Stoke Punk Zone

Gig listings - April and May

2009-04-16T16:22:00.000-07:00

In order to create a bit more optimistic mood after my last post, today I’m going to concentrate of what will be going on around Stoke in the next few months. There is not much of it, but still something.

Today, on Friday the 17th of April, the Sex Pistols Experience is playing at the Limelight in Crewe. If you don’t know the band let me explain: it’s a really good Sex Pistols tribute band, I have already written about them not long ago. The tickets are £9.

Next week, on April the 23rd which is obviousely St George’s Day, there will be quite a bit going on. The Duel and The New Subterraneans will be playing at the Norfolk Inn at 8pm, tickets are £4. There will also be another punk gig on that day, and this one is for free. Wasted Life will be playing at the Bennetts, at 8pm as well. There was supposed to be one more band playing with them, Anglo Saxon, but it’s just been announced we won’t see them then. O well then.

The Duel

On the 27th of April, Rising Strike and Shot Baker will be to be seen at Harry’s Bar at 8.30pm, for £5. Rising Strike are, according to their myspace profile, a punk/ska/metal band from Stoke, Shot Baker are a punk/hardcore group from US. I haven’t heard much of those bands to be honest, but I think it might be a pretty good night anyway.

Rising Strike will be playing in the area again, on the 16th of May at the Rigger in Newcastle, along with a rock/metal band Exhibit A. Cost is to be confirmed yet.

And there will be one more punk gig in Stoke in May, on the 22nd Wasted Life will be playing, together with The Fortunas, at the Green Star in Smallthorne, Stoke, at 8pm.

So that’s it for now. Hope I see you at the gigs.

Where to Go, What to Do

2009-04-16T08:31:00.000-07:00

The Glebe might be re-opening. This is what all punkers and rockers in Stoke have been talking about recently. Even though it is hard to say now what the chances for it are, I really hope that the best venue for punk rock gigs around, which the Glebe certainly was, will open its door again soon. There is, unfortunately, not much going on around Stoke at the moment and it is really hard to find a place to enjoy good live punk and rock music. The Underground may be an option for indie rock fans, but not for those wanting to hear some decent punk music. The Sugarmill sadly doesn't seem to have much on offer for them either. So where can we go on Friday evening?

Simply sitting in a pub and having a pint tends to be the only entertainment available around, but still it is not easy to find a decent rock pub anyway. The recession seems to be killing everything and pubs and clubs are closing one by one, like it happened to The Full Moon in Newcastle for example. The only ones left are Black Friar in Newcastle, which fortunately still gets quite busy on Saturdays, and the Stage Door in Hanley. So it's not much of a choice, is it?

Let's hope we'll get to see some bands playing at the Glebe again. Let's hope we'll get to see some decent bands playing around at all, because at the moment the situation is not looking too good. Discharge, probably the greatest punk band that originated from Stoke is on a tour now promoting their new album "Disensitise", a review of which I'll try to post shortly. Stoke is however not on the list of places they're playing at. Is punk dead around here? Long live punk!

The Glebe

DISCHARGE - CORPSE OF DECADENCE

Free Punk Gig feat. the Members

2009-04-15T18:42:00.000-07:00

Get ready for the first ever punk all dayer in Crewe, at the M club on the 24th of May. It's for free and you get to see the Members plus a variety of local and named bands. For over 18's only.

Lee leaves Impact

2009-04-15T18:24:00.000-07:00

Mr.Lee Boppaloola is no longer playing with Impact , as he's decided to join a different rock band. Fortunately, Impact will continue on just as before. The next opportunity to see them live in Stoke will be on the 25th of July, at the Stoke on Trent Punk Fest. So don't worry, coz they are here to stay.

IMPACT - HERE TO STAY

Oral Asphyxiation at Punks Alive Collective

2009-04-02T09:38:00.000-07:00

One of the best and of my personal favourite local punk groups, Oral Asphyxiation, updated their myspace profile with some new dates. The band is playing at The Swinging Sporran in Birmingham on the 4th of June at Punks Alive Collective, along other bands including Broken Bones, Poundaflesh, Disrupters and many many more. The tickets are £7 in advance, £10 on the door. Hope I see you there, and in the meantime I suggest that you definitely give the band a listen if you haven't heard them yet as they've got exactly what a decent punk rock band should have: characteristic vocals, intelligent lyrics and pure violent energy. I especially recommend two tracks: "Coppers" and "Knife Crime".

ORAL ASPHYXIATION - COPPERS

ORAL ASPHYXIATION - KNIFE CRIME