Gig Guide: Bands You Need To See In March

Article by Sarah Williams.

There is a huge amount going on in March! The biggest treats are over the Easter weekend right at the end of the month, but there is plenty to keep you warm until then.

Without further ado, these are our top picks for the month:

Gig of The Month: Dugstock 2

When: March 30th – April 1st
Where: The New Cross Inn, London
Who: Headliners include Counterpunch, Crazy Arm and The Murderburdgers
Check out the Facebook event

This stacked line-up in London has a bit of something for everyone. This is Umlaut Records now-annual celebration of all things fast and fun so , as you would expect, there’s a focus on melodic, upbeat skate-punk in keeping with their label sound.

There are plenty of Umlaut acts showcased on the bill, including Captain Trips, Coral Springs, Burnt Tapes, On A Hiding To Nothing and Strange Planes. I’m particularly excited for Coral Springs, as they’re bringing their anxious, poppy joy all the way from the Netherlands. There’s also plenty of technical melodic hardcore in the form of Fair Do’s, Almeida, Counterpunch and PMX. If you prefer things a bit more ‘punk’ there’s also riot grrls Kiss Me Killer, soon-to-be-gone noise merchants Revenge of The Psychotronic Man, Bogans, Billy Liar and Spoilers. You can even catch our favourites Nosebleed, who’ll be kicking the party into full swing on Saturday.

It is a really diverse line-up with plenty of fun for any punk rock fan. The variation in the bill means you can use this as a great opportunity to catch some new bands, or you can take a breather and grab some food if you need to. Pop in for a day or for the weekend – tickets available from Umlaut Records.

Old Town House Eastervaganza!

When: March 30th – April 1st
Where: The Old Town House, Warrington
Who: Headliners include Popes of Chillitown, Pizzatramp and In Evil Hour
Check out the Facebook event

The Facebook event promises that this gig will leave you, “mystified, mesmerized, terrified, exhilarated, enraptured, captivated and captured as we host a manifold carnival of some of the finest in high-octane punk rock, ska, hardcore, prog, funk and many more personalities to keep you moving, grooving, laughing, crying and lashing your heads backwards and forwards.” What more can you ask for?

There is a vertiable smorgasbord of all your favourite DIY punk acts gracing this festival. Did someone say Pizzatramp? Did someone say Popes of Chillitown? As with Dugstock, there’s a real variety of acts here, plus another opportunity to see Almeida and On A Hiding To Nothing. There’s a slightly greater focus on proper punk rock, with some highlights in the form of Jenkem, Incisions, In Evil Hour, The Crash Mats, The Minor Discomfort Band and Riggots. It’s being partly hosted by The Mighty Bossmags, so the event will probably by as bonkers and eclectic as they are.

This gig has the added advantage of being in one of the coolest venues in the country. Stuff your face with vegan pizza and enjoy a bit of sun in the garden inbetween blasts of punk rock. Tickets available from The Old Town House.

Shredfest 3: Honey I Shredded The Kids

When: March 17th
Where: Night People, Princess Street, Manchester
Who: Enough high-octane meldic hardcore to make your fingers and/or ears bleed
Check out the Facebook event

So, over the years I’ve come to realise that not everyone likes super fast technical guitar nonsense as much I do, however those that do like it really like it. Shredfest is like a support group for those with a similar affliction.

The gig’s got an early start at 5.30pm, but it’s worth getting in to catch Laughing In The Face Of and No Contest. My personal faves Sombulance are on after that (check out our review of their awesome EP) followed by the awesome Dead Neck. Finally we get to see Italian skate-punks Lineout and the technically excellent ‘clever bastards‘ Almedia.

Also, it’s St Patrick’s Day. Sure, Shredfest isn’t exactly The Pogues, but who wants to listen to that anyway? I’m sure you can still get some Guinness that’s been dyed a putrid green and wear a fucking stupid hat, if that’s what you want. Here you will have every opportunity to get rat-arsed and air guitar to your heart’s content, while evading the pub-tourist crowd outside.

