UNDERCOVER FESTIVAL returns at the end of next month to a new location in South Essex. Vive Le Rock got in touch with head honcho Mick Moriarty to get the lowdown...
It must be a coup to get the Skids to headline?
They will be great, always giving it 110%.
Who else are you looking forward to?
Looking forward to all the line up, really, as all the acts / bands are great but we have five local younger bands from the local scene that I am looking forward to everyone seeing.
Tell us about your new venue....
The Showground is easily accessible by road, rail and bus. A different location than many, when I decided to move the festival from Guildford, I looked around many sites; some had other festivals with camping there but none had that quirky feel we had at Bisley, so here we are in South Essex with a venue just as quirky but with none of the 8am shooting in the morning that there was at Bisley (Bisley was also a shooting range).
What has been your favourite Undercover so far?
This is difficult to say really with twelve so far under our belt. 2019 at Tufnell Park was good. The first Undercover in Guildford in Oct 2021 was good as we were fresh out of covid. Bisley has to be it really 2013 to 2015 as we had the camping and that on site for in Bisley it was more of an Undercover family feel and hopefully we will get that back at the new venue with camping on site.
Finally, where do you get all the energy from to do it all??
Energy - haaa, I like to be busy and I tend to get in trouble if not busy so....
Being a small independent grassroots alternative / punk festival is tough because media attention is always on the big boys, but we feel this festival is different from all the rest.
Big enough to matter small enough to care!
Undercover Festival is at Battlesbridge Antiques Centre, Battlesbridge, SS11 7RF near Wickford on 26th and 27th September. Bands appearing include SKIDS, SUBHUMANS, EDDIE & THE HOT RODS, POPES OF CHILLITOWN, MENACE, EASTFIELD and loads more.
Full details and tickets available here.
