Updates!

- As you all know, this year was the last Ninjafest. 2008 will bring a new festival, held on the same weekend at the same venue with the same format but under a different name. Running Riot Fest will be held on the 25th and 26th October at the Underworld and promises to follow where Ninjafest left off. A myspace page has been set up and band submissions are currently being taken. Please add the page for future developments.



- London Calling is looking for new writers... we would like more people to update the news (UK based), as well as column writers (anywhere). If you would like to write about anything or simply do a scene report, please drop me a mail to: London.calling.hc@gmail.com. The banner on the messageboard is also currently up for grabs so if you would like to advertise there, please email.



Finally, I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a fantastic new year, and I hope that 2008 brings you all that you hope and wish for.

Sick of It All announce UK tour and Groezrock

SOIA have announced that they will be playing a small club tour in the UK in April 08. The majority of the venues on this tour do not hold more than 200 punters, with the two local shows being at The Peel in Kingston (20 mins on the train from Waterloo station) and The Underworld in Camden. Tickets for the Kingston show, which promises to be one of the shows of the year, are available from Banquet Records in Kingston and from all the usual outlets for the Underworld show.

The rest of the dates are:

Apr 15 2008 6:00P Underground Stoke
Apr 16 2008 6:00P White Rabbit Plymouth
Apr 17 2008 6:00P Underworld London
Apr 18 2008 6:00P The Peel Kingston
Apr 19 2008 6:00P Joseph’s Well Leeds
Apr 20 2008 6:00P King Tut’s Glasgow
Apr 21 2008 6:00P Queen Charlotte Norwich

The band will also be playing the biggest hardcore/punk festival in Europe, Groezrock, on May 10th.

50 Caliber news

Londons very own 50 Caliber have had a complete overhaul and have somewhat returned to their original line up. The band have parted ways with both their singer of around 4 years, Andy Baz, and guitarist Andy, and have recruited original vocalist, Terry Simmonds and original guitarist Terry Haynes to take their place. Charlie from BunDemOut has also been brought in to take on second guitar duties, with Steve BDF remaining on bass and Billy on drums.

The band are said to be writing new material for a follow up to their 2003 split with Die My Demon to be released on Filled With Hate/Goodlife Records.

Dead And Powered Fest

On Saturday, 8th Dec, Dead and Gone Records will be joining forces with Belgian Label, Powered Records to put on a festival in Bradford at the 1 in 12 Club. There have been rumours that this show has been moved to Leeds, but these have been dispelled and the show is still happening in its original location.

The line up is a mixture of UK and euro bands and includes such treats as Black Friday 29 and Rhythm To The Madness as well as awesome home grown talent like Deal with it and Dirty Money. This is also the release show for both the Down and Outs LP, "Friday nights, Monday Mornings" and Black Friday `29s LP, "In The Pursuit of Happiness" so pick them both up.

The show is £8, doors are at 2.30pm and the day promises to be a cracker.

Ninjafest Thank Yous, Plus next year..

It came and it went. The final Ninjafest ever. But, before you begin to mourn the festival, there IS some good news. There will be a festival on the same weekend, in the same venue, but under a different name next year. The fest has a name but until the dates are confirmed, this will not be released. And before that, there will be many other uk fests (Dead and Powered fest which will be featured here next week, Facedown Fest which will hopefully be announced soon, to name a couple), so there is no time to be sad.

But back to Ninjafest. Many people bought the fest together this year and without them, it would not have been possible.
- First and foremostly, the two other festival organisers, Rach and Louise. You are both going to be terribly missed and thank you for an awesome 6 years.
- The bands that played from the local boys to the boys that travelled hours on end to get there in time. You all played awesome sets and made everything worthwhile.
- The Underworld Staff for letting us do this for 6 years, and letting me continue to do this for however long before it kills me.
- Sploot and the sound people at the underworld for being the best.
- Jen, Naomi and Lynne for feeding everyone and transporting stuff..
- Kieran and James for the merch tables and getting them there.
- All that lent equipment for the backline. You know who you are and im sure you dont want your names posted up on here haha.
- Kevin and Charlotte for doing so much for me in the mornings when we first got there and the boring job of wristbands. I love you both loads.

And last but not least, all that came, all that sang along, stage dived, made the atmosphere incredible, moved out of our way when we were stressing out and said kind words at the end of the weekend. Thank you.

Lets make the next fest even better.

Photocredit- Wisdom in Chains by Michael- attheshow.org

London calling competition.

A london calling goodie bag up for grabs! Email your answers in to london.calling.hc@gmail.com. Winner will be announced next friday!

