Roddy Radiation’s Skabilly Rebels – The guitarist and frontline songwriter in The Specials returns with his infectious blend of punk, ska , reggae and rockabilly, wondeful stuff, and always a pleasure to see, and the Dublin is the perfect place to experience Roddy rocking out. And yes he does still play material from The Specials.  Steve Hooker – super charged dirty Essex Delta rocknroll trio fronted by long standing guitar guru Mr Hooker, a powerhouse who get a reet good and grinding riffology going and take it to the dancefloor with a sleazy Link Wray twang and a bulbous Bo Diddley beat…damn good.

Steel City Vs The Smoke All Dayer! Hunted By Elephants –  inspired by the rock classics of the 1970s, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Uriah Heep and Rainbow,  these guys are a high-energy trio renewing the time-honoured union of soaring vocals, growling riffs and energising drum beats. D- Kel And Los Bandidos – feral, yelping rock rap with some heavy funk rock elements…think Wiley fronting Funkadelic…kinda. Frontman D-Kel takes inspiration from London where he was born and bred and Latin America where his roots lie, Drawing inspiration from Roots Manuva, Slaves, The Beat, The Specials, Jamie T, The Streets etc…Punk attitude is the key. Frestan – energetic young band full of massive promise for a band of tender years. Play with real power and pulse. Formerly Mendacium, not to be confused with Rendacium. Although we do. Purple Implosion – Mixing spiky post punking punk funk with counter cultural garage birthed rocknroll featuring some marvellous out there front man antics… Jumper Boy – super youthful Sheff band, a 4 Piece Indie Rock Band based in Sheffield exploring Math Rock, Post Punk and Lo-Fi influences. Lady Grey and the Earls – Influences The Foo Fighters, Muse, Oasis, Skunk Anansie… Good grinding rocknroll with punk, grunge andalt rock elements and some powerful female vocals upfront. . Walls – raucous indie rock four piece from South Yorkshire. Cameron Scott’s voice and charisma as a frontman is blinding. Their energy and attitude collectively as a band is undeniable, and they’re one of the country’s most promising new bands influenced by of The Doors, Joy Division, The Smiths, Arctic Monkeys, Liam Gallagher and The Libertines. Matilda Shakes – anthemic indie rock four piece based in Sheffield. Their debut tracks ‘Fairground’ and ‘Riding the Lightning’ have been played by local radio, featured in RGM Magazine and labelled track of the day by Real Rock & Roll.  Ladybower – childhood friends who got together in garages and bedrooms to make music,  ace music, with reviewers praising the ‘hints of Pulp and Longpigs’ (Sheffield heritage flagged up by BBC Introducing), the ‘transatlantic sensibilities of LCD Soundsystem and Talking Heads’ (RGM), the ‘boggling vocal range of Muse’(O!B), and Morrissey-esque melancholy’(Only a Northern One), to name a few.  Elastic Waste –  4 piece Pop-Punk band from West Yorkshire. Punk Pop Perfecto… Influenced by Brand New, Blink182, Sum41, NOFX and Jimmy Eat World. Frankie Beetlestone – make sure you arrive nice and early (2.30pm)  to catch this superb young Sheffield crooner of high drama guitar pop…taking Alex Turner’s template and really upping the ante with some beautiful atmospherics and a great voice packed with feeling and artistry. Check out the brilliant ‘Backstabber’ video.

