Blasting Box-Angular Anglo Parisians, think dEUS meets something shouty and there’s brass so I’ll say Rocket From The Crypt- lotsa intensity get a mean groove on and  the brass swings. A tasty live proposition. All Change- Blending hiphop with folk tinged soul and real gone funky rock flavas-a wonderfully  soulful vocal. Bill Withers meets Roachford type tunes with aspirational spittings.  think Living Colour via N.E.R.D…Volente- Quite an otherworldly voice she has bit Kate Bush in places and musically this is pretty unique, fusing classical music drum n bass, snatches of Dub Step and Ambient, closest comparison would be Massive Attack. Fab. Croft & Cotes- Dip with some very impressive harmony skills and a virile, edgy sound above and beyond the common or garden singer songwriter date.

Bat Or –  3 piece malevolently moody French/English 3 girl happening bridging artful intelligent pop with dreamy filmic synthscapes. It’s really groovy. Relaxing listening with sassy edge.  Yes Man Jellyfish-Alt-Dance ensemble a soulful take on progressive House, via Garage, Breaks, Drum and Bass reminiscent of New Order and 808 state with hints of, Tangerine Dream, Orbital, and MJ Cole. Vs. Robots-spacey synth sounds and quirky proggish passages that recall Calvert era Hawkwind and melancholic Rush meets Muse alt rock. Quite adventurous and definitely experimenting with the forms but pretty accessible and catchy all the same. Shotgun Six- Pscyhedelic rock with a nod to God Speed You Black Emporer, Explosions In The Sky etc, hypnotic and slowburning there’s a bit of a post rock angle too has a faint Joy Div closer lp vibe, fine work.

JD Kelleher- Outta Eire a dynamic new wave influenced singer songwriter with full crack band whose debut single, a fab cover of Joy Division’s classic  ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ topped the Irish charts. With twangy guitar  Chris Izaak/Duane Eddy guitars and some country tinges,  JD, former star of Irish soap Ros na Rún, is now also doing wonderful things to songs by the Ramones alongside his own excellent compositions. .Head Of Light Entertainment-NE England based cheeky poppers… nice skipping riddims and washes of colour care of interesting mixed instrumentation and a bright little indie folk pop vocal fulla pop chops…ah and here comes some Farfisa type organ….I’m sold. Coming on like Belle And Sebastian as if re-imagined by The Colorblind James Experience for a Lionel Bart musical..The Lunar Effect-psych rock stonerisms to the fore and all fantastically well performed, proper hairy rocknroll, yes Lord. Sacre Noir – Female fronted lo-fi electronica somewhere between The Fizzbombs and Rough Bunnies.

The Insights-Retro indie rock with a pleasing jangle to the guitars which recall the Byrds, but there’s a decidedly brit feel to the overall sound, The Kinks could be a reference, also The Creation, strong tunes with insistent hooks Rainbow Cat-Psychedelic folk pop with a possible late 60’s brit influence specifically the Cantaubury scene Caravan spring to mind but brought bang up to date with some elecro embelishments, lovely harmonies and decently hooky tunes. Capra Negra-Balkan folk-Jazz-rock fusion it’s a rock band set up, but with a dulcimer out front, works really well, gives it a bit of a psychedelic feel, whilst band get a pretty mean groove going. Juliana Strangelove spends her time between Moscow, London, and LA. She has appeared in The Voice Russia and made several Radio and TV appearances where her rich, low voice has wowed audiences. Contralto Corner describes her voice as ‘unique, dark, and powerful’, ‘with the heavy richness that makes the Profondo voice such a mesmerising instrument’.

Fukushima Dolphin-like an uber energized Mystery Jets popped to the max a many tentacled psychedelic pop beast hailing from Brighton, it’s like a soft focus Mercury Rev via a folky Dandy Warhols (maybe) laid back pretty tunes with some well placed swirly organ, nice. 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.Peerless Pirates-Dress as pirates in a rum sodomy and the lash stylee, have songs about seafaring but conversely sound a bit  like the Smiths. Though guitars have more of a gutsy sub-rockabilly feel, rather than the jangly Marr style. Birdy Hop-3 piece doing psychedelic blues infused rock with overdriven distorted guitars, there’s some lovely harmonies and bursts of melody, sounds a bit like The Band at times. Nick Aslam- singer songwriter with kick ass band who hails from the Potteries and has honed his Johnny Cash cum Alex Turner songcraft via a remarkable  back story and undee the ageses of uber producers Youth and Mike Bennett. Arrive early!