1. Which member of Knuckledust can also be found in NineBar?
2. Name the venue where the original Ninjafest took place.
3. Up until this summer, what other band might you have spotted Honour Amongst Thieves's vocalist singing for?
4. Name both the singers in Blades Of Unity.
5. What London band just released a CD called 'Rise Of The Guttersnipe'?

New Knuckledust Tracks!

Londons finest, Knuckledust, are set to release their fourth album on GSR, entitled "Promises Comfort Fools". The albums official release date will coincide with the bands performance at this years Ninjafest on the weekend of the 20th/21st October.

The album, like their previous GSR releases, was recorded in Denmark this August and produced by Jacob Hanssen and Tue Madsen.

Two tracks have been previewed on both the Knuckledust Myspace and the GSR Myspace. Pierre and Ray will also be going into Totalrock this saturday to preview more tracks on May and Mates (12pm-3pm) so listen in!

Dirty Money news..

Dirty money have just released a new 7" and cd on Dead and Gone Records. The 7" and CD will feature 4 brand new songs with the cd including their demo, "Is Real". A taster has been put up on the bands myspace page.

The band will be playing a record release show at the Cross Kings in Kings Cross on 7th October with Fast Point, Crosses, Damaged Goods and Deny Everything.

They will then tour Germany and will return to do a mini UK tour with Cold World and Rhythm To The Madness.

Mainland dates:
13.10 @ Exhaus kl – Trier (GER) w/ Sinking Ships & Ruiner
14.10 @ Wild Rover – Aachen (GER)
15.10 @ Bastard Club, Osnabruck (GER) w/ Goldust
16.10 @ Frontline, Gent (GER) w/ Vogue

W/Cold World + Rhythm To The Madness:
17.10 @ Le Pub, Newport
18.10 @ Ruby Lounge, Manchester w/ HELLMOUTH
19.10 @ Cricketers Arms, Sheffield w/ HORDES, DEAL WITH IT

Worst week for hardcore in 2007

RIP PALEHORSE

Today, it was announced that CTs Palehorse are to split. Together since 2003, the split was said to be amicable and the band remain friends. They will be sorely missed.



- To all that were planning to travel to Germany for Maximum Destruction Festival.. the fest has been cancelled. Word on the street is that a smaller show will be held for all the touring bands, but no information has been released yet, so keep checking the board for more information as I am sure it will be posted up there.

The statement that was released by Rico implies that this will be the end of 17 Stitches, which has put on some of the most awesome shows in west germany, so please add their myspace and show your support.

After some nights without sleep, the 17 Stitches Team made the decision to cancel the Fest. At this point we have to say that our expectations on the Pre Sale not came true and we cannot guarantee the Fees which were promised to the Bands anymore. As well we are worried about all the production costs and all the people who are involved. We can’t take this big risk anymore. We know there are a lot people out there who are sad about that decision but there’s no other solution. Those of you who already bought tickets can refund their money back. We want to thank so many who supported us through all those amazing shows! We know who you are and we love you for what you did. As for now it looks like that this is the end of 17 Stitches as well. – Rico & the Team

LDN Updates

(photocredit: Jan.. more pics of the benefit on his site.)

- Firstly, on behalf of myself and sheep, I would like to thank everyone that came to Dave Hecks benefit show last night, all that donated when they couldnt be there, all that donated at the show as well, all the bands that played and Vendetta Inc for the bakesale.

Donations for Dave are still being accepted.. if you would like to donate via paypal, then please send the money to saveadouchebag@gmail.com.

- Londons very own Kartel have released just released their latest album, Rise of the Guttersnipe, on Rucktion Records. They have put up two tracks from the album on their myspace so go check them out!
In more rucktion news, the label will be releasing the forthcoming Stout album in the next couple of weeks so keep an eye out of that, as it promises to be killer.

- Dead and Gone records are taking pre orders for Dirty Moneys debut 7", "No escaping this". The band will also be doing a 3 day stint around the uk with Wilkes Barres Cold World and Belgiums Rhythm To The Madness.
The dates are:

17.10 @ Le Pub. Newport
18.10 @ Ruby Lounge, Manchester
19.10 @ The Old Angel, Nottingham

Both Cold World and Rhythm to the Madness will be playing Ninjafest.

- which leads me to my last point. Ninjafest tickets are onsale and going FAST.. If everything goes to plan, tickets should be available in person without booking fee at the Worlds End in camden from today, so go and pick them up. For more information about Ninjafest, please go to: www.myspace.com/ninjafest.