Line ups and final running orders have been announced for this year’s Camden Rocks festival which takes place on June 1-2.
More than 400 bands will be performing in 20 venues across the North London borough during the event, which celebrates Camden’s long running support for live music.
Big selling folk punker Frank Turner is Saturday’s headliner, due on stage at the Electric Ballroom at 8.45pm.
But he’ll be facing stiff competition from Sex Pistol Glen Matlock who plays the festival’s Fireball stage at 9.45pm, with longtime David Bowie sideman Earl Slick on guitar.
Alt-rockers Deaf Havana are Sunday’s top act, performing in the Ballroom from 9pm, with Northern Irish indie veterans Ash (7pm) and up and coming hip hop indie/rapper Rat Boy (5.15pm) in support.
For those who can’t wait, Deaf Havana will also be performing an intimate warm up show at Dr Marten’s Boot Room at 5pm. You can win tickets to this special gig in a ballot from the Camden Rocks website.
There’s a very strong line-up at The Underworld on Saturday, with No Rest rockers New Model Army headlining from 8.45pm.
Support comes from South Shields political punks Angelic Upstarts (6.45pm) and The Professionals, featuring Sex Pistols‘ drummer Paul Cook (5.15pm).
Wheatus, of Teenage Dirtbag fame, warm up for Frank Turner at The Ballroom from 7pm, while Leeds indie rockers The Pigeon Detectives perform twice, appearing at the Boot Room at 5.45pm, before headlining at Dingwalls at 9pm.
Fast-rising Yorkshire proto-punk trio The Blinders come in as a late replacement for Welsh rockers Pretty Vicious in the 7.30pm slot at Dingwalls, on Saturday.
There’s a nostalgic air to proceedings at The Underworld on the Sunday, with ’80s Eight Legged Groove Machine The Wonder Stuff headlining at 9pm, with Ruts DC getting Babylon Burning in support from 7pm.
Libertines‘ Carl Barat takes the stage at Dingwalls from 8pm on Sunday, followed by sea shanty loving folk-punk quintet Skinny Lister (9.30pm).
Now in its eighth year, Camden Rocks, has expanded to two-day event for the first time in its history.
The festival gives emerging acts the chance to share a stage with bona fide alternative, rock, folk and punk legends.
Performances start at noon each day, so there’s plenty of time to unearth a fresh diamond at one of the 20 venues.
You could do worse than check out EP top tip Suzie Stapleton at the Good Mixer from 6pm on Sunday, or for an update on classic ska, catch Sonic Boom Six on the Fireball Stage at 8.15pm.
- Tickets are priced at £40 per person per day, or £70 for the weekend, aftershow tickets are available for an additional £10.
- All schedules may be subject to change. Full informational and tickets from the Camden Rock website here.
