Hackfest #8

Back at The Electric for another year after our surprisingly good reaction from the management last year, and another pleasing mix up of a bill. We only lost the one band from the bill, as InVain briefly split up and forgot to tell us. But we had a perfect replacement on the cards. So who brought the noise this time?

We wanted to begin with a bang, so who better to ask than Bristol chaos punks-on-the-up Hitmarka. In Charlie they've got one of the most engaging and entertaining front men in the business, so we're glad we got 'em early while we can still afford them!

In second were the self-proclaimed worst band on the planet, the North West's least good punk act Blackpoo. Living up to their name, the feedback shrieked, the equipment stopped working, and they were throughly hilarious. We're still not entirely sure if they were meant to be, mind, but we had a fabulous time.

Stepping in at the last minute to replace the errant InVain were those intense grind monsters from Trowbridge, Dystopian Dread. Proper high speed power noise from masters of their art.

We don't think there's a human alive who doesn't see Bristol's Bozos for the first time and instantly fall in love with their charging stoner punk. Them boys got the feet tapping and the heads nodding from front to back.

Next up were Bath's very own power pop bovver rock masters Quick Romance. They got tunes, hooks, and some killer choruses. Expect to see them bagging some pretty decent supports soon!

We wouldn't normally show a pic of Hacksaw, as I'm sure you're sick of the sight of us by now. But when there's a shot of our George leading a conga through the room, then you good people really have to see it. Thanks to Owen Davies for the excellent shot!

Party time really started to kick in with the glorious psycho surf stylings of The Sinictones. There's punk, there's rock'n'roll, there's the twangiest surf and there's pure steaming sexy throughout. Proper stuff!

And finishing off a quite splendid night were those dayglo veterans of proper old school anarcho Rubella Ballet. What a show they gave us. Zilla, Sid and Emily were down to a three-piece, but we reckon they sound a lot more hardcore with the drum machine. What an excellent way to end the night!

Big love also to DJ Panter, who we managed to get into the same room this year, and for the most excellent staff and crew at The Electric, who still aren't sick of our shizz!

We're all set for Hackfest #9 at The Electric Bar on Bank Holiday Monday 28th December, 2026, so put the date in your diaries and await line up announcements imminently!