Gigs Archive

With Dirty Water DJs. Free entry. The Stag's Head is at 55 Orsman Road N1, just off Kingsland Road, by the canal.

• London Dirthole Company | See Dirthole on Myspace
  

  Dirthole plays loud, with short bursts of bruised, anguished, no frills garage punk rock tunes, with two drummers, two guitarists, as many bass players as they can find, and whoever else feels like joining in. Finding time left over whilst working on a session for someone or other at Toe Rag Studios, this bunch of miscreant types who do know better but do it anyway, found they were some spare time left over and did their own thing. And recorded an album’s worth of material in two hours. They enjoyed it so much they decided to be an actual band.

• Nuns | See The Nuns on Myspace
  
  "It's monk time - it's hop time. Let sapphires glide into the grooves. What is beat? What is beat today? And what is over-beat? And who the hell is going to melt the hot and cold world of tomorrow?" That was five crazy ex-GIs back in 1966 in Germany, who discovered feedback and put out the most amazing album of all time before falling apart and slowly making their way back home to the USA after many years away. Following the Monks' triumphant debut appearance in London at Dirty Water's tenth anniversary in October 2006, a group of young ladies were inspired. Now, it's Nun time!

With Dirty Water DJs. FREE entry.

The Stag's Head is at 55 Orsman Road, just off Kingsland Road, near the canal.

• See See | See The See See on Myspace
  

  London-based The See See are Richard Olson, Pete Greenwood, Kevin Peyok, Paulie Cobra and Ben Swank who originally hail from as far apart as Malmoe (SE), Detroit (US), Leeds (UK) and Auckland (NZ). With histories in bands like The Soledad Brothers, The Waxwings and The Eighteenth Day of May, together they set out for new adventures in rock and roll and psychedelia under their Ma Rainey-inspired moniker. After a debut single that sold out in under a week, a support tour with The Raconteurs and a reputation for lively, exuberant and occasionally chaotic live shows, the band are now putting the finishing touches to their debut album.

• Keys | See The Keys on Myspace
  
  The Keys, under a previous name, recorded three sessions for John Peel, signed to Too Pure, were lauded by the NME for their ‘glorious jangle-pop’, counted Joe Strummer, and Damien Hirst among their biggest fans and were the “ best new band in Britain” according to Alex James. Now firmly re-established under their new name, they are set to release new album ‘Fire Inside’ on See Monkey Do Monkey Recordings. On the new album they’re still informed by their classic 1960s pop influences but now each piece is more melodic and subtle; swirled with psychedelic patterns. Informed by cult legends like 13th floor Elevators, The Velvet Underground and the Jesus and Mary Chain, whilst imbuing each homespun recording with a personal warmth and experimentalism reminiscent of modern artists like Panda Bear, Animal Collective and Jason Pearce.
• Instant Flight | See Instant Flight on mySpace
  
  This London based four-piece has such a magical mystery psychedelic pop-rock sound that it’s no surprise that they’ve also performed as the backing band for the legendary Arthur Brown (he features on two tracks on their first album, "Colours & Lights"). Their sound is heavily influenced by the likes of the Doors, Pink Floyd, Jefferson Airplane and late Beatles – and yet the feel of the songs is timeless, as well as being catchy and powerful. This is truly beautiful pop rock that will makes you fly...instantly!

With Dirty Water DJs. FREE entry.

The Stag's Head is at 55 Orsman Road, just off Kingsland Road, near the canal.

Plus FREE BBQ if you get there early enough!

• Kits | See The Kits on Myspace
  
  These Melbourne natives have a sound that’s a blend of garage rock’n’roll from various parts of the globe. Their debut (Australian) release, "This Is Your Lung", showers you with a wall of howling vocals, thick, mud-drenched guitars and pounding rhythms. They teeter on the brink, like the sensation you get when you almost lose control of your car, just to recover in the nick of time. Their debut album, "Primitive Tales", is out now on Dirty Water Records
• Sundae Kups | See The Sundae Kups on Myspace
  
  These boys are coming all the way from Coronado Bay, San Diego, California! Having met whilst working at the local Dairy Queen serving ice cream, they got together to play guitar instrumental tunes, under the guidance of their mentor, the surf sensei Soundpapa (himself a hero in his home town of Hakodate, Japan). The Sundae Kups have already travelled to England, where they won over many crowds at the legendary Diplo, Scooterworks & Teen Bop parties. Such a success was their previous visit that they are returning for an extended stay. So get down to their uncontrollable dance dance frenzy now now now!
• Squirrel Skin Slippers | See Squirrel Skin Slippers on Myspace
  

