Text originally published on Mad Sound
The festival is in its 7th edition, and here we recount our experience
Sometimes I wonder: how is a country like England able to produce so many great rock and roll bands since the 1960s? How can a (relatively small) country be responsible for so many of the biggest names in music of all time? But after having the opportunity to experience a festival like Camden Rocks , the answer is easy: rock and music are intrinsic to British culture.
On June 2nd, I attended the event for the second time. The first time, in 2015, I discovered the festival after interviewing former Sex Pistols member Glen Matlock ( Wikimetal podcast here ). The musician invited me to see his son's band, Dead , and since then I've fallen in love with Camden Rocks.
The excitement this year was similar to what I felt at the last edition, as was the mechanics of the event. It all started in one of the best-known pubs in the Camden neighborhood, The World's End (located above one of London's metal dens, the Underworld ). With the wristband given at the bar, it was possible to access 20 other venues, including pubs and nightclubs. In each of these places, there was a program with ten bands, one per hour, from 12 pm to 10 pm.
The first band I saw was Elsewhere , recently signed to Marshall Records. The group performed at The Good Mixer , an important venue in the history of Britpop (a genre immortalized by bands like Oasis and Blur ), and also famous for sheltering Amy Winehouse when the singer wanted to escape the paparazzi.
Next, I chose a heavy metal band, Via Dolorosa , at The Devonshire Arms . Afterwards, I went to The Hawley Arms Sophie and The Giants perform . Despite the musical differences, the shows had three things in common: young bands, a 100% original setlist, and an extremely engaged audience.
Among the extensive program, three highlights were Press to Meco , a trio from London that already has an EP and two albums — Here's to the Fatigue (2018), Good Intent (2015) and Affinity (2013) — and a heavy, complex and original sound; the duo REWS , which has a more pop sound and exudes competence and charisma; and Longy & The Gospel Trash , which features excellent musicians in its lineup.
John Lydon , also known as Johnny Rotten , took over the Electric Ballroom to headline the main show of the day. Public Image Limited, PIL, did not disappoint the packed venue, with a mix of punk and electronic music, a danceable sound with an aggressive edge that caused fans to slap each other, generating some confusion and leaving security worried.
This cultural vibrancy makes Camden Rocks one of the essential events in the world for music lovers. It's a testament to the British capital's interest in encouraging original music and giving space to new talent. If you want to start planning now, the eighth edition of the festival is already confirmed for 2019. More information about tickets and how to register your band in the line-up can be found on the official website .
Below, see a photo gallery from the festival.
