Hackfest #7

 

After last year's venue issues, we were really struggling to find somewhere in Bath to hold the 2024 edition of Hackfest. That is until someone suggested The Electric Bar. The front bar of the Komedia theatre bang in the heart of the city, I'd always considered them a bit too posh for the likes of us. But they jumped at the chance to have us fill in an otherwise dead date and a whole new era of Hackfest was born. Great sound, fabulous lights, and just the right size for a show of our minor magnitude. They even beamed the show into the big theatre round the back that acted as the band room and merch house. Perfect all round.

On top of that, we didn't lose a single act off the bill this year - not even Dead Sheeran this time, which surprised us all! So here we pile straight in to the goodness.

Proof that there's still a future in this old thing we call punk, then Trowbridge, but now Bristol-based crusty kids Skeletal Fragrance let out an almighty punk rock howl. And in Dixie they've got a front man for the ages. Punk is in good hands with lads like these about.

Hot Flab were a delightful flash in the pan band from out Bristol way. Singing about real life shizz, like being a single parent, getting unwanted hassle from men and, erm, pegging, we loved their straight ahead energy and a unique ear for a tune. Sadly they imploded not all that long after - which is a darned shame, because we could definitely see them on the rise!

We'd been wanting to get Planet Strange on the bill for a few years, but after a few line up changes we finally bagged 'em! Proper twangly psychobilly from deepest, dankest Somerset. And you can't beat a big old bit of slap bass! All the splendid!

Wait! What do you mean that Dead Sheeran finally played? We thought that his constant disappearance was a running joke in the annals of Hackfest? But no, the two worlds could finally collide, and we all got thoroughly schooled by one of the finest ranting frontmen in the business. Well worth the wait after what seemed like decades, Ross-on-Wye's angriest man fully slayed us all!

The big find of this year was the quite incredible The Pleasures from deep in the Welsh Valleys. They'd knocked our socks off at Slugfest in the Summer, so we just had to take the risk and get them over the bridge. And boy did they go down a storm. Imagine an angrier, more working class Idles singing about real issues with a deeper layer of hardcore infused in their veins. Only they were better than that. What a band they were!

Hacksaw then did their usual ancient stuff, but nobody wants to see that, obviously!

We were so lucky that Split Dogs agreed to fill the gap they had to vacate last year, seeing that they were bang on the cusp of stepping up to international levels. And boy did they provide everything we'd hoped of them. Proper rock'n'roll punks with the most terrifying singer on the planet. What a wonderful half-hour that was.

And finishing off the night was a band that we'd been trying to coax out of their Cornish bunker for ages, the barnstorming hardcore machine, Rash Decision. We've played with them in many incarnations over the years, but this was one of the best times we've ever seen them. Sadly a few folks had to leave early to get the last bus out of town, but they still ripped and roared through a monstrous set. Thanks for coming all that way, gents!

Once again, DJ Panter played his usual glorious set of songs, and a big thanks must go to all the crew at The Electric Bar, who had massive grins on their faces all night. Looks like we've got ourselves a proper new home! Onwards!