The False Dots – Nicely sardonic punk/post punk with flights of fancy and social comment in equal measure. Take on some nice ratty skanking that reminds a bit of Alternative TV, also a bit of head wobbling trippy jangling, all topped off with nicely pitched mockney vocalising. Excellent stuff. Amaya – Progressive soul searching pop with a fine vocal presence care of the titular Amaya herself, whilst Amaya the band make a dark, expressive sound of Floydian portent. Fans of Kate Bush take note.

Private Plebs – Great stuff, played with lots of liberation…syncopation…fascination…and other things that end in ‘ation..post punk, punk funk, no wave, sampledelica. Taking cues from stuff like early Cabaret Voltaire, This Heat, On U Sound.. Kumite – Ferocious punk 3 piece, playing it hard and fast and taking no prisoners whatsoever! Calvaria – searing hard rock…powerful metallic fare.

The New Sticky – with a wonderful debut single (“Freaky!”) that references punkish funkish fare such as Fire Engines and Gang Of Four, but all with a great sense of fun…hey, there’s even a little Haircut 100 in here, and other ace eighties dancefloor friendly stuff. No Arran jumpers though…they’d get far too hot. Hot and Sticky indeed. Meet The New Sticky. Kath and the Kicks – Female fronted alt rock, think Patti Smith meets PJ Harvey. It’s a fine melange…bluesey, grungy, garagey and touches on New Wave in places, compelling stuff. Lilith’s Army – invading your heart with grunge, hard rock, rousing punk touches. The Hoaxes – kooky keys flavoured indie pop rock

Ball Of Fire meets Coast To Coast is back with another explosive party featuring the very lively and entertaining Estimators and super ska legends Intensified plus DJ Cello spinning the best in ska, reggae, soul & latin. THE ESTIMATORS are a splendidly vibrant traditional Jamaican ska band hailing out of London, England! These true Jamaican ska music roots warriors get nothing less than ‘total music respect’ with their full respect showing to the music first and foremost. With fabulous grooves, sensational horn section displays and whole overall band brilliances they captivated me completely with their entire Ska music spectrum and I was absolutely skankin’ in my ear music modules throughout, ‘pick it up’ ‘pick it up’, yeah man! They just really love the music and when you check them out live wait till they get you all into their definition fully and then watch their music roofs! They objective is the audience always in having a rocking good time and all should appreciate that class definiton. On that note, if you love ska well, look no further and checkout these ‘true music rudeboys’ out, giving you the “Real music goods”, love this bands whole music vibe! (Forkster’s Daily Band Review) INTENSIFIED: playing authentic 60s style ska, rocksteady and reggae, the band’s good-time feel, obvious love of this music and confidence in its wide appeal has led to near legendary status. Four studio albums, an early compilation album and a live album, plus several 7” singles have received much critical acclaim in the music press, fanzine world, on the web and on radio stations across the globe. This, in turn, has meant a steady flow of gigs throughout Europe, with the band now a firm headline act. DJ Cello’s Coast To Coast has just celebrated 20 years of fun packed dance craze action in London Town and beyond. Back to it’s new regular home of The Dublin Castle (a perfect fit), Coast To Coast is a must for all serious lovers of good music and dancing, care of Cello’s immense 7 inch selection straddling ska, soul, Latin and reggae. NB Joy Division tribute ‘Unknown Pleasures’ is separate show today. 2.30pm

