Endless Spite Festival
Kirkgate Centre, Shipley
6th December 2025

Andy Brown gets festive at Endless Spite with a feast of punk and experimental music. He reports back for Louder Than War.

Hark! Is that the sound of feedback coming from the Kirkgate Community Centre? Those fine folk at The Endless Hum and Out Of Spite have – once again – combined their promotors know-how to put on a festive feast of punk and experimental music. Yes, dear reader, ‘tis the season for Endless Spite. Last year’s shindig was an absolute blast so today promises to be a real cracker. Let’s hope Santa’s packed his earplugs because this one’s going to get LOUD.

It’s a cold December afternoon in Yorkshire, but rather than simply warming our bones, Ox Scapula get busy turning them into dust. This is slow, deliberate, doom-laden heaviness at its finest. Bass, drums and twin guitars lock into satisfyingly belligerent grooves complete with immense, ear syringing feedback. The vocals ooze pure Steve Albini-levels of spite. Which – considering the name of today’s event – seems entirely appropriate. One song becomes a sprawling slab of heavy psychedelia; pulling us ever closer to the heart of the sonic whirlpool. I’m feeling more Christmassy already.

There’s a change of pace with the arrival of Leeds-based emo-enamoured punk outfit Hidden Youth. I’ll confess, this kind of early 2000s emo really isn’t a sound I’m particularly keen on but it’s to the bands credit that I’m drawn in nonetheless. Their energy is admirably off-the-charts with the guitarist stomping, bouncing and screaming his way through every song. Said songs are well-written, heavy as sin and have a kind of last summer before leaving home nostalgia about them that’s hard to resist. Despite my emo-aversion, I’ll no doubt be singing along by the next time I see them play.

After some slightly surreal soundcheck banter, AAA Gripper slip into a set of wiry, ever-expanding post-punk rhythms. I think of Enablers, Slint and even The Fall, but this band has a weirdness all of its own. The lyrics – delivered by the brilliantly unpredictable M Edward Cole – feel like a stream of consciousness yet are far too good to be improvised. “Yeah, I admit it I make my own monsters… and so do you” he sings at one point before pointing and scolding his imaginary opponent, “Abominations!” When he makes his way into the crowd you can practically feel the joy and madness spread through the room.

A flurry of heavy guitar, drums and bass announce the arrival of The Unit Ama, closely followed by an instruction to, “leave your mind at the door… abandon thoughts of who you are.” It feels like a very purposeful lyric to put at the top of the set. The songs have an almost jazzy, free-flowing feel to them as they embrace sinister grooves, noise-rock riffs and sporadic shredding. One minute a tornado of sound, the next unexpectedly tender. “Gather round, you bright young things,” sings guitarist/ vocalist Steve Malley as we’re drawn ever deeper into one of the day’s most compelling performances.

Like the previous band, Fast Blood hail from Newcastle Upon Tyne. However, the punk four-piece are an entirely different kettle of fish. These blistering punk songs go straight for the proverbial jugular. Honestly, every tune rattles along like it’s got a day to live. “Sorry, I’m fucking knackered,” laughs singer Abigail Barlow. No bloody wonder. Songs like Gone For Good pack a primal yet melodic punch while Barlow has the most cathartic scream that I’ve heard all year. If you’re flagging as we enter December, consider getting some Fast Blood in your lugholes as soon as humanly possible.

The North East contingent continues to grow with the arrival of Teesside-based punks, Onlooker. Turning the aggression up a few considerable notches, the five-piece band have a real take no prisoner’s approach. Whether lifting the mic stand, stomping or vigorously shaking his head, the singer looks like he’s expelling demons from his soul. In fact, the whole band looks like they might burst into flames. “Is that drummer wearing a turtleneck?” cries a concerned punter as the band turn up the heat. It’s probably the best, well-humoured heckle I’ve ever heard. He really is wearing a turtleneck too.

“Come closer, we’re friendly, we don’t bite,” offers the singer as we step towards the stage, “But we do bite back.” And, of course, there’s plenty to be angry about too. One song was written in response to the Southport Riots and is introduced as an appropriate ‘fuck you’ to the Far Right. A two fingered salute to hate. The round-a-bout brigade aren’t going to like it but this is the energy, the passion and the punk that we need.

Now, it’s pretty clear that And None of Them Knew They Were Robots are something of an institution yet – to my eternal shame – they’ve somehow managed to pass me by. A couple of songs in and I’m thoroughly hooked on their crunchy, euphoric take on emo punk. “Well, this is weird, isn’t it? We all got old but everyone still looks beautiful” says singer/ guitarist Kevin McGonnell before adding, “A lot less heckling than there used to be.” Tonight is apparently the band’s first gig since 2016 but if they’re feeling rusty, it certainly doesn’t show.

The band delivers a solid, melodic and rather exhilarating set and – in that way that only live music can – everything suddenly seems right with the world. Musically, there’s some nice little detours too, like the track that unexpectedly veers into some convincingly heavy metal. There’s a great atmosphere in the room, as the four-piece are received like long-lost hometown heroes. McGonnell has certainly earned his shandy and crisps. They end with a bit of a singalong and someone doing press-ups on stage. A great introduction and a satisfying end to another high-quality night of Endless Spite. Happy Spitemass folks!

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Read more about The Endless Hum on Instagram, Facebook and their website.

Find out about Out Of Spite on Instagram.

Head to Bandcamp to find music by And None of Them Knew They Were Robots, Onlooker, Fast Blood, The Unit Ama, AAA Gripper, Hidden Youth and Ox Scapula.

All photos by Jim Mumby | You can find him on Facebook and Instagram.

All words by Andy Brown. You can visit his author profile and read more of his reviews for Louder Than War here.