Psychobilly Bedlam Breakout Festival returns to Northampton venues
Famous psychobilly festival Bedlam Breakout returns to Northampton this month for three more days of punk-infused rockabilly.
Taking place at the Roadmender with after-party performances at nearby pub The Bear, Bedlam Breakout will have a distinctly British feel this year due to travel uncertainty caused by the coronavirus.
However, it allowed organizers to showcase the best of the UK rockabilly and psychobilly scene.
Tobe Wright, one of 10 people helping to organize the event, said: “With the UK opening slowly, we decided we needed to prepare cautiously for a return of the festival, but with the rules regarding travel restrictions, we had to make the difficult decision to go for groups only in the UK.
“It was very well received by the crowd who came and actually generated a lot of interest.”
Bedlam Breakout kicks off Friday, March 18 with King Salami and the Cumberland Three, The Hurricanes, Restless and Shakin’ DT playing Roadmender before Killer Tone Jones and The Space Wasters play Bear.
Saturday will feature sets from King Kurt, Frenzy, The Hangmen, Long Tall Texans, Kings Of Hong Kong, The Wigs, The Blue Carpet Band, Thee Creepfreaks, The Raggyass Boys, Grave Failures and Gogo Loco. Stage Frite will play the after show at The Bear.
Sunday will feature sets from Epileptic Hillbillys, Bal Stingray and his Goo Goo Mucks, Furious, Thee Scarecrows AKA, The Hillmans, The Defiant Ones, The Mudd Club, The Dukes of Bordello and Shockwave Surferz (pictured above) . Red Hot Riot will play the after show at The Bear.
This year, Bedlam Breakout has been dubbed ‘Back Out Of The Bunker’, a nod to the festival returning after its pandemic-enforced hiatus.
The psychobilly genre grew out of 1980s punk and has a sound fused with American rockabilly.
Bedlam Breakout has become one of the UK’s leading psychobilly festivals, regularly attracting fans and bands from all over the world.
Speaking of the enduring appeal of Bedlam Breakout, Mr Wright said: ‘I can only say there is an electric atmosphere all weekend with people traveling from all over the world.
“Whenever we have new people, we always get emails saying how incredibly friendly it all is, with many new friendships, but that’s the problem with Bedlam – it’s actually more of an event. social.”
Besides the music, there will be stalls selling festival clothing, jewelry and merchandise.
Bedlam Breakout begins on Friday March 18 at The Roadmender in Lady’s Lane, Northampton.
Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets cost £15 at the door.
Saturday March 19 and Sunday March 20, doors open at 12:30 p.m. Advance tickets cost £30 per day or £35 at the door.
Bedlam Breakout after performances of the show is at The Bear in Sheep Street.