Founded by the Peace & Justice Project as part of its Music For The Many campaign, Bulletproof Festival is a brand new multi-venue music and arts festival dedicated to protecting Britain’s grassroots music venues and celebrating the power of music to bring people together. Across a packed weekend in Hackney Wick, artists, activists and music fans gathered to enjoy live music while championing the spaces and communities that make independent culture possible.
Thursday at The Victoria
Gabby Rivers brought a confident blast of grunge-pop, pairing huge fuzzy riffs with razor-sharp lyrics and the kind of effortless stage presence that makes you immediately start wondering why she’s not already playing much bigger stages.
The Oozes were loud, furious and completely magnetic, whipping the crowd into a sweaty frenzy while delivering the kind of politically charged queer punk that feels more necessary than ever right now.
Deva St. John was a genuine revelation. Combining huge choruses, killer riffs and undeniable star quality, she delivered the kind of set that has you immediately checking when and where you can see her again.
Friday at EartH
CLT DRP delivered one of the weekend’s most explosive sets, blending electro-punk, rave energy and feminist fury into a gloriously chaotic performance that left EartH buzzing long after they left the stage.
SPRINTS brought their trademark mix of razor-sharp post-punk, political urgency and explosive energy to EartH, with Karla Chubb stalking the stage and holding the crowd in the palm of her hand throughout.
Friday at Shacklewell Arms
Bugeye brought their irresistible blend of disco-punk, dirty synths and razor-sharp social commentary to The Shacklewell Arms, proving once again why they’re one of the UK’s most consistently brilliant underground bands. With their new album The Shape of Things launching next weekend, their headline show at The Grace on 13 June is shaping up to be one of the gigs not to miss. (And yes, this was the very same stage that Shania Twain would play 24 hours later, but that don’t impress me much.)
Saturday at EartH
Blossom Caldarone brought a moment of calm amid Bulletproof’s punk-fuelled chaos, captivating the EartH audience with beautifully crafted songs and a voice that demanded attention. Known to many as a touring member of English Teacher, she more than proved herself a compelling artist in her own right.
Jools were an absolute force of nature at EartH, unleashing a whirlwind of post-punk tension, hardcore energy and spoken-word catharsis. Equal parts chaotic and controlled, their set was a masterclass in how to channel rage into something genuinely powerful.
Pussy Riot brought Bulletproof’s politics into sharp focus, reminding everyone why they’re one of the most important protest art collectives of the 21st century. Combining music, activism and a defiant call for resistance, their set felt less like a concert and more like a rallying cry against authoritarianism, injustice and the erosion of human rights.
