clash – I Fought the Law /The Clash – London Calling /The Clash – White Riot/The Damned – New Rose /Dead Kennedys – Holiday in Cambodia/Elastica – Connection/Electric Six – Gay Bar /The Fall – Totally Wired/Green Day – American Idiot /The Hives – Hate to say I told you so/Hole – Celebrity Skin /Iggy Pop – I wanna be your dog/Joan Jett – I Love Rock n Roll/Joy Division – Transmission/Kings of Leon – Molly’s Chambers/Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit/Ramones – Blitzkrieg Bop/Ramones – Wanna be Sedated /Rancid – Ruby Soho /The Ruts – Babylon’s Burning /Sex Pistols – Anarchy in the U.K. /Sex Pistols – God Save the Queen /Sex Pistols – Pretty Vacant /Stone Roses – I wanna be adored/Talking Heads – Once in a lifetime/Talking Heads – Psycho Killer /UK Subs – CID /The Undertones – Teenage Kicks The Vapors – Turning Japanese/Weezer – Hash Pipe.  The Bronsons (on stage 8 to 8.45, also FREE ENTRY)- The Bronsons have been Bugbear staples since ooooh..some time ….and this is their last ever live engagement so get down nice and early to this party started. In case you didn’t know, The Bronsons excel in a fantastic reading of all things cranked up really high and rhythm n booze- think Eddie and the Hot Rods, Dr Feelgood, 9 Below Zero..ace.

The Estimators– taking a more authentic, pre punk, pre roots reggae approach to all things ska, this highly accomplished band truly specialize in nice vibes, proper old school Skatalites/Prince Buster stylee approaching the swing early rocksteady and rudeboy reggae tooons, some JA covers and just a wee bit of 2 Tone, and some fine originals too making this a wonderful reading of the genre! The Petty Thieves – super sassy six piece sleazy Reggae/Ska/Funk band from the dirty suburbs of Medway. It ain’t all dirty garage punk out there, fabulous skanking fun. DJ Charlie King (Klub Skank) nicing up this Ball Of Fire too…

Bruce Thomas – Long standing bassist with Elvis Costello’s Attractions was prompted to write Rough Notes when a friend told him: ‘There’s only one history of rock …and pop and you were there!’ It follows his career from the paper-round he did to buy his first guitar and see the Beatles — all the way through to his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003 …and beyond. Taking time out to discuss the so-called feud between him and Elvis, the memoir also includes accounts of working with Paul McCartney, touring on Elton John’s private jet, a day at Johnny Cash’s ranch and dinner with Yoko Ono — as well as encounters with Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Abba, Howling Wolf, John Lee Hooker, Mick Jagger, Jimmy Page, the Who, Freddie Mercury, Pink Floyd, Rod Stewart, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, John Belushi, Michael Hutchence …and a certain Jimmy Savile. Yet Rough Notes is far more than a personal memoir or catalogue of trivia. It traces the entire story of rock and pop from its beginnings in the 1950s, right through to the present day — despite the fact it’s been said that …’writing about music is like dancing about architecture’. In conversation with Julie Hamill tonite… plus Dave Philpott talks to Tony Gleed about his book Dear Mr Popstar– Humorous letters to pop stars about their songs with genuine witty replies. For nearly 10 years, ‘Team Philpott’, as their followers fondly refer to them, have been on a quite bonkers crusade, writing good old-fashioned letters to pop and rock stars , either picking up on genuine ambiguities within their lyrics or often deliberately misunderstanding them for comedic effect. The artists quite unexpectedly started to reply, writing back in just as witty and articulate a fashion, politely pointing out exactly where the original letter went wrong…or right. ‘Dear Mr. Popstar’’ proudly features 100 of the best letters and responses from famous and legendary names spanning the whole pop and rock spectrum, all relishing their involvement and revealing their own, in many cases, hitherto unknown humorous sides within what could well be the most interactive dialogue compiled between music stars and their audience ever undertaken. Plus DJ Sets by Gleed And Hamill sonically describing the arc of these fabulous books.

No Blinkers– Italians who have located the romance in the post punk and new wave music of the British Isles and perform an array of songs from that era with incredible power and passion, and a twist of their very own band style. So think Cure, Killing Joke, Banshees and so on. A fabulous night out if you dig your late ’70s and early ’80s noir pop gems. The Small Wonders– so what better than to pair them up with our very own twisted punky covers coves The Small Wonders? Joy Division , Buzzcocks , Clash , and a bit more up to date with the likes of Kaiser Chiefs . Played the Castle quite a lot in the 1990s these guys when we were young, dumb and full of it. Better compare set lists guys…Skilda-Electronica with spaced out mantras care of a female vocalist keying into a kind of Celtic Bjork thang (from Brittany) – very impressively it must be said, as dark troublesome tribal techno builds care of her percussionist male pard…so live drums and electronics on devoces presumably… Chemical Bros, Prodigy type bangin crossover electronica, Fab.

