Newcastle’s latest live music concept involves food and – bear with us – punk rock.
Launched last weekend at The Lass O’Gowrie Hotel in Wickham, Punk n Lunch is exactly as it sounds.
The monthly event, to be held on the second Sunday of each month, combines food and high-energy music for three hours from 1pm to 4pm, occupying a weekend timeslot typically reserved and acoustic soloists and mainstream cover bands.
The brainchild of EME Productions, Punk n Lunch promises to revolutionise the way audiences view punk, according to p..s to EME band frontman Darrell Harris.
“People have got the wrong idea about punk,” Harris tells Newcastle Weekly.
“When it started, the idea was for it to be fun, but then people thought you had to be a virtuoso to play.
“Let’s just get back to the garage and have fun.”
And that’s exactly what p..s to EME are all about.
The band originally formed as a four-piece in 1980.
After their drummer left, Harris says they had a “nanna nap went wrong” for about 30 years before they sprang back to life, still without a drummer.
They would use a drum machine to fill that void.
Nowadays, they achieve that sound with little more than an iPad.
They still maintain a heavy lyrical focus, encouraging audiences to think with many twists and turns.
“We’ve been called ‘the Paul Kellys of punk’ and ‘punk bush poets’,” Harris says.
“We’re the only band to play at the Newcastle folk club and be invited back.”
Harris’ band kicked off the launch event on Sunday, followed by Chiko Roll Models and Linear (formerly MOM).
While local bands will feature prominently at future gigs, regional and touring bands will also be on the agenda.
Don’t miss Space Boozzies from the Central Coast at the next event on Sunday 12 May (Mother’s Day).
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