X-Ray Vez kicked things off in The Bread Shed with her DIY punk-pop. The tongue-in-cheek Alkaline Trio Tattoo sounded even better backed up by Vez’s band, and was a great way of easing into the last day of the festival. Vez chatted and joked between songs, even inviting the crowd to join her in a “horse girl” dance before playing an unreleased song about… well, horse girls, what else?
Next up, is mudclub, though that name might change – during their set, they explained that their ex-bassist had locked them out of all their band-related accounts, which explains why I could barely find any information about them before seeing them! Hopefully they’re able to sort something out though, as I really enjoyed their set, and would love to hear more from them.
Whatever name they end up going with, their grunge-influenced sound is definitely worth checking out – think moody basslines, and beautiful PJ Harvey-esque vocals.
The Bread Shed has been steadily filling up all afternoon, and there’s a sizeable crowd by the time Gen and the Degenerates take to the stage. Gen is a fantastic vocalist and frontwoman – it’s impossible not to be absorbed by, not only her powerful voice, but also the warmth with which she talks to the crowd between songs.
Kids Wanna Dance was a highlight of their set, and its subject matter perfectly sums up the energy of a Degenerates show – that being, there’s a lot to be angry about in the world right now, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a good time while we figure out how to navigate it all. When it comes to bands you can dance to, Gen and the Degenerates couldn’t be a better choice.
Finally, it’s time for Brighton punks Pussyliquor. I’m just going to be up front, and say that I love Pussyliquor – they are everything a punk band should be. The Bread Shed looks to be almost full now, so clearly I’m not alone in this!
Ari throws herself around the stage in a way that made me think of Katie Jane Garside in her Daisy Chainsaw days – a comparison that felt even more accurate when they played their final song of the night, All Cats Go To Heaven. This is, if it’s unclear, very much a positive comparison!
Other standout tracks include Kitty Kitty, with it’s “miaow miaow, miaow miaow” chorus, and Apathy, from last years It’s Pussyliquor, Not Rocket Science EP. Towards the end of the set, they realise they’re almost out of time, and ask the crowd to choose between Lady Wank and Hit Song – Lady Wank is the clear winner, with guitarist Hannah joking that she needed a cigarette afterwards.
Once again, Manchester Punk Festival was an amazing weekend – the team behind the festival continue to do a great job every year, and deserve credit for putting on such a diverse and welcoming festival. It’s great to see an independent festival like this hit the ten year mark, especially with so many venues struggling to stay open. I hope in another ten years, I’ll be here writing about their 20th anniversary! For now though, I’m already looking forward to seeing what they put together for 2026.