Francesca Monte –  ethereal spacy production numbers fronted by ice cool Italian soul belter…quite narcopop dreamy and agreeably out there pop psych moderne…techy beats, washes of sound and really great singing and conceptual thrust. Francesca started her current project with the London based record label “Rotbaum Records”, working on a new album called “Alièn” in 2019 and other singles like “Hello Monsters”, “Little Girl”, “Boy”, “Vertigo”, “The One For Me”, “All Day All Night” released during 2020/2021/2022. The EP “Alièn” reaches the No.1 on the iTunes’ electronic chart and its short-film is premiered at Giffoni Experience. She also collaborates with Istituto Marangoni London, focusing on sustainable and gender-fluid fashion, with the contribution of fashion designers like Angel Chen, Sandro Paris, Gilberto Calzolari, Giuseppe Fata, Karol Cygan, Andrea Roman, Alessandra Tacla and many others.  Francesca’s press coverage includes major fashion magazines like Cosmopolitan, Grazia, GQ, Rolling Stones Italia, Kaltblut, Flanelle, Gmaro, Pump, Scorpio Jin, Tainted Mag, Ellements, Mover, Beyondall, Anon Fashion Mag, Hp mag, Vigour, Prime, Know, Malvie, Rebel, Horizont, Fienfh, Picton, collaborating with photographers like Giovanni Gastel, Giorgio Figini, Cesare Cicardini, Paolo Barretta and many others. We are very pleased to welcome Francesca along to the Dublin Castle tonight. And we are also very pleased to welcome back special guest Tizane..some 1980s pop dynamics and crafted uber pop with original soundscapes, and some incredibly naked and soul searching songcraft from this remarkable 20 year old talent. Vocally there’s a hint of Delores of Cranberries but Tizane’s a very original artist with a solo performance to stop you dead in your tracks. Heads were resolutely turned by her recent remodelling of Smiths and R.E.M classics too. Her band are tremendously tight and talented to boot, and with Tizane at the fore can kick it up a few gears and really motor into rocknroll territory, wonderful stuff.  

RNR Book Club ‘Love Me Do’ 60th Anniversary Beatles Special  – THE ROCK & ROLL BOOK CLUB proudly presents a Beatles “Love Me Do” 60th Anniversary Special, featuring authors David Stark and Richard Porter. PLUS live Beatles music by Andy McNish and Dzal Martin of the Trembling Wilburys and the fabulous Susan Black. All hosted by Tony Gleed. “It’s All Too Much – Adventures of a Teenage Beatles Fan in the ’60s and Beyond” is the unique memoir by music industry veteran DAVID STARK, who grew up in north London during the 1960s as a dedicated Beatles fan and was lucky enough to meet his musical heroes on various memorable occasions. From gate-crashing the Yellow Submarine film premiere in 1968 (aged just fifteen) and ending up sitting directly behind the group, to meeting them individually in some extraordinary circumstances, Stark has some highly entertaining stories about his many Beatles encounters which have never been told before Stark’s stories don’t end with the 1960s, as he continued to encounter all the individual Beatles into the 1970s and beyond, culminating in 2006 when Sir Paul McCartney inducted him as a ‘Companion of LIPA’ at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts for his work with songwriting students. He also knew the late Sir George Martin, who has his own chapter in the book, as does John Lennon’s legendary Aunt Mimi, whom David visited and became friends with just months after Lennon’s senseless murder in 1980. Stark is also a life-long drummer who plays with the Trembling Wilburys tribute band, as well as having played with The Quarrymen on one memorable occasion. He was also responsible for the erection of an official Blue Plaque for the late Brian Epstein at his old offices next to the London Palladium; and was one of a small group (with Richard Porter) who, in 2019, achieved the placing of a long-awaited Blue Plaque at 3 Savile Row to mark the Beatles’ final live appearance on the roof of Apple in 1969. RICHARD PORTER is London’s premier Beatles ambassador who runs the superb London Beatles Store on Baker Street and organises walking tours specialising in London Beatle history. He is also co-author of “The Beatles Fab Four Cities – Liverpool, Hamburg, London and New York'” with Merseyside’s David Bedford and New Yorker Susan Ryan. To paraphrase John Lennon, we could say that: ‘The Beatles were born in Liverpool, grew up in Hamburg, reached maturity in London, and immortality in New York.’ Four cities. Four stars. The Fab Four – the Beatles – are revered the world over, but it is in these urban centres that their legacy shines brightest. Liverpool: where the band graduated from church halls, leaving their initial line-up as ‘The Quarrymen’ far behind. Hamburg: where their raucous stage act was honed; where arrests earned them a more notorious celebrity reputation, but they became a true emblem of rock ‘n’ roll. London: where The Beatles produced Sgt Pepper, and home to the iconic album cover for Abbey Road. And New York: the city that became John Lennon’s home, where their appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show announced them to 73 million Americans. “The Beatles: Fab Four Cities” invites the reader on a cosmopolitan trek across continents, tracing the Beatles’ rise to fame from one metropolis to the next. Flush with timelines, stories, trivia, the numerous links and connections between the cities and both pop cultural and local history, this is a travel guide like no other. So come down tonight and buy both books! Get them signed! Christmas is just around the corner! After all it was 60 years ago today and the Beatles taught the world to play… TICKETS JUST £6.00 + booking fee or £8 on the door. Doors open 7.30pm. Seating available but get there early.

