Victorian elegance meets raw punk energy over two relentless days!
Perched above the South Bay, Scarborough Spa might wear its Victorian bones proudly, but this place has seen it all. Built on spa water and polite promenade concerts, it didn’t take long before the music got louder, evolving into a venue that’s hosted everything from orchestras to full-tilt touring bands. The ghosts of the old Spa Orchestra still hang in the air, but tonight it’s less deckchairs and dainty waltzes, more sweat, volume and bodies pressed to the front. There’s something special about that clash, history rubbing up against raw noise, and it gives every gig here an added edge.
Back in Scarborough again, and it never really feels like just another gig. There’s something in it for me, always has been. Seaside air, childhood memories of fish ‘n’ chips, sand in your shoes and amusement arcades, now it’s leather jackets, patched denim, mohicans, and a weekend that’s built for noise. Scarborough Punk Festival is five years in now, and this is my fourth on the bounce. It’s grown, but it hasn’t lost its grafted, DIY heart. Sixteen bands across two days, no filler, no nonsense. My favourite festival, well run, dead friendly, great line ups and a stunning venue. The crowd here knows what they’re about. No tourists drifting in for a look. This is a proper punk crowd. You’ve got the veterans who’ve been doing this for decades, studs and stories to match. Younger faces too, just as fired up, just as committed. There’s respect in it. Bit of shoving, bit of chaos, but it’s all part of it. You go down; you’re picked up. Always.
Between bands it’s the usual circuit. Grab a beer, Quick nods turn into conversations. Catching up with faces I’ve seen up and down the country. Recalling last gigs, missed gigs, ones coming up. There’s a sense of community here that never feels forced. It just exists. You’re part of it or you’re not, and if you keep turning up, you’re in.
From the balcony you really see how much this place works for a festival like this. The old architecture doesn’t soften the night, it sharpens it. That big room sound bouncing off the walls, the stage framed like something far more formal than what’s actually happening on it. It shouldn’t work, but it absolutely does. I’m straight in the pit for the first three songs, as always. You feel it before you hear it properly, that low-end rumble building through the floor. First chords hit and it’s on. No easing into it, no gentle warm-up. Just straight into the thick of it.
Day one
at the Scarborough Punk Festival opened exactly how it should: early, loud, and already half-packed with people who clearly knew there was no point easing into it. Yur Mum got things moving first, the Brazil-rooted two-piece rewarded the early risers and cleared out the tubes of any lingering sleep with a sharp, rhythmic blast of energy. A proper opener that set the tone without hanging around long enough to overthink it.
Next up, Crashed Out, the Geordie stalwarts active since 1995, kept the momentum rolling with that familiar, no-nonsense drive. Solid, direct, and built for rooms like this.
Riskee and the Ridicule brought something a bit more hybrid and sharper edged. Scott commanded the stage with a blend of punk, grime and rap that felt fully locked in, high energy from start to finish. One of the standout sets of the day, no question, the kind that reminds you why you’re there with a camera in the first place.
Then came Hung Like Hanratty, fronted by the unmistakably named Al Sation, a lovely bloke who has been around the punk block a few times yet still has time for everyone. HLH produced a performance packed with props, chaos, and crowd interaction. There’s always a carnival feel to them, part gig, part spectacle, and the audience were well into it judging by the sea of Hung Like Hanratty T-shirts scattered through the crowd. Brilliantly unhinged as ever, although definitely not one for the easily offended! Probably never has been, probably never will be.
The Good, The Bad and The Zugly were a first-time catch for me, and a very welcome one. The Norwegian outfit, driven by the presence of Ivar Nikolaisen, delivered a sharp, confident set that clearly carried weight back home and now looks set to carry more here too. Tight, fast, and fully committed. I would like to see more!
Booze & Glory followed with a big international street-punk sound and a crowd that instantly responded. Plenty of bouncing, plenty of shouting back, and a set that did exactly what it was supposed to do without overcomplicating anything.
Then the room shifted up another gear for The Selecter. These Ska legends are still led by the iconic Pauline Black, with Aitch on drums. They brought colour, bounce and pure release. ‘Too Much Pressure’, ‘On My Radio’ and ‘Three Minute Hero’ landed exactly as they should, the entire room turning into one moving, skanking mass. A reminder of just how powerful this music still is when it’s delivered like that.
