REVIEW: Deadpunk Special 2024

Gigs

16 May

Last weekend, Bristol reclaimed its status as the epicentre of the UK DIY scene, hosting the first Deadpunk Special since 2017. The festival made a triumphant return, boasting a lineup that had us buzzing with anticipation. What can we say about the festival? It was a hot, sweaty affair, delivering everything we had hoped for and then some. It set the stage perfectly for the summer festival season ahead, and if Deadpunk is any indication, we're in for an absolute blast.

Friday

The Deadpunk Special this year started with a bang as the Warm Up Show commandeered the main room of the Exchange. Armed with a pint of the Deadpunk Special Session I.P.A., we braved our way into the heart of the Exchange for the sonic assault unleashed by PREDECEASED. These Manchester punks claimed the title for the loudest band ever heard at the Exchange, leaving my ears still ringing long after their set concluded.

After PREDECEASED, it was time for one of our absolute current faves, ME REX. Expressing my love for this band is no easy feat, but let's just say I wrote over 1500 words dissecting their recent EP, Smilodon – if that doesn't speak volumes, I don't know what will. Their set was an explosion of hits, featuring a mix of new tracks, old favourites, and revamped versions like the electrifying rendition of "Goodbye Forever." With only a handful of appearances scheduled this year, it would've been a crime not to soak in every ounce of ME REX's musical brilliance. The band never disappoints, from Phoebe's infectious energy and powerhouse drumming to Rich's effortlessly cool bass skills with one hand. And then there's Myles, being Myles – losing a shoe and spinning on the floor à la Homer Simpson during the closing segment of a song. It was nothing short of epic, delivering everything we could have hoped for and more. Plus, catching up with the band was an absolute delight – they were just as warm and lovely as when we interviewed them back in November last year.

Headlining the main band bill on Friday were indie punks Fresh, and after delving into their recent Merch Girl EP, we knew catching them live was a must. With Kathryn Woods now calling Bristol home, the band could proudly claim hometown hero status, a fact evident from the enthusiastic crowd. The night was nothing short of epic; their set delivered hit after hit, and they even brought in Myles from ME REX (formerly a member until last year) to add some extra percussion to a track, all while effortlessly modelling one of the band's latest long-sleeve t-shirts. It was a night filled with pure joy, and if their performance at Deadpunk is any indication, their upcoming gigs in the USA are bound to be a blast.

Saturday

Saturday surpassed all expectations, we kicked things off with the riot girl-infused indie pop of Murder Club. Their infectious energy had the entire crowd dancing along, setting the tone for an unforgettable day. We even snagged a quick chat with them later on, so stay tuned for that interview.

Next up was Felicette at The Elmer Arms, and it quickly became one of the day's hottest tickets. The venue was packed to the brim, and despite finding ourselves at the back with John "Chocolate Voice" Beavan, we still caught whispers of the band's electrifying performance. Thankfully, Kelly managed to navigate her way to the front, capturing a video for Instagram. Felicette's 90s-inspired alt-rock sound proved to be right on trend, and witnessing them live was an absolute highlight of the day.

No spoilers, but can you guess who we caught next? Well, after a last-minute shuffle of the original running order, it was time for, if you hadn't guessed already, the Kent melodic punks Spoilers in the main room. Their sound immediately transported me back to my youth; it's the kind of music that would have fit right in on the late, great P-Rock TV. Following Spoilers, we ventured down to the claustrophobic, but in all the right ways, the basement of Exchange for the electropunk of Teenage Sequence. Dewan's music had so much more bite in person; it felt like someone put Mark E Smith in charge of an 80s electro group – gritty, epic, and you felt completely under his control. Teenage Sequence is among the interviews lined up from Deadpunk, so keep your eyes peeled for that.

*cheerbleederz in the main room of Exchange was amongst our highlights of the festival*

Speaking of bands we had the pleasure of interviewing, it was time for another highlight of the festival: cheerbleederz. Feeling a bit weary, we found solace on the conveniently placed pews at the back of the main room at Exchange. I honestly don't know how Kathryn, Sophie, and Phoebe muster so much energy; all three had already performed with their other projects at the festival – Fresh, Felicette, and ME REX, respectively. I personally suspect that some sort of frog-based magical powers are gained from their pre-gig ribbit hand-stack. On stage, they were just as bubbly, bouncy, and fun-sounding as their music. If you ever get the chance to see cheerbleederz live, I urge you to do so; they are an incredible live band, and I can't wait to catch them again at Truck. Oh, and they might be working on new material – who knows? (wink) Maybe you should read our forthcoming interview to find out.

*Toodles & The Hectic Pity packed out the Elmer’s Arms*

After a brief interview and food break, our next stop was Tellison, the London-based veterans. Their set proved time and again why they are held in such high esteem by their peers. It was a relentless onslaught of indie rock bangers from start to finish, expertly delivered by a band that only seems to improve with age.

I'm still debating whether Toodles & The Hectic Pity's set was one of the best gigs ever, one of the most terrifying, or perhaps a bit of both. I thought the Elmer’s Arms was packed for Felicette, but that was nothing compared to the hometown crowd that Toodles managed to summon. I found myself wedged in a corner directly behind the mixing desk, practically eye-to-eye with Callum, as he and the rest of the band dove into their unique blend of emo-folk. Bangers like “Emotionally Unclean” sounded even better in person. It was pure chaos, and the band had their hometown crowd clamouring for more. To top it off, some die-hard fans even sang back the entirety of “Ducks” as the band packed up.

*Johnny Foreigner headlined this year’s Deadpunk Special*

Headlining the festival was one of my all-time favourite bands, the absolutely brilliant Johnny Foreigner. I don’t think my head had fully recovered from interviewing them earlier in the day; I'm pretty sure it was a fever dream that I was sitting in the Exchange’s control room chatting with the band. It had been years since I last saw JoFo live, back at the dearly missed Sticky Mike's Frog Bar in 2016 (wow, can’t believe it's been almost 10 years since then). But it was worth the wait; though I arrived at Exchange a little late, I managed to secure an amazing view. The band kicked off their set with some new tracks they've been working on, and it was a privilege to be among the first to hear new Johnny Foreigner material. As the set progressed, more and more classics emerged, and it was still super cool to watch Kelly and Junior swap places during "Sofacore." I also felt like I was transported back to 2010 as I watched G from Los Campesinos! sing Alexi’s words right back to him from the crowd. It was a fittingly perfect ending to the perfect start of the festival season.