“RiseUp TV” is a globally distributed TV show, introducing the world to the personalities, sights and sounds of artists of all genres and ages from Canada, the US and Europe! Coming to The Dublin Castle tonight, and to your TV screens very soon! It will be quite a spectacle…That spectacle is made even more insane by the fact the artists will be travelling in a chartered bus together and going coast to coast, performing at the shows along the way.

Show Me Your Teeth Productions Presents the very FIRST of our WILD CHILD SOCIETY EVENTS at The ONE & ONLY DUBLIN CASTLE on October 7th!! We are DELIGHTED with this line up! The Others Are Dead Steve Kontrol Freaks Jo-Jo & The Teeth SINK YOUR TEETH IN- We will see you there!!

Dubvocalisa – sweet and righteous roots reggae fired through with soul, world music textures and a bit of classic rock. Cool. Giant and the Georges –  Four piece indie-rock band based in the Black Country, UK. Zingy hook lines, tangy riffs and vocal harmonies sweeter than honey. Giant and the Georges are dynamic performers, who specialise in composing peculiar yet unabashedly catchy tunes! Chaidura – from Singapore, a  unique blend of both eastern and western rock/metal music. Melodious and emotional, with chords and notes that sound like a Japanese Anime opening. But at the same time, has raw power and a production that is unique to western rock/metal acts. With  influences such as Bring Me The Horizon, the Gazette and Bad Omens. 

With their endless procession of amazing smash hit singles there was a pervasive theory that Slade were the Beatles of the 1970s, in the UK at least. The melody, the wit, the passion, the stomping rocknroll, the 4 distinct and equally loveable characters in the band…Suzan Holder, Noddy Holder‘s missis doncha know, is an established author, and earlier this year published a book that perhaps squares that circle… Suzan’s book ‘Shake It Up Beverley’ is the first ever book to be launched at the Beatles Museum in Liverpool. A novel where the protagonist, Beverley Wilson, is a fifty-something mother of three, who decides to re-enter the dating world after the death of her husband. With a subtext throughout of Beatles history and other ‘Pool based 1960s lore, the Fab Four are never far away from the action. You even get the privilege of entering the McCartney home in Speke and the Casbah Coffee Club!  Now, Suzan has published a second novel, this time with Elvis in the frame… Elvis Presley, not the guy down the chipshop… Yes… ELVIS IS BACK!  Suzan Holder takes us behind the gates of  Graceland in this tale of a young girl searching for the truth about her beloved Nana Rose’s link to the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Journalist and TV producer Suzan once again weaves her love for music into a hilarious and heart-warming story that is uplifting and laugh-out-loud funny. Daisy’s grandmother makes a shocking deathbed confession about Elvis that triggers a journey to Memphis. Will Daisy solve the musical mystery and is a moody motorcycle cop called Blue the answer to her dreams? Pack your Blue Suede Shoes for a rockin’ rom-com. Suzan says: “I love that my books celebrate music and have been inspired by my own life experience of living in a slightly crazy, rock ‘n’ roll, rom-com world…some of the weirdest and funniest stories in the books really have happened to me!” Suzan Holder trained as a newspaper journalist and worked on regional and national newspapers before moving into TV. She produced a variety of television news and lifestyle programmes and was executive producer of ITV’s daytime network show ‘Loose Women’. Rock ‘n’ Rose & Shake It Up, Beverley  – published by One More Chapter, HarperCollins. Tony Bugbear will host tonite’s Q and A and interview with Suzan Holder. Buy the book, get it signed, chat to Suzan. Plus we have a wonderful addition to a an evening of Elvis and Beatles chat…a brilliant band who play numbers by both iconic acts in their set. We’re very pleased to welcome Rebel Aces to the Dublin Castle stage tonight to entertain you this evening with a couple of sets of prime, backbeat bangin’ boogie woogie rockabilly, joining the dots beautifully between Sun Records era King and Hamburg big beat Beatles… and beyond!    

