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By K Futur MEDIAOn Saturday 17 January, Derby’s grassroots music scene came together in loud, joyous solidarity for the Punks Against Cancer warm-up gig at the Hairy Dog. With the main Punks Against Cancer event set to take place in May, this January show acted as both a statement of intent and a reminder of why live music still matters when it’s tied to something bigger than itself.
All Punks Against Cancer events raise vital funds for Macmillan Cancer Support, making this not just a night of alternative music, but a collective act of support, defiance and generosity. It is exactly the kind of cause that deserves full rooms, raised voices and overflowing donation buckets.
Originally billed for the The Vines, a last-minute venue change saw the show move to the Hairy Dog. Judging by the atmosphere on the night, nobody minded in the slightest. The Hairy Dog remains one of Derby’s most reliable and beloved live venues, and despite a cold January evening, there was a healthy, energised turnout that gave the night real momentum.
Graffiti Club: High-Energy Punk with Heart, Humour and Bite
Opening the night were Graffiti Club, a four-piece punk band from the North West making their Derby debut. From the very first note, it was clear they were the perfect band to kick things off.
Launching straight into back-to-back tracks with barely a pause for breath, Graffiti Club delivered a punchy blend of old-school punk spirit and modern melodic urgency. Their sound balances speed and aggression with soulful vocals and an underlying warmth that keeps everything accessible without dulling the edge.
After a quick hello, they dove headfirst into a song about shagging at work, which earned immediate cheers from the crowd. Heavy, fast and delivered with humour, it summed up their knack for turning everyday experiences into sharp, memorable punk songs. Even their more tongue-in-cheek moments, including a knowingly cheesy love song titled Illuminator, landed perfectly.
There were clear Green Day-era vibes running through their set, but with a distinctly older-school punk backbone that kept things grounded and raw. This was melodic punk rock done properly.
A standout moment came with a shout-out to their bass player, who had agreed to step in with just two hours’ notice, travelling over from Dudley and playing with the band for the first time in a long while. You would never have known. The chemistry was seamless as they launched into Smashing Up Phone Box, a track that does exactly what it says on the tin.
Lyrically, Graffiti Club thrive on humour, nostalgia and lived experience, and it gives their songs an honesty that connects instantly. Promoter Pete joined them on stage for I Call the Shots, adding percussion to what he described as his favourite track. It is a stompy, crowd-pleasing number, and it went off exactly as it should.
They closed their set with one final middle finger aimed firmly at authority, a moment that felt both cathartic and perfectly timed. There was something undeniably joyful about watching a band who clearly love playing together, and that energy transferred straight into the room. For a first Derby show, this was a resounding success, and many in the crowd will be hoping it is not their last.
The Zipheads: Genre-Hopping Brilliance and Non-Stop Movement
By the time The Zipheads hit the stage, the room was more than ready. This was my first time seeing The Zipheads, and they have firmly made a fan of me.
The Zipheads are the kind of band that thrive on genre collision. Punk, swing, rockabilly, surf rock and ska all crash together in their sound, but it never feels messy. Instead, it is tightly controlled chaos, executed with confidence, precision and infectious joy.
They exploded onto the stage with two immediate crowd-shakers. The frontman’s vocals and guitar work were outstanding, backed by thunderous double bass and drums that kept the entire room moving from the first beat to the last. Dancing was unavoidable.
Following introductions, they launched into a set that refused to sit still, bouncing between styles and eras while keeping everything unmistakably theirs. There was even a playful nod to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air theme woven into the mix, followed almost immediately by another fast-paced track dripping with 1950s rock and roll energy.
Animal print adorned the stage, the double bass dominated visually and sonically, and the overall effect was irresistible. Every band should have a double bass, frankly.
A raised glass and a collective sentiment of “fuck cancer” brought the cause back into focus, reinforcing why nights like this matter. If this was merely the warm-up, May’s main event promises something genuinely special.
Tracks like Revenge delivered pure, high-octane punk, while moments of ska-punk unleashed full-scale skanking across the floor. Elsewhere, the band dipped into rich 50s rock and roll textures that felt cinematic in scope. Marty McFly tearing through Johnny B Goode would not have felt out of place during this set.
They paid tribute to the venue, noting that they had not played the Hairy Dog in a couple of years, calling it a jewel of the tour circuit. The crowd wholeheartedly agreed, as did the band when they gave a deserved shout-out to the venue staff and sound engineers.
Covers were chosen and delivered brilliantly. Get Ready by The Temptations and Rare Earth arrived faster and punkier, without losing its soul. Neat Neat Neat by The Damned was an absolute highlight, hitting hard while retaining its iconic swagger.
There were moments of genuine atmosphere too, with dramatic breaks, powerful drum and double bass features, and huge drops that kept the energy peaking. Don’t Pretend brought Johnny Cash-style storytelling, complete with harmonies, yeehaws and riffs that could have been lifted straight from a spaghetti western.
They closed on Incestuous, but with time still on their side, returned for one final song that pulled everyone back onto the dancefloor. It was the perfect ending to a set defined by movement, personality and undeniable talent.
A Perfect Warm-Up for a Vital Cause
This was a brilliant night at the Hairy Dog, and a powerful preview of what Punks Against Cancer has planned for May. The main event takes place over three days on 1st, 2nd and 3rd of May, once again at the Hairy Dog, and will feature a host of punk and alternative bands united by a single goal: raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support.
In a city rich with grassroots music culture, nights like this show exactly what can be achieved when community, creativity and compassion come together. If this warm-up gig is anything to go by, May’s event will be unmissable.
Support the bands. Support the venue. Support the cause. And most importantly, support Punks Against Cancer.
