Once I’ve drunk my body weight in coffee,  woken up, dealt with the cats demands, got the site up to date, as there’s never a quiet day in the punk world, and added a few songs to my playlist from bands we caught yesterday, it’s time head back into town for day two of Manchester Punk Festival. We start our day with The Empty Page, actually that’s a complete lie, we actually start our day with pizza and beer in an attempt to clear yesterday’s cobwebs and fuel another full on day at Manchester Punk Festival, and then we catch The Empty Page.

We head down into the basement of Yes that is steadily filling up. It’s been a while since we caught The Empty Page, I’m later surprised to find that it’s been about seven years, which there is no excuse for given we exist in the same city, but that’s life, but finally our paths have crossed again. Like Millie Manders & The Shutup yesterday there are technical gremlins before they launch into their set that follows their recent album, Unfolding. Despite the early hour and the bass heavy mix The Empty Page have packed out this basement space that replaces The Zombie Shack after its unfortunate transition into a generic Irish bar. Sound issues are steadily cleared which sees their set kick into gear for a welcome and long overdue reunion.

Another welcome reunion follows the basement of Yes, after a brief interruption for refreshments. Sadly Death Trails are unexpectedly minus their drummer due to personal issues, which necessitates a transition to an acoustic set at the last minute, to me this shows an impressive level of determination and flexibility when the temptation to hit the fuck it button must have been immense. What we get to see shows a very different side of Death Trails, one which is must be said is all the more impressive given this was going to be an electric set less than 24 hours ago. None of the aggression or attack is lost, only the decibels are lacking. Shorn of the volume you can appreciate a different facet of Death Trails that was forged in adversity.

Death Trails delivered an unexpected and superb set that shows a different side of a band that lets the strength of their song writing shine, if anything today’s set has made me love them just a little bit more. This is something I would hope to see again on the acoustic stages at festivals, that’s a nice big hint to festival organisers by the way. Death Trails also win the expected cover of the day prize with a punked up Pump Up The Jams that works surprisingly well, this is followed by a truly haunting She Likes It. Death Trails heartfelt acoustic set is already a contender for my favourite set of the day, it might have been of born of tragic circumstances but anyone witnessing this can’t help but have been won over.

After another interlude, no prizes for guessing what this involved, we head into The Bread Shed to catch Bratakus, who are full on Scottish fury. Straight outta the highlands of Scotland this is full on unrestrained punk rock, short, sharp and raw and committed to the DIY punk rock ethic. This is a wake up call for the late afternoon that doesn’t involve a caffeine based cocktail, that comes later. This is a vicious pick me up that’s sits in contrast to the two previous acts and highlights the diversity on offer at Manchester Punk Festival, along with overall themes of unity and looking out for each other, just as family should.

We head over, prompted by CHERYM playing on the Sandbar’s jukebox, to The Union and thankfully find no queue so we walk in mid set for CHERYM, who are delivering a pop punk masterclass, and are the second band from Northern Ireland to shine this weekend. This is a much more polished set than when I last caught CHERYM, their many tours and shows have elevated their set into something slicker and heavier than I’ve previously caught. This trio hit all the right notes and carry the Saturday night crowd with them on a wave of pop punk perfection that sounds stadium ready.

We’re unashamed in our love of punk pop and pop punk at The Punk Site and this is how to do that fusion of punk and pop, proving that pop punk doesn’t have to be puerile or simpering love songs. CHERYM delivered a stunning set, this is a band who have grown and should be destined for greatness. The venom of punk is present but it’s wrapped in a deceptive velvet glove, this doesn’t mean that their punches are pulled, every single one hits the mark, it just has a pop sheen that means it’s delivered with subtlety rather than a bare knuckle punch.

In complete contrast we next catch Scotland’s Oi Polloi in The Bread Shed, this is not a not a band prone to subtlety, this is different delivery system for a the same message, there are no gloves, this is a bare knuckle fist fight compared to everything we’ve previously seen this weekend. This is a direct delivery of old school, instead of drinking pints this is a series of shots with the equivalent disorienting effects. Brutal and unique, Oi Polloi are an absolute sledgehammer of a band, there is no lyrical subtlety, this is message delivered hard and direct. THC and Punks Picnic get an enthusiastic audience reception, along with an invite to the Edinburgh Punks Picnic.

Their message is delivered is English and in their indigenous language, the brutality never recedes this is old school brutal anarcho punk. Unlike last time we caught them at Manchester Punk Festival I’ve learnt that down the front is no place for someone of my vintage, so I find a vantage point away from the chaos. My regular wingman Gary Hough however is happily is in the midst of it, he’s old enough to know better but doesn’t seem to care. Religion, politics and everything that’s fucked up in society is put to the sword in short brutal bursts. If you need proof then the brash Kier Starmer Fuck You and their closer, Bash The Fash, kinda nail their colours to the mast. This was utterly brutal chaos, anything less would have been a disappointment. 

Unsurprisingly any plans we had tonight have gone out of the window, making we wonder why we bother with any kind of plan but you’ve gotta try I suppose, so we end up catching The Chisel in the same venue. This provides a continuity from their predecessors in terms of brutal punk rock, although this is the next generation from Oi Polloi, same message, same goals, same brutality, but I have to say that I find the old school approach to be slightly more appealing and to the point. Although it must be said The Chisel’s approach is equally effective with pummelling bass that causes my pint to vibrate across its resting spot due to their sheer volume and impact. 

At this point the night is hijacked by reunions which for some reason involves more cocktails, I’m not complaining. A multinational collection of punks descend on Manchester’s swanky The Refuge bar for cocktails where we obviously blend right in, then it’s back to Yes to catch few late night acts as Saturday turns to Sunday. we keep the European vibe going as we catch the the full tilt punk rock ‘n roll of Batwolf from the Netherlands. Clad in matching bowling shirts they deliver a set of no hold barred punk rock that is tailor made for fans of Zeke and the early days of the Dwarves, by this point I’m fading fast but determined not to quit just yet as Helle are still to come, and they are definitely the last band we’ll catch today. By this point I’m so tired I’m practically hallucinating, partially due to to one of my cats screaming at me at 5am, but there’s always one more band.

Despite exhaustion and too much alcohol Helle bring us back to our feet, which is no mean feat in itself. This is back to punk roots, stripped back and intense, the old school feel is confirmed by a Ramones cover. I no longer know what day it is and Helle add further confusion as to what year it is. It’s good night from us and tomorrow is another Manchester Punk Festival day. We stagger off into the night in search of food and a mattress, with the final day just a few short hours away.

The Manchester Punk Festival will return between the 3rd and 5th April 2026 and early bird tickets are now on sale here.

Live photography courtesy of Gary Hough from Shot From Both Sides

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