Hype Lights –  from Lyon, France…a mix of pop/punk rock, alternative rock and has some metalcore influences, which allows them to create high contrasts and a powerful and an energetic atmosphere. The band mostly writes about the importance of never giving up, even in the worst difficulties where everything seems against us sometimes. Timely emotions! George Sanders & The Parallels -influenced by the likes of The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Oasis, The Who & Foo Fighters, and rocking an agreeably rough hewn guitar wigout adorned set of wide eyed stompers. 2£T – ‘More than just a Punk Rock band, we are ready to fight the power! ‘Doublethink’ our new EP is out NOW on all platforms!’ Yes sir… Folk tinged punky protest, a tinge of Costello in the vocal and a bit of Frank Turner and The Levellers. Strident fun with attitude. Cosmic Cold War – Matching soaring melodies with crushing riffs, Cosmic Cold War’s international line-up delivers a unique blend of prog, groove and thrash metal inspired by literary and cinematic horror.

One Eyed Toad Records give you the Dublin Castle leg of the “Into The Fire” tour, featuring four of the finest Brit metal acts known to man or best.

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, pop 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, Inside Out, Crime et al….brilliant band, and still absolutely ferocious live after all these years. DamageUK– Brian Damage (Nuffin) and co return with their angular Clash meets Adverts fiery punk rock ramalama. Loads of energy, and anthemic tunes that belt you round the back of the swede.  The Dead Pollys – vintage punkers with a searing sound that may or may not be pining for the fjords…. Those Naughty Lumps – legendary Liverpool Post Punk outfit fronted by dual vocalists, a professional cricketer and a military historian (true) and rocking a setlist chock full of wry, sardonic classics. It’s not all about Iggy Pop’s Jacket ya know.

Snide Remarks – Back to basics Punk Rock n Roll Original Band from Teesside Reformed in 2007 and have been taking their fiery punk rock all over the country ever since to great acclaim. Bang– side project by excellent local glam punknroll sasspots Healthy Junkies…a little more Bang but a bit less Junk…maybe?! Come and down and see for yourself. The Outbursts – Proffering a sound equally informed by garage punk like The Standells, proto-punk, so we’re talking MC5 and yer classic old school 77 gear Stranglers, The Damned etc. ‘Anarchic no-nonsense nonsense from a proper London punk band’…Amen

 Red Light Acid Test – While the heavy, angular riffs and big drums are the immediate pulls, the band does a fantastic job creating frenetic, anxious tension in both the music and lyrics that really hold you as a listener. If you like your rock dark, heavy and moody, Red Light Acid Test are up your alley for sure. Anonions – Purple Implosion’s side project and it’s fuzzed up kraut rock via spacerock, imagine Neu by way of Hawkwind . Psychedelically shonky, sure to please any microdoot munching maverick.  Badaboum – Wonderfully whacked out French pop (only with some vocals in German!) with a conceptual bent….they like a weird costume or 3…plus semi tribal synth pop flavas and post punk moodiness, all in all highly entertaining and sassy. The Pish Dolls – Crazy big puppets and a manipulated uber pop soundtrack. A Parisian conceptual artist who cottoned on to puppetry being a lot more pleasant than chopping a calf in half. It may not be rock n roll, but then again…

Hunted By Elephants-Inspired by the rock classics of the 70s,Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Uriah Heep and Rainbow Hunted By Elephants are a high-energy trio renewing the time-honoured union of soaring vocals, growling riffs and energising drum beats. Big River- Modern Heavy Blues Rock, no frills, no nonsense, great riffs, memorable hooks, melody and groove. Lucky Shots–  are a Rock and Roll band formed in 2015 in Athens-Greece.