Rock N Roll Cabaret- Welcome to the Spring 2020 edition of The RNR Cabaret Freaking Friday Bump and Grind Sessions starring RACHAEL DARQ and her MADAME CRUMPETS crew as you’d expect, expertly and alluringly providing the razzle dazzle routines with a whole plethora of fine bands in  the mix from 7.30p til 2am (free after 11.30pm) SPeW– Self proclaimed ‘wonk funkers‘ the band have gleaned comparisons to NYC ‘no wave’ groups such as Bush Tetras and ESG, featuring members of Rude Mechanicals and the A Band (a favourite of Thurston Moore), much fun and fitfully freaky. Midnight Men – Sex Gang Children fans take note!!  Personality Crisis – Superb punk covers band who zip thru a set of punk rock beauties with speed (oh yeah) and style…some of the tunes you might expect (Pistols, Clash, Damned, Ramones, Dolls) , plenty you might not (Saints, Dead Boys etc) but are certainly very welcome. Magic. Oliver Shaw Experience – Oliver Shaw,  bohemian rock baroque songwriter extraordinaire, who unveils his new album round about now, Of Darker Plains, a fantastic record produced by Mr Paul Tipler and featuring Ollie’s trademark Radiohead meets The Beatles meets his very own Camden Town birthed gypsy  garage rock sound. Ace. Sexy Nirvana – naughty naughty covers  performed by Rachel Darq and The Wizard Of Bliss!

One Eyed Toad Records showcase HELGRIND’s music crosses all genres of metal and appeals to all metal music fans spread throughout the globe with diverse melodic undertows and an aggressive vocal sound that carry the ethos of the band to higher statures and charge the band with the determination and brutality that was true in ‘HELGRIND’ from the beginning. Earthbound have established a strain of melodic metal all of their own, perfectly blending traditional melodic death metal riffs with prodigious choruses Ashborn are a heavy and full of energy matel band from midlands (Northampton/Birmingham) that will make sure your ears and necks will hurt after listening to their music!!! Militia has original and thundering compositions, we are well-equipped to begin our journey to bring our music to the masses. With guitarist, Brody Thompson, bass player, Ryan Colley, and drummer, Jake Harrop, added to the fold in 2019, this Militia is armed to the teeth with metal (music, that is…)

MAXDMYZ is a London based 5-piece band consisting of Twister (vocals), Filon (guitars), Jay (drums), Jness (bass guitar) and Vortex (keyboards). The band has built its reputation in London and beyond with stunning live performances and recording some of the most innovative and original alternative metal ever to come out of the UK music scene. Highlights include a past collaboration with Eminem  and the critically acclaimed Cosmic Hearse EP.  The band’s influences are wide and varied, from Lou Reed and Black Sabbath, to Squarepusher, Pantera and 80’s electro pop – but what truly marks this band out is its musicianship and compositional excellence and the breadth and variety of its output.

Holly Penfield-Female fronted blues rock, with hammond which gives it a nice soulful mid 70’s brit feel, though they’re from the U.S, sounds a bit like Vinegar Joe in places  or a less heavy Stone The Crowes The Grunts-From Cork, Ireland…breezy indie rock with hooky fluid guitar lines, has a bit of A Television feel in places, hints of the more psychedelic end of 80’s U.S indie a-la Dream Syndicate too. Nice. Other tracks reference the Strokes via  a grunged up Velvet Underground and late 60’s U.S west coast Psychedelia, lovely stuff

Janet Devlin in conversation with Julie Hamill – In ‘My Confessional’ Janet reveals a life less ordinary, as unpredictable as it is true, as timely as it is vital. Chronicling her decade-long battle with demons in prose as enchanting as her lyrics, ‘My Confessional’ is a collection of 12 chapters that dive into the subjects that made her the strong and independent artist she is today. The book is intrinsically linked to her second album Confessional, as Janet openly discloses the experiences which have inspired her latest songwriting, with her trademark frankness and honesty. “Believe it or not, you’re holding my life in your hands. Not the picture-perfect version we’ve all become accustomed to, thanks to social media. This is my life as I’ve lived it – no filters.” Published by Omnibus Press. Complimentary DJ Set, book signing, meet the author. Rock N Roll Book Club in partnership with Wax Lyrical Festival.  NB In addition to our usual interview/Q and A/signing and selfies format, Janet will be exclusively presenting a short set of new material live this evening.

