The Punk Archive:So, the line-up is complete. Are you happy with it?
Mick: Yes that’s it for the line up. Overall, we are pleased, yes... Sixty cracking bands over three days. We have tried a few new things and have hopefully kept true to what was special about 2013.
The Punk Archive: Was it hard securing such a huge amount of bands? What was the most challenging aspect of sorting the line-up?
Mick: Was the line up challenging? Yes, and then
some! We consciously decided to get the strongest possible line up together in the shortest possible time. What threw us a bit was that we decided to announce an online application process and reserved about 20 spaces for bands applying online. The way we picked bands for 2013 was rushed as we had less time than 2014 to get it all sorted and we know we missed out on some good bands last year and we thought let’s put out the net and see what bands come on board especially those we were not necessarily aware of.
That was the idea, so in November 2013 we asked bands and musicians to apply online, but we had to shut it within 8 days. In those 8 days, 211 bands applied which was crazy! If we hadn't closed it we would not have had the chance to listen to every band properly and give their application careful consideration.
With the rest of the line up, we asked for and eventually we got. We asked some bands, and they did not bother replying: one was an agent we used last year for a couple of bands. His bands are now less than pleased on finding out we could not get a reply. The bands we have, though, more than make up for this.
The most challenging aspect was certain agents playing games. As if we would fall for that crap!
Louise Distras onstage at Undercover 2013
The Punk Archive: Are there any bands in particular you are most looking forward to seeing yourself, any you'll definitely be down the front for?
Mick: There are a lot of bands I would travel a long way to see. One or two bands may not be my personal cup of tea but they are still cracking bands to be enjoyed for their art all the same.
If I was not working at the festival I would be at the front of both stages all 3 days, such is our belief in the bands we have booked. There are many fairly unknown but brilliant bands that we think will be big soon and we are really pleased to have them on board as well.
For me on Friday we have a belting headliner in Gentlemans Dub Club, plus of course we have Chelsea / Dragster / Skurvi / On Trial UK and some cracking local bands from near me. I would never pass up seeing them. Spizzenergi, though, yes I will be down the front big time! The man is a living legend, very unusual and a consummate show man and has to be seen, and the band are tight as fuck and then some... but we also have Roddy Radiation and the band, and anyone who writes cracking tunes like Concrete Jungle must not be missed; and we have Noel and the lads from Menace who should not be underestimated.
Saturday, personally for me The Men They Couldn’t Hang have been one of my favourite bands from back in the day and of course Angelic Upstarts as well. I could wax lyrical about all the other bands on the Saturday but best not to!
On Sunday I am really pleased to see Open Sore on Stage II , Bob and Shaun and the guys are cracking fellas. We would have had Open Sore as part of the general line up but bearing in mind they were there when punk started with the Roxy and they are on their way back, and the fact that they are fairly local (from Slough), we felt it was fitting to give them the last slot on Stage II.
The Punk Archive: What was the idea behind having multiple headliners?
Mick: On the Friday we have Gentlemans Dub Club (for us older folks think Dreadzone but younger with a twist) these guys have been there and packing venues so we feel we are in for a treat and their agent is great to work with.
A lot of agents were taking the piss and some of the money being asked was ridiculous especially as we are a small festival, and if we paid what they were asking ticket prices would have gone through the roof which is really not what we're about. Some could not get that into their heads and said festival prices are festival prices, so we were getting quoted the same as large festivals, but hey if that’s their game we were having none of it.
Some agents doubled their price from the quotes they gave us for 2013, so they were also taking the piss they were ignored.
We have dealt with some agents who are a pleasure to work with others have been really unhelpful and they are not helping the bands at all.
On the Saturday we have gone for “The Big Four” as the prices and requirement of other named bands was too much for us to take on, so we decided to forget those agents and speak to a number of bands and put them all together as a joint headlining package. Why have the bands been ordered the way they have, there is no reason really as they are all given equal billing...
Angelic Upstarts - As said before one of my all time favourite bands; as it happens they are the favourites of Hillsy (Mick's partner in running Undercover Festival) so we were at one on that; and we are in for a lively treat.
Spear Of Destiny – we are pretty chuffed to have these guys on board; thanks to my mate Liam who works with the band for sorting this; I defy anyone to raise an eyebrow at this band and say that is a pretty impressive booking. They were huge around here back in the day and by all accounts they are on top form these days.
Penetration – like the Upstarts also from the North East with a catalogue of belters from the punk era that are a mouth watering prospect for us to all enjoy. I saw them a year or so ago in Kingston and they were one of the highlights of the year for me. Look out people Penetration will be on stage big time!
The Men They Couldn’t Hang – this is their 20th anniversary and the songs they did back in the day are still relevant today to my generation and hopefully today’s younger generation. I say listen to this band and take inspiration, find out what they are singing about and you won’t go wrong.
But before that is an incredibly strong line up that has that wow factor on it's own!
Sunday: we have The Dualers, who are a band I didn't know much about, about but my partner in Undercover Hillsy insisted on them, which was a great call! I saw them the other day and was blown away. These guys were brilliant, and I am a definite convert to all things The Dualers! If anyone is in doubt about them don’t worry they will be a perfect end to the weekend.
And the line up that day is a line up pretty similar to Saturday's one: when you look at it, there are a fair few wow bands and all for just £25 in advance...!
The Punk Archive: What was the most satisfying thing about last year's festival, and what are your hopes from this year's?
Mick: Satisfying about last year was the buzz, and that we had no trouble. As well as this, the bands were great and everyone was walking around the place with a smile on their face. What I found really satisfying is that we introduced loads of young bands to a wider public, which we are also hoping to do again this year. Some we have brought back and a few we were unable to bring back due to the need to keep the festival fresh, but this is no reflection on them because every band that played 2013 played a belter – I would have loved to have been able to bring every band back from 2013 but we simply do not have the space.
Hopes for this year are that we keep the buzz that was special about 2013 and that everyone is talks about 2014 like they are now about 2013!
Last year like this year we had 2 stages and both seemed to work really well. We have changed this a bit and you will see more of the “established” bands playing on Stage II as well and some of the newer bands will be playing on the main stage so as to “share the experience”.
Tickets for Undercover Festival are available now from undercoverfest.com
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