The very welcome return of The Collective A.K.A to The Dublin Castle– and what a great fit that is. Rocking two sizzling sets jam packed with mod, new wave, punk and ska classics, The Collective A.K.A are a brass powered rhythm machine precision made for Maximum RnB dancefloor expression. The Best Saturday Night Out In Camden Town. The Lee Harvey Oswalds – ‘we do punk covers, we hate bland’…amen to that. Add some 2 -Tone action and you’re onto a high energy package perfect to set this night in motion. We Got Killers– killer diller danceflloor fillers til 2am

Inception In Black are an Avant-Garde Synth Pop duo who formed in 2020 after an experimental concert in Vienna from which they found a shared musical common ground.  Their music is a rainbow of sound arching from classical-synth-avant garde-dance with a pop sensibility.  Black Marine (Serbia) & Morgan King (UK) have combined their solo music to make a very unique blend of sound and are comfortable using any textures to achieve the desired result making them extremely fluid.

Be Kind Cadaver – Brighton based electro-post punk duo Be Kind Cadaver issued their debut EP  September 2022… they specialize in brash and chaotic art punk noise, I’m hearing Swans, Big Black, stuff like that…menacing unabashed arthouse awkward squad types. And dynamics wise a bit of Bad Seeds. Pretty out there but highly impressive. The Fades – post punk and garage rock melded mightily with some great proclamatory songcraft. The Charlemagnes – Mixing sixties garage punk with seventies Detroit pre punk and Damned like class of ’76 flavours too. The Dead Boys meet The Fuzztones and everyone’s happy. ‘Snotcore’ indeed. Whelligan – Jamie Whelligan has a bit of a Julian Cope come Syd Barrett vibe for sure, apologies for saying ‘vibe’. Surging psychedelics and sweetly honed post scally indie pop with a hefty dose of Pink Floyd but also a welcome hint of (British) Sea Power, The Chameleons or The Icicle Works- life affirming stuff.

Wardour Street –  high energy mod classics with a few well-chosen new wave and ska numbers. From the igniting spark of The Jam, backwards into the ’60s, and forwards into 2-tone and Mod Revival… Perfect Saturday night party music in The Dublin Castle assured-  mohair adorned modernist joy!  AKA The Syndicate –  A post-millennial ska, reggae and punk influenced collective. ‘Born from a health scare and launched during a global pandemic. What could possibly go wrong?!’… The project was founded by multi-instrumentalist Gary Knight in 2019 – but gathered pace during the 2020 global pandemic. What started out as ‘one song’ turned into another song – ‘Hands Up (Who’s Coming With Me?) featuring Roddy Radiation Byers’ from The Specials / Skabilly Rebels. As the various lockdowns took hold, and everyone was sat at home, more people started to join the Syndicate to write and record together – largely remotely – some of the band may have still never met one another! The debut album ‘AKA The Syndicate’ was released in September 2021, featuring a variety of guest musicians and crossing the borders of ska, reggae, punk, lovers rock, 2Tone and everything in between.

The SPIZZENERGI October Revolution Hallowe’en Party- 10 Years ago today, Captain Kirk taught the band to play….or something like that. It was indeed 10 short years ago this very month Spizz stalwarts Luca, Ben & Phil became Spizzenergi Men. Very much the Aluminium Anniversary for the super rockin’ souped up punknroll 21st Century Spizz show we now know and love, with the ever enigmatic and mercurial Spizz backed up by the finest kick ass musicians on the circuit. Always a great show, a joyous experience, Spizz in the Dublin with this remarkable band. They are sublime. Oh and it was Bugbear who midwifed that show ten years ago, so we’re very pleased to helm this beauty too. And wooooo and indeed aaaaaargh and eeeeeek…tis Hallowe’en too I guess- so let’s party.  Come dressed to kill or be killed….very special guests to really make the partay schwing….the ramalama punkabilly tood and growl of the wonderful Witchdocktors and the glam punk sexy sass of them Healthy Junkies…all served up with wonderful Burlesque intermissions too. Could be the greatest Sunday night since Julian Clary fisted Norman Lamont.

