Mohawks, Mullets and Special Moments: Punks Against Cancer 2026 Kicks Off at Full Volume

Punks Against Cancer returned to The Hairy Dog across the first weekend of May 2026, and from the moment I walked through the door on day one, it was clear what this was about. A packed room, a loud lineup, and a crowd that knew exactly why they were there. Every band, every person, all feeding into something bigger than the stage.

The Hairy Dog always delivers on nights like this. It’s close, loud and immediate. You’re not watching from a distance, you’re in it. Every reaction is felt, every shift in energy moves through the room in seconds, and that connection between band and crowd never drops.

The crowd itself was just as important as anything happening on stage. Punks of all ages packed the room, younger punks right through to people who’ve clearly been part of this scene for decades. Mohawks, mullets, shaved heads, patched jackets, studs, boots, every variation of punk identity was there, but it never felt divided or cliquey. Everyone was in the same space for the same reason.

There was a strong political undercurrent running through it all as well. You could see it in what people were wearing, slogans across shirts, statements stitched into jackets, one that stood out simply reading “no one is illegal” across the front. It wasn’t performative, it felt lived-in, part of the culture rather than something put on for the night. Conversations between sets, people checking in on each other, strangers talking like they’d known each other for years, it all fed into that wider sense of unity.

That’s where the real punk spirit lives. Not just in the noise or the speed of the bands, but in the way people showed up for each other and for the cause. Standing together, backing something that matters, pushing against things that don’t. It felt collective, and it felt genuine.

On Stage Skarantinos got things moving early with a blast of old-school ska. The saxophone dominated from the start, and when the “big boy” sax came out, it pulled a proper reaction. There was a looseness to the set that worked perfectly in the room, and by the end, when the harmonica came in and they closed on “fuck cancer and fuck the fascists,” the whole place was shouting it back.

Roadkill Drive-Thru followed and hit with pure pace. A three-piece, no filler, just fast, aggressive and loud. Shouted vocals, constant movement, the kind of set that doesn’t let up. Headstone Horrors kept that going, tight and energetic, holding the room as it filled out and the atmosphere built.

As the night built, Dakka Skanks took to the stage and lifted the energy in the room another notch. From the first moments, they had people skanking across the floor, and I could feel it spread, more and more bodies locking into the rhythm until the whole room was moving together.

Their sound leaned into something funkier, more groove-led, and it hit straight away. This wasn’t just bouncing in place, people were properly moving, feeding off each other and staying locked in from track to track. They carried it with confidence too, letting the music do the work while still keeping that connection with the crowd.

There were moments that stood out across the set. A melodica made an appearance as part of the performance, adding another layer to what they were doing on stage. They also gave a quick shout about crowdfunding a new album, which fitted naturally into the night. Visually, they stepped things up as well, the lighting was easily the best I’d seen in The Hairy Dog in a while, sharp, dynamic and adding to everything without taking away from it.

By the time they finished, the room was fully in motion.

Popes of Chilli Town took the headline slot, and it showed why from the moment they stepped up. There was a presence to it straight away, the kind you only really get from a band that’s used to carrying the weight of a closing set. Just before they kicked in, the charity raffle winner was drawn, bringing the focus back to the cause, then the set started and the reaction was instant.

The sax player stood out immediately, not just for the sound but for the energy he brought with it. Constant movement, throwing himself into every part, pacing the stage and driving the performance visually as much as musically. It added a level of chaos that felt controlled, something the crowd locked into straight away. Movement across the floor built quickly, people jumping, shouting, feeding everything back.

Frontman Sam Young had full control of the room. Every call landed, every cue picked up instantly, pulling people in and keeping them moving from start to finish. It never dipped, the interaction constant, the crowd fully involved and reacting to everything he put out.

Behind it all, the drummer, doubling as the band’s production backbone and van driver, kept everything tight and driving forward, holding the chaos together without ever letting it slip.

By the end of the night, the room felt spent. Sweat on the walls, ears ringing, and a crowd that had stayed with it from start to finish. I walked out knowing every band had delivered, but that headline set capped it perfectly, leaving a room completely united around the music, the message, and the reason everyone was there in the first place.

Punks Against Cancer continues tomorrow and into Sunday at The Hairy Dog, with more bands, more noise and more chances to get involved. Tickets are available on the door, so there’s still time to be part of it. Every ticket and every moment supports Macmillan Cancer Support, making this a weekend where the music and the message carry equal weight.

Topics