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. Relive that classic moment in time. It’s …Totally Authentic … Totally Superb …. Totally Blondie!

Georgia & The Vintage Youth-Female jazz singer in the vein of Amy Winehouse and Ella Fitzgerald, with 9 piece band, excellant voice lots of radio play, not just jazz though dips a toe in ska (like amy) Neville Stapelle features on latest tune Oli Ng- Stirring, catchy, blue collar rock. Springsteen etc, via Americana of a rock persuasion, Ryan Adams et al.

  Wartoad-Superb psychedelic/punk band. Band  includes members of Norah Jones’ band, as well as Elle King’s band. The band’s current single, “Move It” is an inventive and dynamic re-working of the seminal early brit Rock ‘n roll Cliff Richard  hit. Digital Criminals have composed a compellingly canorous coalescence of post-hardcore, punk and electro here that manages to remain remarkably energising all the way through. Its hypnotically heartfelt singing mixed with its mesmerizingly innovative music makes for a magnificently vivifying listen” – Pure M Magazine

The Filthy Tongues-Dirty post punk and grinding poetic folk rock what with fiddles and tings..a Scottish band who have been around since the ’80s  featuring ex members of Goodbye Mr Makenzie, you’d compare this to Nick Cave on first listen but actually has far more in common with Crime And The City Solution and The Triffids. Great stuff, Scots accent intact as tales of woe and wonder are woven. Nice. God is in the TV said about the album “These songs wrap themselves around you like a warm blanket and effortlessly soothe your soul.” Seil Lien-“You could argue that she is one of Scotland’s best-kept secrets… It’s down and dirty swamp rock that’s a little bit Bad Seeds, a little bit White Stripes, and should be on a David Lynch movie soundtrack” (Scots Whay Hae!) “Sublime debut” (Planet Rock) Jakobi– Gritty post-pink informed indie rock, sounds a bit like The Gun Club in places and there’s some interesting dissonant guitar sounds, compelling stuff and pretty unique, fine work Stage Door Guy- Agit pop/prop punkishly hewn indie rock with politico anti establishment lyrics…see also Thee Faction though this takes more cues from Billy Bragg than The Redskins, with a possible nod to the grittier end of indie rock a-la early Artic Monkeys

Pianist Mike Garson was David Bowie’s most frequent musician, on record and onstage throughout Bowie’s life. They played over a thousand shows together between 1972 and 2004, and Garson is featured on over 20 of Bowie’s albums. Bowie’s Piano Man is the first-ever biography of Mike Garson, written by Clifford Slapper, a fellow pianist who also played for Bowie, working closely with him on his last-ever television appearance. The book explores the special relationship between Garson and Bowie, beginning with the extraordinary story of how Garson went overnight from playing in tiny jazz clubs to touring the world on arena rock tours with Bowie after one short phone call and audition. Clifford Slapper’s excellent book, first published in 2015, has now been revised and extended, taking in the shockwaves we all felt when Bowie suddenly dies in January 2016. Author Julie Hamill (15 Minutes With You, Frank) and Dublin Castle DJ and programmer Tony Gleed will interview Clifford who will also be poised at the piano to give us wonderful musical illustrations to accompany the exploration of the text. Pin-Ups 1972-82: Ten Years Of Classic Posters From The Punk, New Wave And Glam Era is a soft back coffee table book format by Extradition Publishing. From Glam through Punk to New Wave and Post-Punk, this collection of over 200 posters from the 1970s onwards celebrate a decade’s music and design. Drawing on scores of personal interviews with stars, artists, photographers and fly-posting mafiosi, Alwyn Turner and Roger Crimlis tell the stories behind the pictures from a golden age of rock & roll. These are the images that adorned our bedroom walls: they asserted our allegiances, fuelled our fantasies, and let our friends know where we stood in the grand scheme of rock & roll. We still remember them this way: with yellowing strips of Sellotape stuck diagonally across the corners, with the faint aroma of illicit cigarette smoke clinging to them, with the wear, tear and graffiti that accumulated over the years. This re-issue of Pin-Ups 1972-82: Ten Years Of Classic Posters From The Punk, New Wave And Glam Era is bolstered with dozens of new images and new insights from those who were there. Critically acclaimed when first published, State Of The Art hailed, The definitive review of the decade’s music graphics’; whilst Mojo praised the collection as A winning rumination on a golden period of pop . With posters featuring iconic images of timeless artists like Bowie, Blondie, Ramones, The Damned, Adam Ant, Motörhead, Suicide, Iggy Pop, Tom Robinson Band and Lou Reed, Pin-Ups 1972-82: Ten Years Of Classic Posters From The Punk, New Wave And Glam Era is a true time capsule. The authors join us tonight to be interviewed, with questions invited from the audience too. Book signings for both publications and associated DJ sets topping and tailing proceedings (plus intermission!) provided by Messrs Hamill and Gleed.  

