Scunthorpe punk festival supports steel workers

Unite has joined forces with Lincolnshire DIY punk promoters Collaborate and Listen to put on Steel Town Punks, a day of live punk music to raise the profile of Unite’s Support Our Steel campaign. 

The promoters have pulled out all the stops to bring together seven bands covering a range of styles including Oi, folk-punk and good old fashion mic-shouty lyricism. 

Music on the day comes from Hull punk slacker legends Serial Chiller, local punk No Good Deed, whilst Meth Club 7 bring some DIY punk from Bilston.

Also on the bill is alternative rock from Lineside, local heroes the ChrisCooperBand and Morrisoi the Oi / Smith mash you never thought you needed.

It is worth getting down early as opening the event will be Joe Solo, playing ahead of his appearances at the Unions East Community Festival in London and the Durham Miners Gala. Joe is a huge supporter of the trade union movement and an award-winning musician, writer, poet, activist, broadcaster, all while holding down his day job as a washing machine engineer from Scarborough.

Event organiser, Ed Crowden was keen to get involved with the Unite campaign and support the local community through music.

Ed said, “The gig is a way of bringing people from steel working backgrounds together. Post-Brexit, post pandemic has created many barriers like increased fuel and import costs.

“We feel we aren’t getting the support we need from the government and 3000 jobs hang in the balance  on the steelworks alone.

“This is our way of making some noise and saying ‘We are here!’”

Colin Crompton, a fitter and Unite rep said, ‘As a third generation steelworker this gig is about the continuation of the steelworks community. We are not just fighting for our jobs but our grandchildrens.”

Though the festival may be on the Lincolnshire coast, they will be sending a message of solidarity to fellow steel workers at Port Talbot and Llanwern in South Wales who will soon begin strike action in defence of their industry and communities. 

The organisers have been working to put on the event with host venue, Cafe Indie, which is a not-for-profit cooperative that provides vital work experience, training and youth work support to young people aged 16-25. 

The event will also have stalls selling a range of alternative items, retro gaming, tarot reading, food including veggie/vegan options and a talk from Unite members involved with the campaign.

Steel Town Punks takes place at Cafe Indie in Scunthope on Saturday 29th June. 

Doors open at 2 pm and the music goes on until late. Buy tickets now here – £8 or OTD £10. Go the website for  more on the Unite for a Workers’ Economy campaign.