Monkey – Monkey outta San Jose, USA, plays Sweet Ska Music (covers and originals) California style…which means with a slight Mariachi vibe and a big dose of sunny funtime joie de vivre. Kool. Banana High – punky power-pop Ska leaning towards rock anthems. From Zummerzet. Baldhead And The Dreads – Ridiculous ska-punk for fans of drugs, dogs, and dancing….they say, sounds about reet…”an incredibly talented and entertaining bunch of nutters” – Issue punk zine say. Yes.

The Kubricks- Played many a Dublin Castle Bugbear happening over the years and it’s fantastic to welcome them back.  Formed in London, The Kubricks are a seven-piece band who mix ska, reggae, and infectious melodic pop.  After surfacing in 2013 with their debut EP, “Wasters & Wannabes”, The Kubricks soon became one of the must-see ska bands of this generation. Tracks from their debut release were supported by Huey Morgan on BBC Radio 2, and Tom Robinson (BBC Introducing – 6Music), and The Specials’ bassist, Horace Panter championed the band, claiming “I can hear Madness, The Ruts, Squeeze and The Clash in there…” The timing was perfect, and coincided with a new interest in ska music, as many of UK’s festivals began dedicating entire stages to the genre. Riding on the back of this wave, the band soon found themselves supporting legends such as UB40, Bad Manners and The Toasters. The Kubricks have honed their commanding live set, headlining their own shows and playing festivals across the country. After a highly acclaimed debut album and further well regarded releases The Kubricks are back to shake us out of our lockdown blues. They have played to tens of thousands over the years with appearances at Boomtown Fair, Bearded Theory’s Spring Gathering, Wickerman (Scotland), Godiva, Dance Ska La (France), Brownstock, and The London International Ska Festival, amongst many others. The Carousels – original songs are from the album Revolution Gonna Stop Disillusion by lead singer Jeff Best. The band  also play some great ’90s covers by Oasis, Blur, Charlatans, The Stone Roses, Supergrass, The Verve, Primal Scream plus many more. Fred Perrys check! Fishing hats check! It’s a scally rock tribute done with attention and love.

The Ramoaners – The Bruddas 1970s classic work channelled brilliantly by a bunch guys from Scotland- not so much a tribute in fact as a calling, a ramalama revivalist labour of love..they look and sound like the 1978 Ramones (at their best ). What’s not t L-U-V? The Attack brings punk back to the basics: short, fast-riffing songs about the social, music, and media-driven politics of today.

Ben and the Bad Weather – bluesy rock band from London. The band was formed around singer-songwriter Ben Herbertson who has been playing around the London circuit for the last few years. Scorching neo rock with soulful inflections. The Ologys – High energy breezy female fronted indie with lots of sunny delight. Sounds like The Sundays on steroids. Has tons of potential. Should be pumping outta 6Music and X any day now… Fleur Lindsay – heartfelt balladeering with shiny modern production n beats…has potential, clarion voice, interesting look..mainstream, rnb textures,  but adventurous with it.

Martin Atkins – In his element tonight, Martin Atkins will be showing slides and telling stories. Guaranteed  to entertain, educate and inform, Martin will take questions, meet the crowd and sell merch tonight, with his remarkable career a wealth of material for his eloquent performance. Martin is the definition of entrepreneurial activity in cultural arts endeavors, his 40+ years in the music business spans across genres, borders and industries. He was a member of Public Image Ltd and Killing Joke. He founded industrial super group Pigface, The Damage Manual, and Murder Inc., and has contributed to Nine Inch Nails and Ministry. He is the owner of Invisible Records (est. 1988). And founder of the Museum Of Post Punk and Industrial Music in Chicago (2021) He is the author of 3 books on the Music Business inc Tour:Smart, and the coordinator of Music Industry Studies at Millikin University in Decatur IL.  Martin is a producer, drummer, documentary filmmaker, bad DJ, and father of four. Whatever the future of music is, you can pretty much bet that he’ll be in the middle of it. ‘A natural storyteller, with a keen sense of timing. Spot on, engaging and entertaining – I wish I’d had a tape recorder’ – Tony Paris… Special guest tonight is his colleague in Brian Brain and New York ’80s era Pil, bassist Pete Jones, and fans can look forward to a musical interlude featuring Martin and Pete tonight too. Plus DJ playing Martin Atkins oriented material and associated music.  