Pussycat & The Dirty Johnsons – The return of the premier punk rock hardcore psychobilly mash up band of them all. Puss Johnson ain’t no pussy and the Johnsons ain’t limp dicks. This is the fiercest, most inflammable fun on this foul earth, all done with heart and and soulful conscience…this ain’t just schlock, jock. PC And The DJs are simply purrrrfect loud n proud  in the Dublin Castle where puss can go walkabout unheeded by dogs and stray toms, the mojo is majestic and the ceiling sweats with joy. Electric Shakes – Embracing  MC5, Motorhead, Bon Scott’s AC/DC, Zen Guerilla, Radio Birdman etc, this fab band lists their interests as ‘Dirty Riffs, Cheap Booze, Peace’…Amen, brothers. HatePenny – The guitar/drums White Stripes formula gets a particularly frenzied blues wailin’ makeover. The Hate Penny effect is big and ballsy. Great grinding rocknroll. Spleen –

BANDS OF SUMMER HIRE ALL DAYER… CREATION FIRE (headline band) – Top wracking reggae musicians from South London. Drummer Craig Cigar Tamlin and guests. Dubvocaliza – Ultimate Dub Reggae Band grooving in the positive…  Travelling Souls – Uplifting free spirited folk-rock. With original band members celebrating two years for ‘Going Places’ (our debut album) and a new single release.  Marshland Pete – British blues Soul Vibes Band – Jazz soul Full Body Search – Ambient pop duo Georgia Maria – Turbocharged acoustic-rocker. Powerful, darkly poetic modern rock. And Tool cover. – Cat Elliot– singer songwriter more bands/acts TBA.

The Collective A.K.A- Magnificent mod/2 Tone/punk and new wave covers act who switch effortlessly between the likes of The Specials, The Jam, Madness, The Beat, The Who, The Clash, Small Faces and more modernist marvels , all done with musical chops to die for and a whole lotta soulful attention to detail. Top Ranking, No Full Stop! Bring yer dancing loafers/hush puppies/monkey boots/DMs!  Subculture – The Collective AKA have taken on this superb high energy young mod band as their regular support over this 2020 residency. Perfect accompaniment to the main course, for fans of The Jam, The Chords and Purple Hearts…not to mention early Who.

Hi Tim Allen’s Twenty Seater Microwave- Tim Allen is a Singer/Songwriter from Preston Lancashire. He has released two singles with Kiwi band “Stormporter” and most recently has been on three international tours of south east Asia playing, Singapore, Hongkong, Malaysia and the Philippines with N.Z band “Hangar 18” which saw the band sign a 15 country wide deal with MCA music(universal music Philippines). Hangar 18 also toured the whole of N.Z and played to 4000 people on new year’s eve 2018. The new album “The Last Bastion of a Lad’ is to be released on N.Z label Songbroker and distributed by The Orchard/sony music. Songbroker is owned by Kiwi songstress Jan Hellriegel and is host to some of New Zealand’s best talent. This very tasty new band which comprises of Kiwi legends, Ben King ( Goldenhorse), Milan Borich, (Pluto) Matthias Jordan (Pluto, pyjama club) and Jonathan Burgess . The sound of the new material and the band is very much steeped in U.K culture …. Oasis ,kinks ,The Beatles, Paul Weller e.tc with a kiwi twist.  Gold Top Baby –  Featuring Dorian Cox, guitarist/singer/songwriter with The Long Blondes.  ‘Cox comes across like the Stockport Alan Vega, Gold Top Baby is a sleazy and minimal affair, all smutty electronics that, as Cox puts it, “is the sound of Pulp’s “His N Hers” if it had been recorded in No Wave NYC with Suicide at the controls”…’  (The Quietus). THe Juice – indie pop duo from Preston surroundings plying a scally rock with a sweet pop sheen. Nigel Clark Of accomplished psych and soul  tinged indie pop giants Dodgy needs no fanfare, you’ll all know what a talent he is, excellent to have him along tonite as Tim Allen’s special guest. Sounds between the bands, before and after provided by Ben Taylor (TheMagic Mod), a genius with both a pack of cards or a box of dancer friendly 45s…