The Casualties closed out the main run of the day with their hard-hitting New York punk energy, led by Jorge Herrera. No easing in, no winding down, just full-force delivery. ‘We Are All We Have’ and ‘Punk Rock Love’ hit hardest, the crowd taking every bit of it and throwing it straight back. It’s great to have them here, touring their recent album release ‘Detonate‘.
By the time I step outside for air, ears ringing, camera heavy around my neck, I realise it’s flown. That’s always the sign. Good line-ups come and go, but weekends like this stick. Maybe it’s the setting, maybe it’s the people, maybe it’s just the volume. Probably all of it. And tomorrow, we go again…
Day two
came in heavier, looser, and louder in all the right ways. No easing in, no polite warm-up, just a full-on dive back into the chaos with a lineup that blended legacy, grit plus a few welcome curveballs that kept things from ever settling too comfortably.
The Chaos 8 Sunderland punk quintet, fronted with real command by Beki Straughan, absolutely owned the stage from the off. Dark, atmospheric edges running through it all, a punk-gothy undertow that felt refreshing rather than retro. One of those sets that makes you want to go back and dig deeper. This band is well worth tracking down.
Voodoo Radio gave a more stripped-back performance – just a father on guitar and a daughter who fronted on the drums, as they were at Rebellion Festival last year. Big hooks, plenty of interaction to work the crowd, lots of energy and highly engaging.
Then Menace dragged things back into the gutter in the best possible way! No frills, no messing about, just proper old school punk hammered out in the way it’s meant to be. ‘Screwed up’ still hits like it should, and the place responded accordingly, bodies moving and a bit more bite back in the room after the glam swing of Voodoo Radio. Regular guitarist Pete was unavailable, so Leigh Heggarty from Ruts DC stepped in on axe duties!
Next up Chelsea with an immediate curveball – no Gene October on stage, but Mat and James stepping up and more than holding their own. Vocals shared, graft over glamour, and it worked. Once the crowd locked in, it stopped being about who wasn’t there. ‘Right to Work’ still hit hard, maybe even harder for the rawness of it.
Instigators brought their Leeds anarcho roots and early-80s political edge, but what stood out was how evolved they’ve become. Less rigid, more structured hardcore, still driven by intent but with more space and shape than the early days.
Then a proper moment: UK Subs, with legend Charlie Harper getting a hero’s welcome. Time before and after for fans, as always. He’s 81 years old and still doing it, still moving, still delivering. There’s history there of course, but it never feels like a museum piece. ‘Warhead’ went down a storm. Being in the pit, as always, felt like a real privilege.
Anti-Nowhere League followed, fronted by Animal, pure attitude from the first second. ‘So What’ did exactly what it always does, half the crowd shouting it like they’d been saving it up all weekend. On a bill like this it landed perfectly, no compromise, no soft edges, just a formula that still cuts through and goes down a storm with their dedicated fanbase and beyond.
And finally, Sham 69 closed it out with Jimmy Pursey still pacing, scowling, and stirring the pot like only he can, throwing water, pushing the crowd, and pulling out full-on chaos in the best sense! Crowd surfing, mosh pits spiraling, and singalongs everywhere. ‘If the Kids Are United’, ‘Hurry Up Harry’ and ‘Borstal Breakout’ all landed huge, with the crowd’s voices carrying most of the weight in the end. It was pure theatre, absolutely brilliant, and one of my many highlights of the weekend.
A proper finish! Happy punters spilling out still singing “…we’re going down the pub”. A big shout out to everyone behind the Scarborough Punk Festival weekend, especially Andy and Gary, keep the winning formula going! If you’ve never been, go next year – you’ll get it the moment it kicks off.
SCARBOROUGH PUNK FESTIVAL 2026 LINEUP:
Saturday, March 28th:
The Casualties
The Selecter
Booze & Glory
The Good The Bad and The Zugly
Hung Like Hanratty
Riskee & The Ridicule
Crashed Out
Yur Mum
Sunday, March 29th:
Sham 69
Anti-Nowhere League
UK Subs
Instigators
Chelsea
Menace
Voodoo Radio
Chaos 8
Main Photo Credit/All Photos: PHIL THORNS
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