Broken Arrow Palace Takeover

When: March 23rd and 24th
Where: The Palace, Hastings
Who: Two big days of ska and pop punk, including Spoilers, Counting Coins, Popes of Chillitown, Millie Manders, Riskee & The Ridicule and heaps more.
Check out the Facebook event

If you’re in the mood for a seriously fun weekend of bouncy ska-punk fun, then Hastings has the ideal solution for you. Our pal Makky over at Broken Arrow magazine has curated this infintely skakable party over two days, right on the South Coast seafront.

Friday night headliners are the dynamic Millie Manders & The Shutup. You can also catch the catchiest band around: Spoilers, plus Just Say Nay, SKIV, Bandits and Riskee & The Ridicule. I would also be sticking around to catch the guaranteed-amazing afterparty DJ set from London’s most stylish grime-punk duo NOVA TWINS.

Once you’ve kicked your Saturday morning hangover to the curb, you absolutely have to get out of bed for Plot 32. They’re a new straight-up ska band from Leeds, who were one of my surprise favourites at Pie Race last year. Following them are The Drunken Ramblings and The Barracks, who have enough danceable drinking songs that you’ll probably get sozzled just standing near them. Aerial Salad will bring you some raw, angsty earworms, followed by The Pisdicables, Eat Defeat and Counting Coins. Finishing off the weekend will be Popes of Chillitown, who are pretty much the head of the UK ska-punk game right now.

Tickets available from here.

Gig List For March

Friday 2nd:
- Leeds: Grand Collapse, Incisions, Pat Butcher, This Is Not A Drill @ Temple of Boom
- London: Revenge of The Psychotronic Man, Burnt Tapes, On a Hiding To Nothing, Little Baby Sharks, SKIV @ The Bird’s Nest
- Ipswich: 2 Sick Monkeys, Casual Nausea, Atterkop @ The Smokehouse
Saturday 3rd:
- London: Cinemania Fest – Preview Here
- Liverpool: Grand Collapse, Overload, Habits, Regicidal @ Maguires
- Stoke-On-Trent: Only Strangers album launch with Rising Strike and The Kirkz @ The Pilgrim’s Pit
Friday 9th:
- Canterbury: Duncan Redmonds, The Foamers (acoustic), Stew Bush (Bottlenex) and Martin Rapley (7DC) @ The Monument
Saturday 10th:
- Manchester: Ill Guerra, Domestics, Satanic Malfunctions, Pat Butcher, Social Experiments and Habits @ Fuel Cafe
- Bury St Edmunds: Rad Pitt, Bracken, Cheap Heat, BUH, Zen Reggae Masters @ The Constitutional Club
Thursday 15th:
- Manchester: Caves, Pardon Us and Only Strangers @ Marble, 57 Thomas Street
- London: Lineout, Revolution Summer, Fastfade and more @ The Unicorn
Friday 16th:
- Stockport: Shoreline, Blankets, Pardon Us and Tio Rico @ The Blossoms
- Warrington: Harker, The Stayawakes + more @ The Old Town House
Saturday 17th:
- Warrington: The Restarts, Call The Cops, Revenge of The Psychotronic Man, Holiday @ The Old Town House
- Hastings: Matilda’s Scoundrels, Knocksville and more @ The Palace
Friday 23rd:
- London: Darko, Almeida, Down Love, Revolution Summer @ The Fighting Cocks (free!)
- Manchester: Martha, Alimony Hustle and The Baby Seals @ The Soup Kitchen
- Bradford: Eat Defeat, Aerial Salad, Panda Lasagne, The Siknotes @ The 1 in 12 Clib
- Ipswich: Smart Alex, Shark Party, Paper Champ and Con Party @ The Smokehouse
Saturday 24th:
- Ipswich: Jotnarr, Akabusi, Chestburster, ZEK @ The Smokehouse
Monday 26th:
- Manchester: Trash Talk, Capsize and Brutality Will Prevail @ Rebellion
Wednesday 28th:
- Manchester: Walter Etc., Jesus & His Judgemental Father, Emperor X, Animal Byproducts @ The Peer Hat
Friday 30th:
- Leeds: Revenge of The Psychotronic Man, Traits, Plot 32 @ Bad Apples
Saturday 31st:
- High Wycombe: Vanilla Pod, Aerial Salad, Lead Shot Hazard + more @ The Phoenix Bar