The Dekkertones – Playing authentic ska, well more rudeboy reggae really- skinhead reggae, boss reggae, whatever you prefer! Male singer, female singer, full brass front line and a nicely skanking rocksteady vibe. ‘Sweet Soul Music’….’Hurts So Good’…’Everything I Own’ and so on… Got the look. Got the talent. Do it sweetly and dancing feetly , an absolute corking night out assured- this’ll be The Best Saturday Night Out In Camden Town needless to say. With fine support from Jack The Lad – 5 piece band playing classic Punk Ska & Oi! from ’78 onwards, with a few obscure tunes thrown in for good measure. Av it !

All Living Fear are an Alternative Rock / Goth band formed in the 1990s and reformed in 2017 after a few year off. Their intense and powerfully hew music builds the drama and is played with dynamic intent. Sisters/Mission on initial inspection but has some dark metal riffology too and nice use of demonic choir effects… and they did play the Dublin in 2000 so figured a return was about due…

Chaos 8 – North East of England based C8 hit you up with a definitive hard driven guitar sound, dark swirling synths,and brutal and beautiful and oppressive moods that encapsulate every song. “Razor sharp lyrics, thunderous beats and mesmerising vocals, there really is no one else out there delivering anything else quite like Chaos 8…its not a musical event, it’s a communion…” Expect heavy, post-apocalyptic themes, metallic riffology and interesting use of electronic sounds.

The Collective A.K.A- Magnificent mod/2 Tone/punk and new wave covers act who switch effortlessly between the likes of The Specials, The Jam, Madness, The Beat, The Who, The Clash, Small Faces and more modernist marvels , all done with musical chops to die for and a whole lotta soulful attention to detail. Top Ranking, No Full Stop! Bring yer dancing loafers/hush puppies/monkey boots/DMs!  Subculture – The Collective AKA have taken on this superb high energy young mod band as their regular support over this 2020 residency. Perfect accompaniment to the main course, for fans of The Jam, The Chords and Purple Hearts…not to mention early Who.

Mike McEvoy Band – Slick funky jazz played with verve and vim…Mike has been around, having played guitar/keys with Stevie Winwood and The James Taylor Quartet…think Mike Post‘s excellent 1980s TV themes, Weather Report, a bit of late era Miles Davis, Quincy Jones etc… Mike has also done a lot of acclaimed film score/arranging work. Performing two sets tonight.  DJ Hooch – the B-Boy Championships guy will be spinning great, before,between and after the live sets. tunes throughout the evening. This man knows his funk, soul and hip hop onions having run a 12 year long party at the Africa Centre, brought Parliament Funkadelic over to London in the 1990s, written two books (Bronx to Brixton and Streetdance) and also runs the clothing webstore hiphopstore.com and still regularly DJ’s internationally and across the UK.  Rex – cool new young up and coming female artist performing soulful numbers with keyboards and sweey harmonies care of 2 backing vocalists.

The Communicators – From Zummerzet/Brizzle, it’s marvelous to welcome back these fellows, reformed, refreshed, revitalized, and really bloody great. What a wicked ska band, a kick ass Brit rudeboy extravaganza a la The Specials, Madness, Bad Manners, The Selecter via some frothy old school J.A nuances and peerless musicianship. Communication is the key and these chaps will deffo get the message across that it’s time to get the party started and keep it going all night long. Might as well book yer brogues into the cobblers for Monday mornin coz they’re gonna get some serious dancefloor friction. Reschedued from April 25th.