STONE TEMPLE PIRATES – The UK’s Number ONE & ONLY Stone Temple Pilots Tribute Band

Time For 15- Geared up punk pop, with imaginative vocal interplay and damn catchy hooks, think You Me At 6 via Foo Fighters. Noisemate- Emo tinged up and at em indie rock, comparable in a way to 30 Seconds to Mars.

Pama International– London’s premier soul informed rocksteady live happening are a tour de force you simply have to see live. An amazing smile inducing rubadub delight. No wonder DJs of the calibre of Rodigan and Craig Charles are punishing their recent fabulous records, such as the brilliant current 45 ‘Wake Up’ another in a (rock)steady succession of stupendous sides (of course they’re out on vinyl) surrounding their ‘Love And Austerity’ LP. Muscle Shoals meets Orange Street and everyone’s a winner. And Dub Vendor veteran D’Oxman at the decks is an amazing bonus as anyone who’s ever caught his tremendous Soho Radio show will know. Dancing shoes required.

Beautiful Mechanica-An artful 80’s synth pop affair evoking New Order and early Depeche Mode though also hints at yer darker end of Post Punk Chameleons etc, Fab stuff The Other Ones– post Manics punky powerpop but enough wide eyed, wide legged rocknroll appeal to take you into cheekier,chirpier pop climes.  Nice Teenage Fanclub (early and raw) elements, harmonies are neat and the songs all develop very nicely. Blue River- Indie Moderne with an ultra-contemporary production, impassioned vocals soaring strings lush sonics and decent hooks too, shades of 2 door cinema club and vampire weekend. Cielo Pordomingo –Composer, Singer and Arranger from Argentina, settled in Mexico since 2003. Her music reflects her soul and her Pampas folk origins fused with electronic rhythms and orchestral elements.

Treacherous Dogs– an eclectic mix of 70s garage rock infused with northern soul beats and punk/surf rock inspired guitars. Their influences are said to range from The Strokes, New Order, Dick Dale, The Smiths, Arctic Monkeys and Northern Soul acts. From the ashes of The Jude who were also hot. Pugwall-Southampton based angular punky alt types with a bit of dEUS vibe to my ears. Quite a performance vocally and those slacker Dinosaur Jr/Sebadoh cum grunge textures. A bit of Pavement- some knowingly ‘off’ bloopy noises, occasional oddball ejaculations,lots of colour amongst the indie punkness. Neat. The Froot – Young band all hirsute and happening with a lovely bunch of psych mariachi bluesology…something of Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac meets Love perhaps? Or a more progressivvely inclined Allah Las… Groovy is the bon mot..

Lady Grey And The Earls – Indie/Alternative/Pop outfit with soulful and sassy female singer. Packs a right powerful voice she does too. Influences such as Foo Fighters, Muse, Oasis, Skunk Anansie… GoodTrash Green-Classic indie referencing the smiths in particular but also elements of suede and my life story, nicely hooky. Electric Eric- Watford alt/punk band playing fast n furious, melodic punk pop with a U.S. commercial sensibility (Green Day etc) with some impressive wig out guitar soloing  Arcadian-Infectiously hooky, well crafted indie pop with a radio-friendly sheen, quite grandiose in places a-la Arcade Fire and Foals,

 iAlpha- Post rock ethereal shoegaze with elements of trip-hop,  a bit on the New Age tip. Another Venus- Female fronted alt-rock with elements of Classic rock (Heart, Starship) but you can also hear the likes of Dinosaur Jnr, Smashing Pumpkins and even The Cure, and they have the hooks.

Watercolours- Bright chimingly cheerful choonery placed somewhere between Bombay Bicycle Club and Maccabees, quite downbeat n all, a nice plaintive vocal and some alluring touches from well-placed keyboard. Airy intelligent pop. Some ace ideas and real wig out moments. ..Plus  decent tunes. Win win.  Matt Wyatt-Acoustic folk blues, ’tis a band  (though a stripped down affair). understated, but nicely evocative and compelling, elements of Dylan  also Johnny Cash and distant echoes of Country Joe and The Fish so a slightly psychedelic angle to the jangle, great stuff  

Darling Boy- Little Villeins were Noughties nearly made its- well they deffo did make it if your benchmark is quality of performance with a packed crowd in Norf London venues like the Dublin Castle–   an ace indie punk/ska/pop outfit with a roustabout ramshackle edge to their joyful rush. Singer Alexander Karl Gold is back tonight as Darling Boy…Millions Spacy sparky alt indie pop with some angular arty angles and alluring spaghetti western post punker feel. Cool.- The Flashmen- 21st century skiffle? Or perhaps once upon a time known as skifflecore, there’s a whiff of Peter Doherty about this but it’s a more coherent garage informed sassy rocknroll with plenty of interesting twists…niceness.

