anarchistic carnage to a repetitive beat

Written and Photographed By Rhyan Paul

Concertos del Pinar threw a rowdy punk festival in the forests of Castellon, Spain. The lineup included Dead Kennedys, Strawberry Hardcore, Killus, and more. Reckless Correspondent Rhyan Paul was there to capture the madness.

Castellon, Spain

Punk in the Pine Trees

When I heard there was a punk festival weekender in a pine forest, I knew I had go. Many a misspent weekend in the 90’s were spent at illegal raves in forests, quarries, and anywhere else it was possible to cause anarchistic carnage to a repetitive beat.

With a lineup including Strawberry Hardcore, Sex Museum, Killus, Digger & The Pussycats, Nube Naranja and much more - a good weekend was guaranteed. The organisers were amazing - back stag parking and passes, beer on tap, food, fresh coffee, this was looking tasty! Huge props to Ivan and Pere.

Every band was nothing short of incredible - both stages nestled beneath the pine trees and a crowd hyped up and in complete party mode from the minutes the gates opened. They know how to party here in Spain and the sell out crowd were seasoned pros!

Standout bands for me were Strawberry Hardcore from Madrid - an amazing punk hardcore fusion fronted by Cesar Strawberry from Def Con Dos. Digger & The Pusscats - a mental duo from Australia who make two voices, a guitar and a set of floor drums sound like a 6 piece rock band! Killus were nothing short of epic - the make Marilyn Manson look like your old babysitter.

The cherry was definitely Dead Kennedys! To finally see East Bay Ray and Klaus Flouride perform was fucking insane! After the death of drummer DH Peligro, any replacement had some pretty big shoes to fill, Steve Wilson is doing a very solid job! Rounding it all off was the unfathomably energetic Steve Skip Wilson on vocals - amazing! The crowd went crazy when they came on, nearly stormed the stage to “Nazi Punks Fuck Off” and pongo’ed like lunatics to the remainder of the set.

I’m not going to lie - it was a bit emotional finally seeing a band that I had followed for 40 years and my weekend was completed by chatting to them after the gig. Life is good!

The drive home was a little Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas - With Dead Kennedys “Viva Las Vegas” on repeat!