THE HOTKNIVES + THE HILLMANS + GOON SQUAD + THE RAMONAS + DJ GREMLIN – B.O.A.T, HOVE 27.5.18
What a terrific idea it was to hold a ‘Punks Picnic’ at Brighton Open Air Theatre (BOAT) located in Dyke Road Park, Brighton & Hove on Bank Holiday Sunday.
The weather was simply perfect. It was an event for the whole family with people aged from 2 to 72 years old in attendance. The young kiddies that went were all running around the ‘artificial pitch’ of BOAT with abandonment, just like a junior moshpit.
They had four decent bands on the case too, who kindly donated their services for free.
The organisers proudly announced that the event had successfully raised £2500 for the disadvantaged children of Whitehawk and Moulsecoomb through the Mondays Child UK charity.
Since its opening in 2015, the 425 capacity BOAT has gone from strength to strength and is now well established as part of Brighton and Hove’s cultural landscape. Now in its fourth year, it’s the first time that BOAT has hosted an event like the ‘Punks Picnic’. I feel that this certainly has the potential to become an annual event instead of just an isolated event. I am sure that everyone present is thinking along the same lines as there was a friendly chilled atmosphere, whereby everyone of all ages was just getting on and enjoying themselves and the talented musical acts.
As it is an outside venue, BOAT is open annually from 1st May through to 30th September and has an artistic policy of open access and hosts a huge range of events including Theatre, Music, Comedy, Family and Special Events and Private Occasions.
BOAT is located in Dyke Road Park, Dyke Road, Brighton & Hove BN3 6EH and to find out more visit here http://www.brightonopenairtheatre.co.uk/
I feel that it is only fair to inform you about the four bands that took part from 1pm to 6pm as they were appearing for free. They were:
The Ramonas – The UK’s all-female tribute to the iconic New York punk rock band Ramones. Since 2016 The Ramonas, who are Brighton and Milton Keynes based, also write and release their own material themselves.
‘Punks Picnic’ saw the girls, Cloey Ramona (vocals), Rohnny Ramona (guitar), Pee Pee Ramona (bass) and Cammy Ramona (drums) play a blistering 40 minute set of tracks from their excellent debut album ‘First World Problems’ along with several cherished Ramones classic Gabba! Gabba! Hey! hits!
You can purchase The Ramonas LP ‘First World Problems’ from here https://ramonas.bigcartel.com/ and find out more here http://www.ramonas.co.uk/ and https://www.facebook.com/ramonasuk/
Goon Squad – This trio were a late addition to the bill and I am glad that they did play their covers set as they certainly picked some obscure gems. They started with a warm-up instrumental and then launched into the Gang Of Four’s ‘Damaged Goods’, ‘Brand New Cadillac’ (a 1959 Vince Taylor original hit made famous by The Clash), ‘Outdoor Miner’ by Wire, Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers ‘One Track Mind’, ‘Bankrobber’ by The Clash, ‘A Bomb In Wardour Street’ by The Jam, ‘In A Rut’ by The Ruts, ‘I Can’t Explain’ by The Who, and finished with ‘(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone’ made famous by The Sex Pistols and The Monkees.
For more info on Goon Squad, click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1542527825813857/about/
The Hillmans – Bob Hillman, Oxide Hillman and CC Hillman are known affectionately as Brighton’s trashiest rockabilly/garage band. They have just released their ‘Taking The Trash Back In’ limited edition 100 copy coloured vinyl album, which is also available in the standard black format.
You can get yours from Trash Wax here.
http://www.trashwax.com/product/pre-order-lp-the-hillmans-taking-the-trash-back-in-ltd-edition
Find out more about the lads here http://www.thehillmans.net/ and here https://www.facebook.com/TheHillmans/
The Hotknives – These lads are two-tones ska legends based in Brighton and Horsham and consist of Marc Carew (bass and lead vocals), Stuart Brown (guitar and backing vocals), Richard (‘Bosky’) Allen (keyboards and lead/backing vocals) and Nigel (‘Clem’) Clements (drums and backing vocals).
Find out more here: https://www.facebook.com/THE-HOTKNIVES-56095767169/
DJ Gremlin – Holding the event together was Hove’s very own DJ Gremlin, who was happy to blast out everyone’s punk faves from new boys on the block Slaves, to the forgotten Barracudas to the sadly missed X-Ray Spex and even crossing over to Motorhead’s ‘Overkill’. Great choices of music my man.
Roll on ‘Punks Picnic’ 2019 – hint, hint!!!!!
