Festival of Punk music, poetry and politics for Taunton
Saturday 29th January, The Winchester Arms, Taunton

Fans of live music in Taunton and the surrounding area, will know Old Hat Promotions and Anonymous Promotions as two of the most active organisations upholding the Somerset DIY music scene. Old Hat started in 2007 whilst Anonymous have been organising regular concerts for a year. The two groups have worked closely together, bringing an impressive array of acts to the music lovers of Somerset.
Highlights have included internationally known ranting poet Attilla the Stockbroker; skacore band BrainDead from Hamburg, Germany; Newcastle’s rising star The Casual Terrorist, and from York; Comply or Die and The Vexed. Their regular nights in Ilminster, Taunton, and more recently Yeovil, have also given much needed gigging opportunities to around fifty local bands.

Both outfits run on a non-profit basis using events to benefit local and international causes. A regular programme at the Ilminster Arts Centre has brought new audiences as well as funds to this valued community resource. Individual gigs have benefited other social and political causes including; Taunton and Yeovil Domestic Abuse Refuge, Taunton Association for the Homeless, Bridgwater’s Stop Hinkley Campaign, Bristol’s Hunt Saboteurs Association and grassroots anti-fascist organisations in Bristol and Moscow, Russia.

Both organisations have collaborated again to organise the biggest music event that Taunton has seen for many years. The Winchester Arms in the centre of Taunton will play host to a day of music and poetry with twenty-six acts confirmed to play over two stages, starting at 12.00pm and continuing until 11.30pm.

Headliners of the event, dubbed Cut Cameron Festival, include; Brighton ska-punk band Primeval Soup, Swindon punk legends 2 Poorly Primates, political folk-punk band Anarcho Folko from Bristol, anarcho-punk band from the North of England Dead Subverts, Bristol militant ska-punk band Spanner, Exeter hardcore Donnie Brasco, a mix of Ska and death metal from Mediatrocity and 80’s anarcho-punk band Virus. A full day of support includes some of the finest upcoming bands from Somerset and the South-West, acoustic acts, political poetry and a range of stalls; Anarchists Against The Cuts, Taunton Vegans, Kebele Community Co-op, Smash EDO, SchNEWS, Brighton Hunt Sabs, Pumpkin Records, Carrot Comics, Martian Records and a number of bands throughout the day. Taunton Vegans will also be organising free food, while The Winchester will be providing a drinks promotion and have food available throughout the day.

The day will be an opportunity for a number of organisations to share information, unite over causes and raise funds. The key beneficiaries for the day will be Anarchists Against The Cut’s (Bristol & Bath) and for the Millbank protesters legal defence. All who are interested in music, sharing ideas, discussing and challenging current programmes of public sector cuts, are encouraged to attend.

Old Hat and Anonymous Promotions have provided these statements to try and best lay out the drive behind and aims of the event in question;

“In organising Cut Cameron Festival, we are hoping to bring together a wide range of different organisations who want to take a creative and proactive approach to how their own and others personal lives are affected by the decisions of the ConDem Government. We feel that music will be a positive way to achieve our aims, whilst providing an event to promote a sense of community in our local area and, and on a far more immediate level, be a lot of fun for all involved. We also hope to inspire others to put on events in their local area, as this strongly relates to the DIY ethics which we utilise.”

“The event will financially benefit Anarchists Against The Cuts and the Millbank protesters, who believe in a direct and radical approach to confronting corporations and the state responsible for current and future changes, as part of the broader anti-cuts movement.”

Tickets are available for £5 each in advance from Taunton retailers; Martian Records, Black Cat Records, G C Music and Gillian Greig. Bristol retailers include; Bristol Ticket Shop, Kebele Community Co-op and The Factory. More retailers are expected soon in Bridgwater, Yeovil and Exeter. Tickets will be available on the door (numbers permitting) at £6 each.

For further details and full line up: http://www.myspace.com/events/View/8288990/CUT-CAMERON-...unton