Photo Credit: Andy Davies
Ten years in, and Manchester Punk Festival hasn’t lost an ounce of its spirit. If anything, 2025 felt more alive than ever. Across multiple venues and a constant buzz in the air, the weekend was a celebration — of DIY punk spirit, showing that when people put their minds to something, they can create something truly incredible.
Behind the bands, the messages of solidarity rang loud and clear at MPF. Support for a Free Palestine echoed throughout the weekend, with countless artists using their sets to speak out. There was also overwhelming love and respect shown for the trans community. Let’s be honest — no punk space is ever 100% safe — but the MPF crew clearly put in serious work behind the scenes to make this festival as inclusive, welcoming, and affirming as possible. That work deserves recognition — and hopefully acts as inspiration for anyone at MPF thinking of putting on their own gigs or festivals.
Friday
And we’re off! We’re in The Union, and it’s crazy to think that this reviewer last saw Vanilla Pod a whopping 25 years ago! But here we are watching them once again — full of energy, full of enthusiasm, and full of smiles for the heroes’ welcome they received from the Manchester crowd. It’s slick, infectious, and a very welcome blast from the past — the perfect start to our weekend.
We took ourselves over to The Bread Shed next for Eastfield — a gentle way to break ourselves in to the carnage that would follow. Their “punk rock railways” shtick is as charming as it is peculiar, but there’s something comforting about kicking off with a band who’ve been doing their own thing for decades without compromise.
Sticking around in what’s probably our favourite MPF venue, Perp Walk wasted no time turning the place inside out. Their Ceremony-style hardcore has been sweeping through the UK scene, and it’s not hard to see why. It’s raw, it’s urgent, and it’s got heart. Frontman Paul is a whirlwind — leaping, shouting, never still — a proper menace in the best way. A leaky ceiling mid-set couldn’t even slow them down (shout out to venue staff who fixed it on the fly). Easily one of the standout sets of the weekend.
Hard Skin followed with their legendary blend of Oi anthems and piss-taking between songs. Equal parts pantomime and working-class rage, they’re the perfect band to sink a pint to and sing along at the top of your lungs. Having a few hundred punks shouting “We are the wankers” in unison is a sight to behold. It also has to be said that the band gave some of the best onstage banter heard all weekend. If Hard Skin ever decide to call it a day, we’re sure there are plenty of punks who will go see them do a bit of stand-up!
It was hardcore for us next, and London’s False Reality proved just that. The dancefloor of The Bread Shed erupted as the band provided the perfect backdrop. Fresh off a UK tour with metal giants Heriot, the confidence earned from playing to bigger crowds certainly shone tonight. The band tore through their set and the action never stopped below them. False Reality are flying the flag for the new generation of UKHC, and at MPF, they cemented the fact in style.
And of course, we had to be in The Union for the return of Dillinger Four to the UK. From the opening notes of Let Them Eat Thomas Paine off Versus God, the energy in The Union was off the chain. Singalongs, hugs, bodies bouncing off each other — it was one of those sets where everyone in the room felt like old friends, brought together by the perfect backdrop of melodic punk. It doesn’t get better than this. Personal favourite Doublewhiskeycokenoice took this reviewer a couple of decades back in time, with the song sounding as amazing as the first day we ever heard it. That was a special one for sure.
Saturday
Jodie Faster were our first band of the day and managed to pack out Gorilla for their set. Their brand of fast and furious hardcore was perfectly suited to the venue. (Last time we caught them, they were opening the main stage at The Union — and while they were great, this is the kind of band that thrives in a smaller, sweatier space.) Between songs, there was some quality piss-taking with members of Pizzatramp, but once they locked in, they delivered one of the standout sets of the weekend.
Throwing Stuff were up next in YES Pink Room, delivering some of the most emotional and sincere hardcore punk of the weekend. Their loyal local following packed out the venue, and — as has been true for several bands this year — it’s in these smaller spaces that Throwing Stuff truly thrive. The closeness creates a level of chaos and connection that’s hard to replicate in a bigger hall. Their set was the perfect mix of fun, sharp wit, and fierce political intent. They’ve got it all. A special band indeed.
Redeemon were next over in The Union, completely flipping the vibe — horns, grooves, and death metal growls. Not something we expected to be writing, but here we are — and we’re always up for something unexpected. The band certainly knows how to put on a show, and their set was one of the most distinctive of the weekend. We’re already looking forward to seeing them again.
Chicago’s Stress Positions took to The Bread Shed’s stage and delivered a full-throttle assault on the ears — in the best possible way. Vocalist Stephanie Brooks doesn’t let up for a second, unleashing some of the most demonic shrieks heard all weekend. Backed by a relentless barrage of thrash and early ’80s US hardcore, the band carved out a unique sound that felt both raw and razor-sharp. Everyone crammed at the front stood locked in, mesmerised by the chaos. Hopefully it won’t be long before they return to our shores — don’t miss them next time.
Oi Polloi burst onstage next in The Bread Shed, pulling in a packed house for their no-frills anthems. Everyone’s favourite anarcho-streetpunk legends wasted no time launching into tracks like Punx Picnic, System, and THC, with the entire room swaying, stomping, and shouting in unison. Audience participation wasn’t optional— and we even witnessed what might be the greatest air guitarist ever to grace an Oi Polloi show. But make no mistake: underneath the fun, this band still carries a serious message. Oi Polloi have never sat on the fence politically — not when it was easy, and certainly not now. At a time when many bands stayed silent, they never gave an inch. Respect. A ferocious version of Keir Starmer, Fuck You! ignited pure chaos across the dancefloor, and by the time they launched into set-closer Bash the Fash, hundreds of punks were tearing it up for one last glorious wall of noise. Hats off — that was one for the books.