ATTILA THE STOCKBROKER & BARNSTORMER Preceded by a set of poetry from Attila and special delights… Listen to some music at https://soundcloud.com/barnstormer1649 Attila the Stockbroker brings his new ‘1649’ Barnstormer to London for the first time, finally fulfilling a lifelong ambition.   It’s unique. A description not used lightly: they literally don’t sound like anyone else. Barnstormer aim to do with early music & punk what the Pogues did with Irish music & punk. Attila describes their sound as ‘Roundhead Renaissancecore and Baroque ‘n’ Roll’. Attila has always loved early music and plays a lot of the instruments – crumhorn, cornemuse, shawm, bombarde and five different recorders as well as violin, viola , mandola and mandocello. A lifelong socialist and activist, he has always been fascinated by  the radical movements which exploded at the end of the English Civil War and the execution of Charles 1 – radicals who can be described as the first English socialists. And his songs are inspired both musically and lyrically by the events of that tumultuous time. So instruments and ideas fit together: they are from the same period. The songs are mostly based around the time at the end of the war, after the King was executed and, in the words of a ballad of the time, the world turned upside down. Previously marginal ideas of social justice and equality spread across the land.  Barnstormer’s songs are about the Diggers, the Levellers, the Ranters and their leader Abiezer Coppe, the radical factions of the New Model Army and their confrontation with Cromwell’s grandees. There is an epic piece about the narrow escape of Charles 11 after the Battle of Worcester in 1651 in a coal boat which sailed from  the spot where Attila has fished all his life  in Shoreham Port, 400 yards from his front door.  (If Charles had been caught, we’d probably be spending more money on the NHS now instead of the Royal Family!) There are some earlier references to Wat Tyler and the Peasants’ Revolt as well. And all with an eye on what‘s happening now, which is essential. Attila has written a couple of very modern early music songs too. One’s about a visionary with a beard and the initials JC! History is mainly presented as the story of kings, queens and nobles but real history is about us and our battles for justice. As our country becomes more and more divided along class and generational lines, and the extremes of wealth and poverty become even more sharply defined, we can learn a lot from the events of the past. Although their politics are similar, there’s one very important difference between Barnstormer and the Roundheads though. Some Roundheads, apparently, thought drinking beer, dancing and having fun was evil. Attila and Barnstormer think it should be obligatory. Show the Bullingden bastards the way to go… and you can get the new Barnstormer album here www.attilathestockbroker.com/merch.php…‘Restoration Tragedy’ is out now and on sale on vinyl and CD at the gig too.

In Memory Of Poly Styrene. 2 Day Event. In Aid Of ROCK AND ROLL RESCUE. With- Doctor And The Medics, Fuzzbox, The Vapors, Toto Coelo, Modern Romance,The Shakespearos, Ed Blaney (The Fall) , Anita Harris, 40th Anniversary Germ Free Adolescents Entire Album Special Guest Performance! (Side 1 Saturday, Side 2 Sunday), Melanie Williams (Sub Sub, Carl Cox), Knox (The Vibrators), John Otway, Dave Barbarossa (Adam and the Ants, Bow Wow Wow), Moskito Kiss, Steve Etherington and John Richardson (The Rubettes), Jay Stapley (Roger Waters, Bleeding Hearts Band), Flesh Tetris, Neville Staple (The Specials, Fun Boy Three), Christine Sugary Staple, Ben Curiosity Killed The Cat, David Sinclair, Jennie Bellestar, Julie E. Gordon (Happy Mondays), Paul Wagstaff (Black Grape), Gaye Advert, Tim Walton, Angie Brown, Bella Barton, Tom Hingley (Inspiral Carpets), Risa Hall, The Crack, She Robot, Harrry Kakoulli (Squeeze,The Only Ones) Brunk, The Featherz, Danie Centric (The Lurkers), Anita Chellamah, Wolfie Foxglow (compere of The Who), David Von Day (Dollar), Sue Moxley, The Homosexuals, Tamzin Smith, The Priscillas, Trip Hazard, Lisa Von H and more big names TBA…..Hosted by John Robb. In Memory Of Poly Styrene. To purchase 2 day earlybird ticket go here- http://www.bugbearbookings.com/bugbear-elsewhere/

