UK Subs / Sex Pistols Experience / Ed Tudor Pole

Plenty of ‘Crystal Maze’ shouts as Ed Tudor Pole takes to the stage dressed in a shirt covered in marker pen and topped off with some quite girlie shoes. Not quite knowing what to expect (apart front ‘Who Killed Bambi’, appearing halfway through the set) I am surprised. He has a few catchy songs, including topics like war and an eight-year-old with a moustache. The guitar he is playing rather well has to be the most battered and pieced together thing ever to grace a stage anywhere. There is a manic stare present within most of the songs, and he appears oblivious to (or just ignores) the banter. Next time he states he wants to be further up the bill.


Sex Pistols Experience are just about as good as you will get for a tribute band. The members have the looks of a middle-aged Pistols, the vacant stare is nearly there and the songs (‘Pretty Vacant’, Anarchy In The UK’, etc) are all played with conviction. For this band however it is the crowd, not the band, that are entertaining to watch. The swirling mini pit is near on a riot but at the same time looks like a riot to participate in. There are some brutal moments, where I glimpse at a guy none too pleased and ready to dish out a few punches, and then there’s the hilarious bits when the same woman falls on her arse four times, during two songs. Ed joined them on stage towards the end to spit on the crowd some more.



After that most would be ready to hit the sack but it’s time for headliners UK Subs. If there was ever an example of stamina it has to be Charlie Harper. The guy’s over 60 and has been in the punk scene for since before the Subs formed in the mid 70’s. And he can put some of the young ‘uns to shame, revving up the crowd, swinging the mic stand and generally being a great front man.


The whole gig lasted a mere two hours from start to finish, with all three acts sticking to their allocated time. Though to the young the look of some of the older punks in Fibbers would have sent them running for the door, the atmosphere is friendly and the show a sweaty success.

FUTURE GIGS