The Menzingers are quite possibly the biggest pull at MPF this year — and it’s easy to see why. Upon entering The Union as the band were blasting through Good Things, with close to 1,000 fans singing along and hanging off every word. Pure bliss. We found it hard to tear ourselves away after a few songs, but we got our jog on and headed down the road…
Faintest Idea had hit the stage at Gorilla and packed the venue to the point it felt like it might burst. We’ve said it before at Bring The Noise — this band are flying the flag as one of the best ska-punk live acts on the planet. This MPF performance only cemented that reputation. It was absolute chaos inside Gorilla, and anyone on the dancefloor had only one option — get involved! Surely it’s time this lovely lot were given a headline slot at MPF. They’ve earned it more than most.
Another dash across the streets of Manchester saw us heading back to The Bread Shed to catch The Chisel — who were well into their well-polished set of Oi anthems. The band have worked incredibly hard over the last few years, touring the world and cementing themselves as leading figures in the resurgence of Oi music. There are subtle nods to bands such as Blitz, but The Chisel have a sound which is their own and sets the standard for others to follow in the future. Retaliation sounded huge and was the standout of a flawless set.
Of course, after the bands, there’s still much more going on at MPF. We partied until the early hours.
Sunday
Sunday began the way all good hangover recoveries should — with vegan pizza and a slow descent into the final day’s chaos. Our first stop was the YES Basement, where Gab De La Vega offered a calm before the storm. The Italian-born solo artist delivered a gorgeously stripped-back set of acoustic punk, packed with honesty and heart. It was intimate, emotional, and totally unpretentious — just one man, a guitar, and lyrics that stuck with you. The crowd was small but dialled in, and you could tell Gab was soaking up every second. A hidden gem of the weekend.
Later in the day, all roads led to The Union, where the buzz before Bruise Control’s set was something else entirely. The biggest room of the festival was rammed — no surprise, considering they’ve fast become Manchester’s hometown heroes. What followed was pure carnage. Their wild mix of rock ‘n’ roll swagger and raucous punk energy had the place going off. Crowd surfers launched from every angle while frontman Jim ditched the stage entirely to join in. They closed with Taxman, and the whole room was screaming along like their lives depended on it. No question — best set of the festival.
Pizzatramp were up next on The Union stage, and if you’ve seen them before, you already know what kind of chaos was coming. A bucket was placed under singer Jim in case of any “mishaps” (spoiler: it got used). This was punk rock at its most ridiculous — messy, foul-mouthed, and gloriously fun. The between-song banter was as much of a draw as the songs themselves, and when the band actually launched into their frantic blasts of thrash-speed punk, the room lost its mind. Supposedly, they’re breaking up soon. Sure. Same time next year then, lads?
Fair Do’s followed, and while the band delivered one of the most technical, precision -tight sets of the entire weekend — think Propagandhi clashing with Rise Against and you’re getting close — it was hard to ignore the drop in crowd energy. Coming straight after the one-two punch of Bruise Control and Pizzatramp meant the room was spent, and unfortunately, that took a bit of the wind out of their sails. It’s a shame, because in the right setting it would have been a completely different story. Sometimes, timing is everything — but make no mistake, Fair Do’s are still a band well worth your attention.
Belvedere were up next, and the Canadian skate-punk legends brought the energy levels right back up with them to The Union. Their tight-as-you-like melodic anthems had the room moving in no time. Incredibly, this marks the band’s thirtieth year together, but they sounded as fresh and fired-up as ever. Bags of enthusiasm, lightning-fast riffs, and a crowd that was fully locked in from the first note to the last. Incredible stuff.
California’s Strung Out kept the momentum going in style. Much like Belvedere, they’re a band with over three decades of punk rock history under their belts — and yet they still look and sound as fresh and full of energy as they ever did. Their tightly packed nineteen-song set spanned their impressive back catalogue, blending punk grit with flashes of metal and soaring, feel-good choruses. Strung Out have it all — and honestly, they’ve never looked better. MPF clearly agrees — the reaction on the dancefloor was nothing short of chaos.
We were still very much in the mood to party, so we headed to YES Basement next to catch London’s Jawless, who had just kicked off their set. The whole room was bouncing as frontwoman Teresa led the band through one of the most fun and chaotic sets of the weekend. Make no mistake — this is hardcore through and through — but the seriousness that can put people off the genre was left firmly outside. Jawless brought nothing but energy, joy, and pure chaos. A cheeky Beastie Boys cover only amped things up further, and at one point, the entire room was moving as one, going wild to the all-out war erupting on stage. Incredible.
Not content with ending our weekend, we headed to Rebellion in time to see cover sets of both Slipknot and NOFX — and it was the right time to put the camera and notebook down and get in the pit. MPF was coming to an end and Bring The Noise went out in style: crowd surfing and moshing the weekend away. Props to both bands for putting in unbelievable sets.
Manchester Punk Festival 2025: done.
It’s reassuring to know that punk still has a message, and punk can still make a difference. Whether it was shouting along to old favourites, discovering new music in a packed basement, or meeting like-minded souls for the first time and forging new friendships, MPF is special and has an energy not felt elsewhere. If you have never taken the plunge, make 2026 your first. You won’t regret it.
Written By: Andy Davies