In Memory Of Poly Styrene. 2 Day Event. In Aid Of ROCK AND ROLL RESCUE. With- Doctor And The Medics, Fuzzbox, The Vapors, Toto Coelo, Modern Romance,The Shakespearos, Ed Blaney (The Fall) , Anita Harris, 40th Anniversary Germ Free Adolescents Entire Album Special Guest Performance! (Side 1 Saturday, Side 2 Sunday), Melanie Williams (Sub Sub, Carl Cox), Knox (The Vibrators), John Otway, Dave Barbarossa (Adam and the Ants, Bow Wow Wow), Moskito Kiss, Steve Etherington and John Richardson (The Rubettes), Jay Stapley (Roger Waters, Bleeding Hearts Band), Flesh Tetris, Neville Staple (The Specials, Fun Boy Three), Christine Sugary Staple, Ben Curiosity Killed The Cat, David Sinclair, Jennie Bellestar, Julie E. Gordon (Happy Mondays), Paul Wagstaff (Black Grape), Gaye Advert, Tim Walton, Angie Brown, Bella Barton, Tom Hingley (Inspiral Carpets), Risa Hall, The Crack, She Robot, Harrry Kakoulli (Squeeze,The Only Ones) Brunk, The Featherz, Danie Centric (The Lurkers), Anita Chellamah, Wolfie Foxglow (compere of The Who), David Von Day (Dollar), Sue Moxley, The Homosexuals, Tamzin Smith, The Priscillas, Trip Hazard, Lisa Von H and more big names TBA…..Hosted by John Robb. In Memory Of Poly Styrene. Two Day Ticket available here- http://www.bugbearbookings.com/bugbear-elsewhere/

The Blue Orchids Vs The Flaming Stars- John Peel Tribute Night…..never quite understood why we’re encouraged to observe the anniversary of John Peel’s passing to pay tribute to the great man.. so we won’t. On this day in 1996 (for example) Peel played Man Or Astroman, Blak Twang, The Orb and Broadcast on his show. And entertained with his usual wry, other worldly, yet homespun wit ( ‘There is, I suspect, in this studio (I’m on my own at the moment, nobody else in the building as far as I know, except the security bloke), I think that you can control the temperatures in here by thought, because I was just thinking to myself, “It’s a bit hot in here,” and the temperature starts to go down. I may be wrong, but I think I’m on to something.’) Meanwhile on this day in 1986, Sugar Minott, The Undertones, Talulah Gosh and 14 Iced Bears all got a look in (Hi Rob). Needless to bleedin say, two of Peel’s most long standing of personal favourite bands were the acts in this remarkable double header tonite. The Blue Orchids recorded 2 Peel sessions back in the as they say day and former Fall lynchpin and eerily canny guitarist Martin Bramah played on 3 sessions with those particular luminaries, and original organ maestress Una Baines one. JP loved The Blue Orchids and spun their records and repeated the sessions on a regular basis. Still making startling music, Bramah and his current Orchids return to the Dublin Castle with their spectral Northern English Doors post punk psychedelic throb tonite so don’t miss it- As a certain Paul Morley said “They rave but they are not mad.”. Wonderful band.  The Flaming Stars were natch another another Ravencroft Senior fave rave, although he’d never stoop so low as to refer to them as such….their Seeds meets Johnny Cash garage croon and swoon was featured in no less than six Peel sessions. Max Decharne and his effortlessly groovy band always kick up a storm in the Dublin Castle, it’s a marriage made in Camden Town if not actual Heaven. Raise a glass to Peel tonight and let those songs from the bar room floor do their glorious magic. What can ya say? His wondrous waves were manifold and marvelous. John Peel was not a c*nt.

BUGBEAR AND BLACK DOG YULETIDE PUNK ALL DAYER Starring Menace, Hung Like Hanratty, Morgellons, A-Heads, Skurvi, Yur Mum, The Plague UK, The Phobics, The Glorias – kicking off at 3pm, Santa hoovers up some sulphate, downs his snakebite and merrily empties his studded leather sac all over The Dublin Castle to gift you the best punk rock present you could hope for: a selection f the very best bands doing the rounds today, topped off fittingly by the marvelous Menace, still kicking ass in their 40th year of fierce fury.    

The Skalectrics- Christmas Party Time well and truly gets swinging with The SKAlectrics- one of the best ska/2 tone covers acts on the circuit.  This 7 piece ska tour de force hail from from Banbury, Oxfordshire and cover all the top tunes from what was for them (and a lot of you regular Dublin Castle attendees) the best era of music , 1979 onwards, the 2-tone & ska years. Enjoy…this is the Ancestral Seat Of Madness after all…