 Mondo Grebo Podcast presents an evening of punk, ska and Oi! Starring Tear up – 100% Rock N Roll outta Watford… Usual Players – 2 Tone ska bangers with a side of back biting lyrics… The Glory – that old school sound with a touch of Rock n Roll… Pest – punk rock 2 piece… Sharper Side – punk rock trio from Herts. DJs We Got Killers

Maniac Squat – When not managing other artists (Liza Ronson, Brazenhead) and operating as a record label MS are psychedelic envelope pushers par excellence, an art punk band from Colchester who had a cult hit with ‘F**k Off’ in the mid-90s (single of the week in Kerrang!)… support slots for Babes in Toyland and Zodiac Mindwarp also followed but Maniac Squat made their last record in 1996 and promptly split. Now they are back, with three members of the original line-up reconvening to record a stunning concept album of experimental art-rock. The Cloud Upon the Sanctuary, which also leans heavily towards jazz, has been inspired by the work of eighteenth-century Christian mystic, author and philosopher, Karl von Eckhartshausen. The band have teamed up with an all-star ensemble of guest musicians headed up by legendary Bowie/Iggy Pop sideman, Kevin Armstrong, who also produced the album. Joining Kevin – and the original Maniac Squat alumni of Tom Wilcox, Scott Pearce and Michael Giaquinto – are Iggy Pop’s drummer, Mat Hector; PJ Harvey sax player, Terry Edwards; and rising star Manchester-based rapper, El Zeeko. The release is accompanied by an equally stunning seventeen-minute video by art director/film producer, Rob Russell. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPMnmUMxOqI)  Wicked Splinters – spectral indie/psych folk and blissed out rock – and all very interesting for sure. Quite oblique and unyielding, these Splinter folk may be fully paid up members of the pop awkward squad…but we mean that in a purely good way…a bit of Syd/early Floyd for sure. And a bit of Dark Side Pinks too. Beautiful stuff. Fifteen Lions–  lovely fizzy and bright post punk edginess…elements of Wire, The Stranglers, Japan…good work. Bob Gordon –  beautifully hewn psychedelically inclined classic pop with widescreen big drama dynamics- Richard Hawley, Scott Walker, Jimmy Webb…impressive.

Total-REX T-REX Tribute is a sensational show capturing the rock sound of Marc Bolan and T Rex. A must see for all Bolan, Glam Rock and 70s Music fans alike, our show features all the T Rex big hits from 1970s – and much much more! Bolan still has a large and loyal fan base all around the world today, many o0f whom will no doubt make their ways to the Dublin Castle for this very special T Rexmas Party! Get your tickets while you can…The band are absolute T Rex fanatics and pay honour to the former Marc Feld and his amazing back catalogue beautifully. Not to be missed. GINXS – When ace Liverpool edgy pop naestros The High Rip ain’t doing their own fab thing, drummer Jo gets on the mic and gives the world it’s one and only female fronted INXS tribute. What a wonderful thing. Michael Hutchence just died again and re-entered Heaven.

Quatermass 3 – In a dark but enigmatic corner of the British psychogeographical mind map, just a stone’s throw from Quality Street, natch, and also the flesh pots and gaiety houses of Brighton….we shall find fevered and psychedelically cerebral post punk rom the people behind World of Twist, Earl Brutus and The Dials. A must see outerspacial happening. Artificially Yours – electronica and psych seamlessly stitched together by this rather fetching 3 piece. Getting plaudits from all quarters of the pop press right now and quite bleedin right too. Dead Anyway  – Talking of plaudits and pop press n all that here’s a band from Gloucester whose remarkable music has been turning heads from Tom Robinson to Fresh On The Net- Marc Symonds and Kate Arnold make meaty loops driven techy and guitar splattered art pop that has a kind of Big Black meets Poison Girls  feel, albeit on a moonlit night in a misty glade somewhere in the Forest Of Dean.  If Dry Cleaning were from the wrong (right) side of the tracks…Can only be a good thing. What a great bill…you lucky bleeders…and you also get DJs We Got Killers spinning and winning til the wee wee hours.

