Overview

Held for the first time, this is a festival tribute to the one and only Joe Strummer, organised by fans for the fans. The sun is trying to shine and it hasn’t rained yet, a good sign for the North. To be on the safe side the stages are under two marquees. Packed onto the two-day bill are punk bands old and new, with many a Clash cover band trying to bring back the sounds of one of the seminal British punk bands.

Kings of the Delmar take to the stage first to play melodic punk to the people who had their tents sorted out and a beer at the ready. First Clash cover band of the weekend is Cheapskates from Manchester, with a singer who looks a bit like Joe if you tilt your head and squint. The Negatives play fast and aggressive punk, including a song about the ‘Black Panther’, a murderer from their hometown of Bradford.

One of the best and most original acts of the weekend is Brighton’s Attila the Stockbroker, as strange as the name suggests. A punk rock poet and singer/songwriter, this bloke rants and rhymes comically and truthfully about spam emails, celebrities, a table Guy Falwkes sat at in Knaresborough and the foulest sleeping bag you’ve ever heard of, plus dogs bollocks and a pub called the “Ducks Nuts”. Hilarious.

Tracey Curtis is the only female solo performer to grace the stage all weekend, and sings sweet songs about a letter to John Peel and a song for her daughter. Night of Treason are a punk cover band, with songs played accurately by the Ramones (‘Blitzkrieg Bop’), The Damned (‘Smash It Up’) and the Sex Pistols (‘Pretty Vacant’).

USA’s finest peace poet David Rovics is a little late but moves the otherwise hard crowd with a folk song about the New Orleans disaster. Another Dave called Sharp from 80’s band The Alarm proves a big hit with his harmonica twinged folk acoustic set.

Another Clash cover band by the name of Take the 5th, so-called after the Clash’s US tour. ‘I fought the Law’ is a big hit for the slightly sozzled crowd. A guy now who is not on the list but should be. The talented Rory McLeod can play guitar, harmonica, kick board and the spoons with ease and conviction, and the catchy ‘London Kisses’ with it’s humming/vocals would have been could if he had not have dragged it out to stay on the stage.

This shortens Neck’s set to half an hour. The energetic Irish/London band play raucous folk punk rock to the now - it’s far to say – drunk audience. The Beat headline the Saturday night with the first set containing reggae and ska, with a father and son on vocals. The tent is packed, especially to their hit cover of Smokey Robinson’s ‘Tears of a Clown’, and other tracks ‘Monkey Murders and of course ‘Rock the Casbah’.

Sunday rolls in (quickly for some), another cloudy but dry day. The Infidels and ska band The Uplifters try to help with the hangovers, before a poor effort by Doktor Mandrake, a local band who would benefit by tuning in their instruments, and trying to achieve the punk sound properly.

Reemer are in contrast a young band with talent preceding their years. Though not very punk, more emo in fact, they can play their soft rock excellently, especially the guitar player, even tough he looks a little too enthusiastic.

A different cover band in the guise of Havana A Go Go, a Ramones tribute, including an alien with a banner saying “Gabba Gabba Hey!” and singing classics like ‘Sheena is a Punk Rocker’.

Sunday’s original act was the wonderfully high pitched Daniel Orlick, with his aviators and vertically suspended plaits. A self-confessed “Rasta Imposta” this Californian had very comical short songs, some reggae influenced, prompting a cover of The Clash’s ‘Bankrobber’.

The amount of trilbys present is astounding, and the crowd, though looking as hard as nails, cause no bother all weekend. The beer is reduced to £2 a can (you can not bring your own in, as the rugby club are staging the event for free and therefore try to recoup with the bar) and food is two for one. How’s that for festival prices?

The trilby wearing Lips Akimbo play fast punk, with their one political track ‘Enemy Lines’ having a riff like Silverchair’s ‘Israel’s Son’. The Hyperjax use a double bass with great effect to produce some ‘old skool’ punk, and a cover of ‘English Civil War’

More covers on the way from Combat Rock, named after the 1982 album containing gems like ‘Rock the Casbah’, ‘Should I Stay’ amongst others. ‘London Calling’, ‘Bankrobber and ‘Train In Vain’ mke the pissed (again) crowd get out the air guitars.

70’s stars The Vibrators with their vacant stares play ‘Automatic Lover’ and dedicate ‘Baby Baby’ to Joe, not the first dedication of the weekend but a memorable one. Hull’s The Paddingtons look but do not sound like an indie band, and play a decent cover of The Vaselines ‘Molly’s Lips’.

Of a line up of mostly energetic bands Goldblade have to be the most exhausting to watch. Featuring an ex-member of The Membranes the barrier is removed to bridge the gap and they have the crowd get on the stage. The shout-a-long ‘Psycho’ is played twice and there is a “Kiss my arse” to Tomy Blair. At the end of the set three kids were allowed to play the drums, and the anarchic show was the highlight for many.

Headliner for the Sunday is Neville Staple, formally of The Specials. He dedicates the set to Joe and the late Desmond Dekker. The mix of reggae and ska relax the worked up crowd, but also relaxes the clouds as the rain starts to pour. Songs include ‘Donkey Jungle’ and the brilliant ‘Ghost Town’.

The last song over the PA is ‘Redemption Song’ sang by Joe, who would have been proud to have such a successful and non-commercial event in his name. Long live Strummercamp!

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