The Specials and Madness all rolled into one giant ska shaped Bank Holiday/Carnival bundle of joy. Sunday 27th August, is the day before Madness’ House of Commons show on Clapham Common, and this special show is an excellent aperitif for that happening in the very ancestral seat of The Nutty Boys. A matinee AND evening show starting around 3pm special guest DJ, the band playing for at least two and a half hours and ska, soul, reggae and rocksteady music right into the late hours.

Upbeat Sneakers- “You’re a bit young to be playing Ska!!!” This is the type of comment people make when they first come across Upbeat Sneakers, but their modern take on the ska genre can really start a party. Upbeat tunes coupled with lyrics that have something to say to people across generations.  Talking of different generations, the amassed musicians of brass punk n ska conceptualist Brunk may well be a wee bit older than the headline act tonight but with age comes experience, and the Brunk experience is a marvelous mix of TV themes and new wave and 2 Tone classics. all with an offbeat for dancing.

 The Skatuesques– All female Ska/Rocksteady crew from Dublin, got a really nice lightness of touch, like a more erudite Bodysnatchers, do covers and origs all fabulously well. The Feckin Ejits-Fiery Celtic Punk with storming  tunes and big rousing choruses. all played with bags of conviction

All female punk nite starring glam rock/punk rock LBGT firebrands and ace tunesmiths The Featherz and the wonderful Shitsick, not just a great name but a fab concept brilliantly realized…“Punk poets responding to todays corrupt governments and global turmoil. Living in a fascist country. Refusing to believe that punk and freedom are dead they fight on, tartan clad and ready for the revolution” Right on.

Cats On The Beach- New wave pop with driving guitars and insistent melodies, a bit like The Only Ones, but with a louche Pete Doherty-esque vocal and some well placed mournful trumpet on their less edgy slower tunes, shambling in the right way, Romantic, poetic, poised for good things Lover-Big bollocked soul inflected pop rock…great vocal, techy ’80s crossover sound, big guitars, dance/hiphop textures and a chant along chorus perfect for radio old schoolwise…great stuff. The Rahs-Classic bright eyed bushy tailed optimistic anthemic indie, bridging that  ‘Ceremony’/’In Between Days’ probing indie gene with something more windswept and rocknroll in a post Travis or even Killers way. Fab forward thinking rushing rocknroll. North Cape Lights-snappy indie rock with a nod to the ate 90’s indie scene, Editors, early Muse, nicely melodic with hooks-aplenty

 Random Patrols-delay heavy spidery guitars and emotive vocals, possible nod to U2 there but there’s a bit more to their sound to that, quite subtle an lo-fi in places and really anthemic and stirring in others. Oliver shaw- An ex Garage Flower now in solo mode, just him and acoustic guitar, pretty unique actually, echoes Kurt cobain on the unplugged album but with a trad brit folk slant. good of its kind Eryx London-Moody Female fronted electro psych rock nods to the Kills and the edgier side of P.j harvey also Nobleses Oblige, dark broody and intense for sure, has decent hooks though. Woodley Taylor- Sensitive, emotive troubadour, dealing  melodic, mature pop somewhere between Pink Floyd and Dire Straits although also some Beatles/Oasis melodys, fine work.

999- Nick Cash, Guy Days, Pablo Labritain, Arturo Bassick hit the mojo riddled Dublin Castle stage again, last time they were awesome so don’t miss their long anticipated return. For those of you living under the punk n roll equivalent of a stone (a Rolling Stone?) 999 were/are a fantastic first generation punk act with an amazing array of punk pop material that touches on glam and rhythm n blues in part but always has the visceral high energy you’d expect and is ripe and rich with tunes tunes tunes. Nasty Nasty, Emergency, Homicide, Crime et al…

Foo 5ighters-That Foos Feeling without the broken legs and ticket touts!  Four musicians at the top of their game, perform the biggest hits from your favourite rock band – the Foo Fighters! 