  The Squirrel Skin Slippers music is as rough-handed honest and straight talkin' as it gets. Their music is stitched together from the beaten skins of old deep south dirty blues, DIY garage music, folk noir and 60's punk and garage spirit. Their sound is like a primal, foot stomping, eye squinting, amped up yet stripped down blend of illegal liquor, with earthy undertones, hints of fruitiness, and subtle infusions of John Lee Hooker, Billy Childish, Link Wray, and the Trashmen. This new and unpredictable creature is then brought to life with their own fuzzed-up experimental style and served with a (friendly) snarl!

• Billy Childish & The Musicians Of The British Empire | See The MBEs on Myspace
  

  With his latest combo, The Musicians of the British Empire, Billy carries on his tradition of home made punk and rhythm and blues, singing odes to Joe Strummer and nodding to The Who, whilst showing the next generation what a real rock ’n’ roll group sounds like. Since his first recordings in the late '70s with the Pop Rivets, Childish has followed a single-minded course under a variety of monikers including the Headcoats, the Milkshakes, the Mighty Caesars and more recently the Buff Medways. Childish hasn't really deviated from his punky Kinks-Who-Bo Diddley-Link Wray formula – but, hey, if it’s good it’s good, if it ain’t broke there’s no need to fix it!

With Dirty Water DJs. FREE entry.

The Stag's Head is at 55 Orsman Road, just off Kingsland Road, near the canal.

• Idiotas | See Los Idiotas on Myspace
  
  These two guys are old friends, having been in Los Estuches, one of the most legendary garage bands in their home town of Valladolid, Spain. Having shared an obsession for vintage rhythm'n'blues, rock'n'roll, garage, blues and punk rock since an early age they decided to make music together again when they found themselves both living in Amsterdam. With releases on the great Slovenly record label you can be assured that this duo has one hell of a garage-rockin' sound with a kick-ass live show!
• Blowouts | See The Blowouts on Myspace
  
  This new four-piece outfit from London like to play fast simple ’77-style punk rock. The kind of punk rock from when it was still more or less just basic rock'n'roll, that rattles along at a cracking pace with a good amount of aggression and energy. This is a bunch of true rock’n’roll guerillas. The guitar sounds like a swarm of killer bees with stingers full of snake venom. And the vocals are pure ragged trouble with a capital "T". A bunch of excitable guys with extremely good taste in real rock'n'roll music they're sure to be building up quite a following very quickly, so make sure you're able to say that you saw them first!

• Masonics | See The Masonics on Myspace
  
  Bruce Brand writes: "The Masonics - a winning combination of Milkshakes, Pop Rivets, Wildebeests, Kaisers, film editors, Micky & Ludellas, Vectors, Headcoats, commercial artists, Kravin "A"s, Auntie Vegetables and landscape gardeners. (Not bad, seeing as there's only three of 'em.)" In short, this is garage rock'n'roll at its finest.
• Dustaphonics | See The Dustaphonics on Myspace
  

  The Dustaphonics offer a pure sound and a unique attitude, mixing the wild blast of the original soul and rhythm’n’blues of the 1950s and ’60s, the positive energy of ’50s rock’n’roll,  the freshness of early-’60s surf-beat, the intensity of garage-rock along with the softer vibe of jazz. And it is all done with a true authentic spirit. From a garage-rock background comes the music of Yvan, along with Bruce (from Thee Headcoats) and John (from the Wildebeests), who are joined by Aina on vocals, whose background is in hip hop and drum and bass, but who is now often compared with the great, raucous sounds of Ike & Tina Turner.

With Dirty Water DJs. FREE entry.

The Stag's Head is at 55 Orsman Road, just off Kingsland Road, near the canal.

• Spivs | See The Spivs on Myspace
  

  One of the most talked about bands you’ve never heard off, oddball rock'n'roll trio The Spivs regurgitate the wild sounds of 50s rock'n'roll, 77 punk and 60s garage with a sound so stripped back and raw that it could even make a whore blush. Often described as sounding like early Cramps meets The Scientists, this is a band that is a must see for anyone, anywhere in the world, who thinks they dig real rock'n'roll music!