The Kunts Khristmas Party – you’re a kunt, I’m a kunt, we’re all kunts. Especially at Khristmas, a time for utter Kuntishness. Boris Johnson however, lest we forget, as he waddles off to multi millionaire status with his filthy snout full of stolen pies (having presided over the worst government in living history), he friends is STILL a fucking cunt. As fingered gloriously on previous yuletides by tonight’s very special guests, The Kunts, formerly Kunt and the Gang, here no doubt to celebrate the advent of  the Thick Lizzy years and another glorious chapter in the jaundiced tale of UK PLC, where the embuggerment of the many by the few is seen as a badge of honour by thickos from all strata of society, although of course as we must know by now, society does not exist. A lot going down in Kuntland, if you get my meaning… ‘Have You Seen Shannon Mathews, The Musical’ (“Vile” – The Sun, “Sick” – The Star, “I can’t wait.” – Stewart Lee), last years multi banned ‘Prince Andrew Is A Sweaty Nonce’ meisterwork, and over 10 years of utter Kuntishness encapsulated tonight in a Kunt Rock Party to die for. Beautiful. I’ve never noticed that mole on your nob? It’s not a mole it’s dogfood. Also tonight Petrol Bastard who are 2-piece sweary electro-punk outfit from Leeds, UK. Plenty to enjoy there. 

Menace – original GLC bating 76/77 punks, now fronted by long standing drummer Noel Martin are back in what could be their second home from home for another Xmas punk rock party, the best fucking Xmas party in town, as they so modestly describe it! A guaranteed good time, especially with the brilliant metallic punk crunch of the very wonderful PollyPikPocketz in support featuring excellent vocalist Myura, and Kontrol Freaks to open with buzzsaw beauty aplenty. NB Matinee show . Doors 2.30pm

Outsider Art Xmas Bash- a night of punk art fun and finery, with all proceeds going to MIND In Camden.

“St. Jimi Sebastian Cricket Club is a Swedish project led by Jimi Sebastian and the press has described their music as an exciting mix of bands like The Jam, The Clash, Arcade Fire and Pink Floyd or if you prefer “working class Mod/Casual/Indie”. They have toured England twice before and are by some considered as one of Sweden’s best and most entertaining live acts.” From Stockholm Sweden,  harks back to post brit pop indie a-la The  Coral, great stuff.

STRAIGHTEN OUT are the premier Stranglers tribute band out there…if you were lucky enough to be in the audience last time around in The Dublin Castle you’ll know what a superb experience this is. Not just a tribute- as sincere and assured an expression of The Meninblack’s best works as you could possibly hope for. And it’s a great fit in The Dublin Castle. With an extensive set-list that spans two solid hours, Straighten Out re-create the ‘early years’ sound of The Stranglers, complete with a keyboard rig that is the same model as the original used by Mr. Greenfield himself in the 1970’s…! The growling bass sound and the quirky guitar riffs are all there to be heard as is the dual vocal ‘attack’ from the two frontmen a la Burnel-Cornwell as they rip through all the classics: ‘Peaches’, ‘Hanging Around’, ‘No More Heroes’, ‘5 Minutes’, ‘The Raven’, ‘Walk On By’, ‘Straighten Out’, ‘Down In The Sewer’ and many more as they cover virtually the whole of the first three Stranglers’ albums and beyond… Straighten Out – live and unleashed – will take you on a nostalgia trip that transports you back to those raw, powerful, exhilarating times when The Stranglers emerged through the quagmire of mediocrity to produce some of the finest tunes ever written…Straighten Out will put you back in that place…!

The Legendary Noel G– In 1996 Noel Gallagher left his jack and coke behind in the Dublin when he left in a hurry due to being severely papped and also being a little disgruntled at Damon Albarn having it large at the secret Blur gig the week before. ‘I’ll be back for that’ he said…and here he isn’t… Actually a) the jack and coke is still awaiting his return with a cling film lid in a safe place behind the bar, and b) This may not actually be Noel Gallagher but fook me it’s fooking brilliant our kid, an amazing band fronted by a remarkable Gallagherization. All yer Noelly/Oasis faves ahoy.