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Punk pioneers headline all-day fundraiser for Gaza
Bristol continues to uphold its longstanding tradition of music as a vehicle for direct action.
Stoke Croft’s cooperatively run Cafe Kino will transform from a peaceful vegan café into a blistering, eight-band sonic assault for the Benefit for Gaza – Anarcho Punk All-Dayer.
The event, on June 27, will raise vital funds for a Gazan family, combining a heavy-hitting musical lineup with community mutual aid.
Alongside the live sets, the space will host radical information tables, independent zine distros, and artist merch stalls, making it as much a community hub as a punk show.
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For a venue with a tight 75-capacity the lineup is remarkably expansive, bridging the gap between first-wave West Country punk legends and the city’s newest DIY acts.
The all-dayer, running from 3-11pm, leans heavily into subcultural heritage. Headlining the local contingent is St Paul’s icon Rita Lynch.
Frequently described as a riot-grrrl rock ‘n’ roll banshee, Lynch’s visceral, razor-sharp guitar anthems have been a staple of the Bristol underground for decades, earning her the reputation of being a cited influence by the likes of PJ Harvey.
Joining her are Social Security, genuine originals of the late-70s West Country punk explosion.
Originally signed to Bristol’s legendary Heartbeat Records, the band famously caught the ear of John Peel during the genre’s formative years and continue to bring a raw, historic edge to the stage.
The bill balances vintage anarcho-punk from the likes of Virus and Wolverhampton-based Contempt, both carrying the political blueprint of bands like Crass and the Mob, with fresher names on the local circuit.
For a shift in texture, Bristol duo Hermeticus will provide a break from traditional punk chord structures, filtering heavy industrial drone and dual-guitar soundscapes over severe, tribal rhythms to create an immersive wall of sound.
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Shoving eight loud, politically-charged bands into a subterranean community space is exactly the kind of grassroots organizing that defines Bristol’s counter-culture.
With an eight-hour runtime and a relentless rotation of artists, the gig promises to showcase the enduring strength of the city’s independent music network.
The gig takes place on June 27 at Cafe Kino. All information and tickets at headfirstbristol.co.uk/whats-on/cafe-kino/sat-27-jun-benefit-for-gaza-8-banddj-anarcho-punk-all-dayer
Main image: Social Security
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