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….Nuffin – On 3rd August 1977, Nuffin’ turned up at the legendary Roxy Club to play ‘Audition Night’, only to find that Janet Street-Porter and a TV crew had taken over. Luckily, they were looking for an ‘undiscovered’ band as a counterpoint to all of the hype around at the time. And so a brief snap-shot of the the four Caterham teenagers, strutting their stuff and sharing their take on life, was captured for posterity. Roll on nigh on 40 years and by a series of happy collisions in hostelries Nuffin found themselves reforming their original line up for a charity gig. They enjoyed it so much they stuck at it, and recorded their original 1977 set and released as ‘Crowd Control’, one of THE punk long players of 2018. The Evil B’Stards – who are these mystery Menaces and what have they got against the G.L.C….OK Noel Martin may well be involved here so if you know your street punk you also know you are in perfect punk rock company.

The Bracknall- Long awaited London appearance by the soulful rocknroll combo  who specialize in skuzzed up bluesey indie rock, with reverberations of The Libertines, King Blues and trace elements of Jamie T.

Punky Reggae Party cover early Clash, Damned, Stranglers, SLF, The Ruts (Leigh from Ruts DC is eve in the band!) etc… along with the Reggae orientated songs those amazing bands wrote or covered themselves. Tonight in the perfect surroundings of the ever wonderful Dublin Castle… Very Pleased to announce we have Levi and the Slow Time Mondays providing impeccable support. Gonna be a great night. Postponed from March 21st.

The Collective A.K.A- Magnificent mod/2 Tone/punk and new wave covers act who switch effortlessly between the likes of The Specials, The Jam, Madness, The Beat, The Who, The Clash, Small Faces and more modernist marvels , all done with musical chops to die for and a whole lotta soulful attention to detail. Top Ranking, No Full Stop! Bring yer dancing loafers/hush puppies/monkey boots/DMs!  Subculture – The Collective AKA have taken on this superb high energy young mod band as their regular support over this 2020 residency. Perfect accompaniment to the main course, for fans of The Jam, The Chords and Purple Hearts…not to mention early Who.

Crashed Out – Having honed their stunning sound, this masterful quartet have nailed their in-yer-face yet melodic punk rock that will grab you by the throat, slap you on the cheek and give a cheeky grin. With there very infectiously energetic and powerful live show, these heavily tattooed North Eastern lads are the real deal!!! Forming in 1995 the band has toured playing shows and festivals sharing the stage with bands such as: The Damned, SLF, Cock Sparrer, Ginger Wildheart, Rancid, NOFX, Alkaline trio, Buzzcocks, The Levellers to name drop just a few…. With a punk rock attitude and hard rock sound, Crashed Out are the band that puts the Rock in Punkrock!!!! Doors 2.30pm

The Skapones – a reet skanking pleasure…a ska band who play sassy Specials/Beat influenced originals as well as a buncha classics..a punky reggae tease all the way from..The Tees… as in Tyne Tees… oh never mind. Anyway these effortlessly Bonny Lads are leading lights in the Specialized Project, a wonderful phenomenon that raises money for Teenage cancer Trust & Youth Music UK and produces some amazing music from the post 2 Tone Brit ska and mod/scooterist scenes. Amazing bands have been tributes in the course of all this, and The Skapones with ace Skapones versions of ” Police On My Back”  (on Combat cancer- A tribute to The Clash), “Midnight Ravers” (One Heart – A tribute to Bob Marley) and “Smithers Jones” (2017 Specialized tribute to The Jam.). Support this band and their good works and have a brilliant night out in the Ancestral Seat Of British Ska into the bargain. Postponed from April 2020.

THE SALFORD LADS NYC- En route from New York to Manchester  for MozarmyMeet2020, this legendary Smiths/Morrissey cover band have built a reputation as the most sought-after tribute on the US east coast, now fronted by ‘The Mexican Morrissey’ the fabulous JOSE MALDONADO (also seen in The Sweet And Tender Hooligans) , and there’s no doubt about it, if it’s a Morrissey tribute you’re after he’s the best in the business.