• Yes Boys! | See Yes Boys on Myspace
  
  A review: "Yes boys! They say their influences are the Kinks, and I believe them, they have that same kind of pace, fast but not rushed, like walking in the park and suddenly being attacked by ninjas. A kind of sedation but without the groggy high, Yes Boys mix a classic rock'n'roll sound with a more pop and punk vibe that represents the new generation. I’m not certain, but I think Yes Boys supported Marty McFly at the prom, when he famously played Johnny B. Goode, that isn’t a fact I just think that that would be one hell of a line up. This is a new band that has all the traits and styles of an old classic."

Tickets can be bought from Rounder Records, Resident and Punker Bunker (all in Brighton) £5 adv + bf.

• Priscillas | See The Priscillas online
  
  The Priscillas’ sound is timeless yet effortlessly of its time. Ambitious yet instantly catchy. Fun yet deeply affecting. Already slated to be future cult heroines, their true time is now. You’ve always known that the all-girl, London-based foursome have their punk side. But as upcoming album Holloway Or Bust!? proves, there’s much, much more to them. It’s a glittering, Technicolor jukebox where every song is a number one in heaven. Everything you want and need from a great album is here in gigantic, heaped shovelfuls - climactic rock, sassy roll, bubblegum pop, heartbreaking showstoppers, brain-melting mariachi, and glam rock stomp.
• Exciters | See Thee Exciters on Myspace
  

  "Conforming to the rule that any band who spell 'The' with two 'e's will always be beer-soaked garage rockers (see also: Thee Headcoats, Thee Shams), the second single from Thee Exciters comprises four songs, each more beer-soaked and garage-rockin' than the last. Fittingly for a band whose singer has a reputation for on-stage nudity, the likes of "Ugly Face" and "Things Ain't Right" are the kind of songs that in the unlikely event that they woke up one morning as dogs would be muzzled, or at the very least made to wear one of those funny plastic cones around their heads to stop them chewing their own balls. An oblique recommendation, yes, but we're standing by it." - NME

  The album "Spending Cash, Talking Trash" is out now on Dirty Water Records.

• Misbegotten | See The Misbegotten on Myspace
  

  The Misbegotten are 4 bastard-born guys drawn together from far-flung places, each sharing a common passion for the seedy buzz of rock ‘n’ roll, the lonesome call of the old Country, and the whisky-soaked wail of porch-sung Blues. The band strive toward a sound that’s drenched in the desperation and isolation of Hank Williams, Jeffrey Lee Pierce, David McComb, and the gothic sound of the 12 bars.

• Exciters | See Thee Exciters on Myspace
  

  "Conforming to the rule that any band who spell 'The' with two 'e's will always be beer-soaked garage rockers (see also: Thee Headcoats, Thee Shams), the second single from Thee Exciters comprises four songs, each more beer-soaked and garage-rockin' than the last. Fittingly for a band whose singer has a reputation for on-stage nudity, the likes of "Ugly Face" and "Things Ain't Right" are the kind of songs that in the unlikely event that they woke up one morning as dogs would be muzzled, or at the very least made to wear one of those funny plastic cones around their heads to stop them chewing their own balls. An oblique recommendation, yes, but we're standing by it." - NME

  The album "Spending Cash, Talking Trash" is out now on Dirty Water Records.

• David Peter and The Wilde Sect | See David Peter on Myspace
  
  This quartet comes fresh out of the Copenhagen underground. Their mission? To teach the youngsters of today about music with a soul - a very desperate teenage soul that is. David Peter and the boys are tired of pop charts, and tired of the misuse of words such as r&b, beat and ravers of today. With a love for danish beat and 'pigtråd', these four boys bring it down to a very raw and energetic act, that will make the teens dance and shout! With influences taking in the likes of The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Kinks, The Downliners Sect, The Shadows of Knight, The Outsiders, The Lions, The Namelosers, The Defenders, Les Rivals, Bo Diddley, The Gories, The Monks, this is REAL dance music!
• Mutagénicos | See Mutagénicos on Myspace
  
  Loa Mutagénicos will be your newest favorite group in the current music scene. They will cause they will move your hips with their wild SURFING sound and they will make you jump around and shake your head to their wild GARAGE beats! They are forsaking their favoured past time of being chatted up by the girls on the sunny beach of the Ebro to come to London for you. But these young men are a lot more than five pretty faces: they are the new sensation that will free you from your boredom with of boring music. If you need them only have to shout: “KAZOONGAAAAA!”