Antifolk UK

Line-up: David Cronenberg's Wife, Joe Buzfuz, Filthy Pedro, Milk Kan, Apricorn Quartet, Spinmaster Plantpot, Moondog, The Bobby McGees, JJ Crash, Martin Amis and the Cripples, The Purple Organ.

Sunday's antifolk festival, held at Islington's Buffalo Bar, was the first official gathering of the UK arm of a slowly-snowballing scene that started life at the open-mic night of New York's Sidewalk Cafe. Counting acts such as Jeffrey Lewis and Moldy Peaches among its ranks, antifolk is a movement that celebrates ideas and wit over technical ability in a sort of self-effacing punk/folk hybrid. At an antifolk gig, misfit musicians, tone-deaf vocalists and three-chord anti-guitarists can ply their trade without fear of being ridiculed by an audience weaned on warbling prima donnas or self-indulgent egomaniacs.

Left largely alone by the cogs of the music industry, and with most of the public oblivious to its existence, antifolk has become an incestuous scene, where like-minded fans and artists can masonically clock each other from a telltale badge or guitar sticker. And it was this motley band of lo-fi crusaders that was out in force on a sweltering August night, sticking to the Buffalo Bar's crimson walls as they watched their friends perform. Unlike at many gigs, the bands were completely indistinguishable from the crowd and the onset of each set saw the emergence of a "Martin Amis and the Cripples", "Joe Buzfuz" or "Spinmaster Plantpot" from the assembled clique.

Being both genetically tardy and not as rock 'n' roll as I once was, my late arrival and early departure meant that I missed some of the bands, but of those I did see, highlights included Milk Kan. Down from Kingston for the night (that's Surrey, not Jamaica), these two "geezers" with guitars are known both for their vitriol for A and R men and their line in satirical lyrics. Bling Bling Baby plays like Chas 'n' Dave's art-college cousins doing Subterranean Homesick Blues. A cover of Television Personalities' Part Time Punks is even thrown into the mix - could Dan Treacy be the godfather of British antifolk?

Self-consciously twee, The Bobby McGees took to the stage dripping with Velma-from-Scooby-Doo chic, post-Vaselines kitsch and carrying charity shop instruments. The highlight of their set is an ode to the excesses of a Gallic holiday and there's something about their male/female take on the "songs about shagging" theme that is reminiscent of antifolk arch-monarchs the Moldy Peaches.

Another Moldy Peaches fan, Filthy Pedro, is the UK scene's imp of the perverse. With subject matters ranging from Lancaster Bombers to kinky tales of antiquity, Filthy is a definite crowd pleaser. "History Lover" has become a live staple of late, a song that combines his two favourite hobbies (for the record they are ancient history and dirty sex), whereas old favourite "Librarian Blues" is a glimpse into the world of bookworms who spank each other with hardbacks for kicks. His Spinal Tap-style guitar antics could do with a bit of practice however and, even then, will playing on your back with your teeth ever really be feasible on a semi-acoustic?

Joe Buzfuz, of Sergeant Buzfuz fame, played a rare solo set. Stripped down to just his acoustic, he used the opportunity to play a number of new tracks and a cover of '1974', a song that pays homage to clearly one of his biggest influences, Syd Barrett.

Finally, David Cronenberg's Wife boast not only "Britain's best seven-fingered guitarist" in Tom Mayne, but also a gifted observational songwriter and humorist. His stint on the stand-up scene has clearly also put him in good stead as a frontman, as his repartee displays. "I've had a rough few months" he bemoans to a sympathetic crowd. "My girlfriend left me. Yeah, she was a tennis player so love meant nothing to her." That's the kind of luck that only an antifolk musician could have.

Review by Gary Rose

If anybody had any pictures of any of the other acts, or would like to write there own review, please contact info@antifolk.co.uk.