With a wealth of bands to choose from, Undercover Festival promises to be quite something at its new location
As the popular Undercover Festival (now in its 13th year) makes its debut at Battlesbridge, South Essex on 26th & 27th September, promoter and organiser Mick Moriarty decided to make young local bands the focus of the event.
“Young punk influenced bands are coming to the fore even more now, and I see a very vibrant young scene with a purpose. I know a cracking band when I see one, and there are a plenty appearing in South Essex! The Meffs (Southend) and Bilk (Chelmsford) are currently making huge strides, and coming up behind them, there’s a lot of young talent, just bursting to get out there” he explains.
Undercover Festival’s early days were at Bisley in North Surrey. Mick says “When I decided to move Undercover Festival to South Essex, I found a venue that is quirky, outside the box, and with camping, just what I was looking for to get the Bisley feel of Undercover Festival back. Once I got the date for the festival sorted, I wanted to include a couple of local bands, and I was blown away by the rich vein of bands coming up strong behind The Meffs and Bilk. I’m so pleased to have several of them playing for us at Undercover Festival 26th & 27th September.”
Amongst the bigger names appearing at the festival (Skids, Eddie & The Hot Rods, Subhumans, Menace, Popes Of Chillitown, Dakka Skanks, Eastfield, Codename Colin, East Town Pirates) here’s what Mick as to say about the following young local bands who will share the stage:
“Dharma Hounds are a band that I am excited to bring to Undercover and I love their new release ‘Blokes’” enthuses Mick. “You look at a band and say yeah, they have something, that’s what I see with Dharma Hounds.”
“Another band playing who have a great ‘can do’ attitude, which I love, is Destroy The Idols. I am getting more and more into them as I listen to their tracks; a shame they are on first at the festival, but someone has to; and I always say start it strong.” Get there early you won’t be disappointed!
“Rat Hole impressed a LOT of people at Rebellion Festival last year with their cheeky punk songs and hilarious banter, and I had many folk saying ‘Mick – you have to book them!’ A few weeks later, I made the decision to confirm the venue for the festival, and booking Rat Hole fell exactly into place.”
“Monumental are a talented mod/indie revival band with original songs influenced by 60’s mod, through to the mod revival of the 70’s, and the Britpop era of the 90’s. I thought I’d add them to the line up as something different. They are REALLY good, and have much more of an edge than just a mod thing”
“Hinge are a band that I really like the look of, a no messing, straight up, beer bottle clinking, four-piece punk band from Billericay. They are influenced by 90’s skate punk, with a cracking sound”
“There will be several other bands from Essex playing, a tad older and better known, but I reckon the five above are excellent, and will show everyone travelling to South Essex for Undercover Festival what a happening local punk scene it has – make sure you check them all out!
Tickets are available HERE, and in person at face value from: Undercover gigs (Guildford), Intense Records (Chelmsford), Fives Record Shop (Leigh On Sea), Sounds of the Suburbs Records (Ruislip) and Dirt (Norwich).
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Usually found jumping around down the front at gigs, I also relish taking photos and videos, singing, speaking with fellow music fans, and asking musicians the questions nobody else does. Writing about my favourite bands and connecting with people who love music too keeps me more-or-less sane! I’ve worked for over 25 years at a video production company, mainly filming live music events, therefore I have an additional backstage perspective on the scene.
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