LIVE FROM THE PIT: Manchester Punk Festival

A constellation of seven local venues mapped out the weekend’s entertainment at Manchester Punk Festival, shining with brilliant underground talent as they pilot kindness and visibility for the transgender community, after the Supreme Court's landmark statement on the definition of a woman. Whilst navigating the darkness and looming uncertainty of queer futures in the UK, solidarity took to Manchester’s streets, not just in the peaceful protest that took place on the saturday afternoon, but in the colossal magnitude of artists that provided safe spaces for the LGBTQIA+ community during their sets.

At Out Of Rage, we work incredibly hard to make sure queer voices are heard on our platforms and within our contributor community. We are so proud to be working with MPF, which champions LGBTQIA+ diversity in its lineups across all of its venues. The weekend was a breath of fresh air and an opportunity to let loose, sampling the amazing array of acts the festival has to offer. These are our picks for MPF 2025.

Perp Walk

Southwest showed up! Perp Walk, who made a massive statement at last year's Outbreak Festival, headed to Manchester to kickstart our weekend into the highest gear possible. With hardcore at the heart of their thrashy sound, the band make itself known to the Manchester audience once again. There were high-intensity performances for all members, and the set was paced with ferocity.

In anticipation for their new EP ‘The Freeze’, coming May 2nd, the band circled through tracks new and old, taking in the rowdy crowd and matching their energy. Carrying their tenacity into the False Reality set following their performance, they were right there with the audience in the centre of the pit.

False Reality

Hot off their tour with Heriot the week previously, False Reality are the shit. Their set at MPF kept up the ferocious consistency of the London hardcore mob since the release of their latest album, Path of Self Destruct.

Whilst this was a longer set for the band, even incorporating an unreleased song into the mix, you cannot fault a hardcore band for the short and punchy set. Tight, tenacious and loud, the mosh was intimate, pushed sideways with the ferocity of prowling pitters. When the choruses broke, an impressive display of two-steppers made themselves known and the band, that fed off the high-intensity energy of the crowd. Leaving no survivors to their abrasive sound, False Reality retains the undisputed title of ‘the ones to watch’ in 2025.

Victim Unit

“If you don't want to see trans people, pluck out your eyes!” Vocalist Lotta Ridgely howls with overwhelming power at the Yes! Basement crowd. In a heated but cathartic moment, all emotion is laid bare for Liverpool avant-garde outfit Victim Unit’s set, dedicated to survivors of sexual assault. The duo, tempoed by Ridgely's love of trap beats and Danny Page's thundering guitar tones, push the experimental into the extreme as the set erupts into a chasm of grindcore-infused noise.

Whilst Ridgely paces through the crowd screaming and wailing, there is a wild unpredictability to the band's performance which makes them fascinating to watch. Nothing is off limits -including the bar- which becomes the stage for the final song of the night. A profound silence looms from the crowd as they leave the confines of the basement. Victim Unit made their voices heard.

The Menstrual Cramps Presents Avril Lavigne

The early beginnings of an epic MPF tradition, late nights at the festival become alive with some of the best performing bands playing signature cover sets. On the Friday night, The Menstral Cramps with their Avril Lavigne set. Playing all the hits, after being on vocal rest for the first time in their career history, it was a rocky start for vocalist Emilia Elfrieda’s rendition of ‘Girlfriend’. However, when the iconic Deadpool defying ‘Without You’ hits the swell of its epic chorus, the band and the audience work wonderfully in unison, making the most of Canada’s favourite punk princess. Regardless, the crowd filled the entire floor of Rebellion, with hands flying high as they became the coolest kids in the club. Donning 2000’s emo attire, the band’s set was remarkably short but a great addition to the evening’s entertainment.

Snatch Game

A drag queen? How about an entire band of them? Snatch Game is the wonderfully fluid result of what would happen if RuPaul went rock. On the evening of the Season 17 finals, a troupe of drag superstars shantayed down to the Bread Shed, to perform hit classics from the show, alongside covers of queer classics including Gaga, Chappel Roan and Kylie Minogues ‘Padam’.

On paper, this may appear chaotic, but rest assured, the band were actually quite good! The best energy of the entire weekend, in fact. With their signature ‘Vogue Of Death’, and their iconic catwalk to ripping guitar shred, it caters for the needs of a significant proportion of the OOR contributor population.

For our small but dedicated goth community, the band lean into a satisfying Sisters Of Mercy-esque style. Sorry lads, but we would rather be here than at the Ghost tour.

Grandma's House

Full of nostalgia and warm, fleeting feelings, a trip to Grandma’s House is full of raw, conflicting, but beautiful emotions. Bordering between indie and rock, the band spun the Pink Room into a kinetic frenzy. The band released their new EP, ‘Anything For You’, the week before, the crowd suddenly came down with a bad case of the feels.

Whilst the band had some trouble getting the levels right on their audio and asking the technician to add some ‘mood’ lighting halfway through the set, they soon found their rhythm. It was a welcome change to the fast-paced punk that surrounded their lineup. We are excited to see what Grandma’s house does next.

Cherym

Ireland never sounded so good! Straight off the Marshall roster, Derry-based Cherym took to the MPF main stage. With their feminism inflused pop punk, the three-piece band rocked with a high-intensity set. It was a welcome return for the band, playing the festival for the fourth time, as vocalist Hannah tells the audience.

Their sound is catchy- almost sickly good- with their candy-coated pop-punk sound. The band were tight and full of ferocity on the main stage. Cherym delivered a great set, which got the crowd going. As the main stage appeared to be a congregating point for the main body of MPF’s punk audience, Cherym was received well by all.

Period Drama

A shining set from one of the weekend’s smallest stages, Period Drama were a highlight of the weekend. With only one five track EP to their name, they have established a great sound, infusing that wonderful ‘Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge Era’ sound with real and complex conversations about mental health, queerness and navigating the world.

The band were tight, wore their hearts on their sleeve and entertained a busy Yes Basement crowd, throwing a Chapell Roan cover into the mix. The atmosphere was electrifying, soothing and an extension of the LGBTQIA+ protest that had captivated Manchester earlier that day. There is plenty more excitement coming from Period Drama, and Rage will be there watching their every move.

Words: Amber Brooks

Photos: Libby Percival