SKUM Lead a Heavyweight Sunday Line-Up at The Hairy Dog This August

Sunday nights don’t usually scream breakdowns, blast beats and circle pits, but that’s exactly what’s on the cards when Alpha Pro Creative returns to The Hairy Dog on 2 August with another of its bi-monthly grassroots showcases.

Running from 6pm until 9pm, the evening brings together three of the Midlands’ most exciting heavy acts, proving you don’t need to stay out until the early hours to catch a quality live show.

Headlining are SKUM, a Nottingham and Derby outfit who refuse to sit comfortably inside one genre. Industrial metal collides with grime, nu-metal, midtempo electronics and cyberpunk aesthetics to create something that feels abrasive, modern and unmistakably their own.

The band officially surfaced towards the end of 2025, but this hasn’t been an overnight project. Their sound has been taking shape since 2022, with countless hours spent refining songs before releasing anything into the wild. That patience is paying off. Following the release of their debut EP earlier this year, SKUM are building towards what looks set to be a busy second half of 2026.

They’re joined by Black Mould, whose blend of metallic hardcore and beatdown is likely to provide the evening’s most uncompromising set. Heavy riffs, crushing breakdowns and absolutely no interest in doing things by half measures.

Opening the show are Justice for Lilith, one of the freshest names on the Midlands hardcore circuit. Formed earlier this year, they bring the stomp and groove of New York hardcore while keeping one foot planted firmly in the UK scene. Influences like Incendiary, Terminal Sleep and Trapped Under Ice are easy to spot, but the band’s energy is already helping them carve out an identity of their own.

These nights have quietly become an important part of Derby’s live music calendar. Alpha Pro Creative focuses on giving developing bands a proper platform while keeping shows affordable and accessible. Tickets are just £7 in advance, making it one of the cheapest ways to discover your next favourite band without travelling out of the city.

Every show operates on a door-split model, with the artists receiving their share of ticket sales before event expenses are covered. Merchandise works the way many people assume it always should: every pound spent at the merch table stays with the bands. Neither Alpha Pro Creative nor The Hairy Dog take a commission.

It’s a straightforward approach that makes every ticket count.

Grassroots music doesn’t survive because a handful of bands write great songs. It survives because people keep turning up. Every full room gives promoters confidence to book the next show, gives venues a reason to keep opening their doors, and gives local bands another opportunity to play in front of people who might never have heard them before.

Event Details