Showcasing some of the most established acts our scene has to offer, as well as providing a platform for a shed-ton of emerging talent, the last weekend of April is sure to be one of of the biggest parties of the year. The Venue in Selby is set to host the Pop Punk Pile-Up Festival, taking place on the 27th, 28th and 29th April 2018.
With over 50 bands crammed in across the weekend, you’re bound to get your money’s worth with the amount on offer. That being said, here’s 12 bands you need to check out if you’re attending.
Friday:
Sticking out like a sore thumb on the lineup, Blood Youth have been smashing the underground hardcore scene to bits with latest record Beyond Repair. Packing more punch than the entire bill put together, they do well to complement this with lighter moments and brilliant choruses too.
Formed in Italy, Outta Peak moved to the fine city of Sheffield to further pursue their careers in music. I’ve heard of US bands going from East Coast to West, but Italy to Sheffield? Madness. Thankfully, they play Pop-Punk how it should be played. Clean vocals, crushing instrumentation. Surprise band of the weekend on the cards here.
One of the smaller bands on the bill, I discovered This Time Last Year from being pissed and watching YouTube vlogs on Download Festival. Yeah, those rabbit holes take you to some odd places, but what I got with TTLY was a solid Leeds based Pop Punk band with superb hooks and genuine grit.
The best thing to come out of Barnsley in well, ever. Frank Grimes and The Disasters make some of the best dirty skate punk to come out of the UK since Gnarwolves broke a few years back. Do a fucking stage dive.
Saturday:
An interesting one since all the headlines lately have been around vocalist Mikey’s departure. Regardless, Mallory Knox have wasted absolutely no time in bouncing back. Already selling out dates on their comeback UK tour, their headline set in Selby looks sure to be a returning victory lap for one of Rock’s finest.
Cambridge Pop Punks A Few Too Many have been around for almost a decade. Fuck me. After releasing their new EP in August 2017, the band are also in the process of recording another EP, ‘Solid Ground’, due for release in the summer. For that level of hard work they deserve your attention.
If you’ve been won over by the wave of success the likes of Dream State and Skarlett Riot are seeing of late, Altered Sky might be your new favourite band. Scottish rockers with choruses built for festival mainstages. With debut record Without Wonderland dropping in 2015, new music could also be on the horizon.
A band built for beers. With more snot than, errr, a snotty child. London punks The Bottom Line affirm their sub-headline slot with the solid reputation they’ve gathered over the past couple of years, supported by latest EP I Still Hate You. Probably the funnest band of the weekend.
Sunday:
Millie Manders & The Shutup offer ska-punk that crosses quite literally every other subgenre of rock you could imagine. Oh, and I’m a slave for horn sections in bands. Really something different on the lineup, and for that they’re well worth a listen.
Stripped back punk with bags of folk rock elements. Imagine a fired up, female counterpart to Frank Turner, and that’s Louise Distras in a nutshell. Shamefully one of the UK’s best kept secrets, you could literally put her on any festival bill and she’d win you over. By far and away my act to watch across the entire weekend. Don’t miss.
Shameless plug, how can I cover this festival without highlighting Alt-Rock newbies Everything to Nothing, hailing from my hometown in Hull. Don’t dismiss the fact that they formed in December 2017, as various members have cut their teeth in acts for the best part of a decade, bringing Taking Back Sunday vibes to your ears.
And finally, closing the festival are UK favourites The King Blues, blending the best elements of rap, punk and ska to bring a perfect close to the festival. Armed with latest record The Gospel Truth, one of London’s finest are back with a point to prove.
Pop Punk Pile-Up will take place across April 27th, 28th and 29th 2018 at The Venue, Selby. Limited tickets are available here, grab them while you can!
After parties will also be taking place after each night, hosted by Alex Baker (Kerrang! Radio), MC LARS and Koo Koo Kanga Roo.
Be sure to check out the event page here, as well as keeping up to date with the festival Twitter and Facebook pages.