Crisis are back, well some of them at least!…and this is the first London gig by Crisis since 1980…Formed in 1977 with the lineup of Phrazer (vocals), Lester Jones (lead guitar), Douglas Pearce (guitar), Tony Wakeford (bass) and Insect Robin the Cleaner (drums) their debut single, “No Town Hall”, was released in 1978 on Action Group Records. Their November 1978 Peel Session for BBC Radio 1 was released as the “UK 79” 7″ single in 1979 on the Ardkor label. The remaining two Peel Session songs were posthumously issued by Ardkor in 1981 as “Alienation”.  After performing their last show, supporting Magazine and Bauhaus in their hometown of Guildford in Surrey on 10 May 1980, the band broke up. A recording of the final show was released in 2008 as the Ends! CD. Now in 2017, 40 years on, Crisis have reformed with a line-up of Tony Wakeford – Bass, Vocals; Luke Rendle – Drums; Clive Giblin – Lead Guitar, Vocals; Mark Geraghty – Rhythm Guitar, Pete Fordham – Vocals. Hymns of Faith for all!

In Memory of the late great Poly Styrene of X Ray Spex, Polyfst has become an annual must attend event. All these icons on the same bill performing for a very small amount of money…what’s not to love. This year we’ll be raising money for RockNRoll Rescue next door, who will be joining the party with some intimate happenings and DJ Action in the store…gonna be a reet treat this year. Check that line-up -and with more surprises to be added too…

Kingz of leon is a celebration of music for the band that shares a similar name! From the early youth and young manhood album right up to the current studio releases all done faithfully with real conviction

QUADROPHENIA LIVE CLUB NIGHT Club night theme & tribute to the iconic movie! Live music from THE ATLANTICS (playing the hits from the film including Green onions, Louie Louie, Da Doo Ron Ron. Zoot suit, Bellboy, My Generation etc) + DJ DREW STANSALL (ex THE SPECIALS/PRINCE BUSTER) spinning the best in Mod, Ska, Soul, R&B + 2tone. + THE BELLBOY + iconic mod big screen film!

The Joneses ( play the music of The Smiths)-Don’t miss this brilliant show come and witness the energy and drama of the Joneses, a Smiths tribute band. Hear your favourite songs tapping into society’s and individual’s struggle with sexual and social turmoil, loneliness and vulnerability. Witness the energy and drama of the Joneses, a Smiths tribute band.Supporting the band will be DJ Richie a local Indie and Northern Soul DJ who will be playing the best of Indie music throughout the night. The Joneses are a band made up of four individuals driven by the passion and sheer delight for a band’s music have dared to attempt to capture the extraordinary diversity of melody and mood and do justice to one of the most influential bands of all time, The Smiths

Steel City Smokes The Smoke- An invasion of the very best bands outta Sheffield come to show us soft and soppy Southerners what they’re made of. Well, we know they’re made of Steel and have a considerable cutting edge of social and musical innovation and intense artistic endeavour.  All these bands tonight have been handpicked for their superb expression of that South Yorkshire tradition. Bedroom High Club– Tropicalia guitars and skipping riddims via a wee bit of Johnny Marr guitar skills. Pop gems in the wake of all those great Noughties Brit indie bands spearheaded by The Libertines. Malarkey Affair– classic indie pop with very tuneful singalong numbers and a nicely placed jangle angle in the guitar. Lots of ’60s inflections and plenty of plaintive scally pop leanings…somewhere between The Coral and Boo Radleys with plenty of Johnny Marr in the axe. Looking good too with a nice mix of cool geek and rocknroll dudeness. Check out their debut album “Leave A Light On”. Maribels- Pixies informed young indie rock band with a fiery pop appeal. Their debut Welcome To The Freeway EP out now for your delectation. Keyframe- High energy punk alt rock happening out of Sheff combining cool laconic vocals with rabid early Damned meets Muse rockuts. Explosive. Have a song about odd socks ya know.

Rubbish OasisTributeBand- Wryly named after them Gallagher boyos penchant for rubbishing other bands in interviews please dn’t be put off by this suitably sardonic humour… luckily these fellas ain’t rubbish at all…hence their the Fauxasis of choice with the official Oasis fanclub. You’ll be stunned by the proximity of their expression of the classics (and yes, they do all the classics) to the waxings you know and love….and they even leave a little room for a bit of individual expression, but it’s all cool…and to paraphrase Liam you should be arsed to come to this gig

The Jam’d have built a huge following and have gained a reputation for being the finest tribute to ‘The Jam’. The brilliance of Paul Weller is laid bare in their energetic performance. And you’ll get all of the classics – Going Underground, Down in the Tubestation at Midnight, Strangetown, A Town called Malice, Beat Surrender and many more. An unforgettable, authentic performance with all the energy, passion and style of Paul Weller, Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler, allowing the audience to relive the experience of one of the most influential bands of the British music scene. You won’t be disappointed!….