poppedmusic

Words: Elena Katrina

No Play Festival -Liverpool – 5th August 2023
Instagram//Tickets

Liverpool’s No Play Festival is an absolute necessity in your Summer festival diary if you’re looking for pure adulterated no-nonsense hard rock music. Set across 3 stages in the, surely now iconic, Invisible Wind Factory. We here at Popped only really dip our toe into this genre but when we have the chance to see the likes of headliners Yonaka, Vukovi and previous Popped Music Presents pals Gen and The Degenerates – you bet we want to be there. A lot of the bands on the second stages are way too heavy for me but the main stage lineup is where I’m probably going to stick to – although with my camera in hand, I do feel like I might be tempted to snap away elsewhere, especially because I know there are going to be shows happening and I don’t want to miss a chance for my hand at full-on action shots!

Our Picks
Yonaka – MAIN STAGE

I mean, I know, I know I’m not supposed to really go straight on in there with the headline act but I have to. We are nothing but honest and they’re the main draw for us. We’ve seen them play in many a venue but to have them on our home turf is going to be so cool, especially given the venue. We suspect that most of you reading this know Yonaka but if not; expect a broad spectrum of emotions delivered in a manner that will make you feel everything from the fiercest bitch, to the best friend, to the wounded soul. Yonaka’s Teresa wears her heart on her sleeve but delivers with a punch. The stage gets played as her instrument, the crowd gets shows a glimpse of her soul. There are front people who do a show for the buzz, the fun, for themselves and then there are some who do it for maybe all of those reasons but also for the people in front of them. Yonaka is definitely the later.

Listen to Yonaka here:

GEN AND THE DEGENERATES – MAIN STAGE

Gen is a poet, she has a really big heart, she can deliver a beautiful mellow tone to her vocal for someone in a punk rock band and she is absolutely incredible to watch live. It’s as if she becomes possessed at times, by what I’m not sure but we absolutely love to see it. We’re so proud to have seen Gen and the Degrenerates achieving so many awesome things over the last few years and proud to have had them play for Popped Music Presents some years ago. The last few years have seen a real step up from local DIY band to a real contender Nationally – Internationally in fact, having played for SXSW in Austin, Texas this year. I am so excited to see them live again, it’s been a while.

Listen to Gen and The Degenerates here:

LIZZY FARRELL- MAIN STAGE

Lizzy Farrell has probably the most “Popped” vibe of the day. Plenty of her music has sweet sweet rock melodies despite the darker lyrical content. Her sound could appeal to the masses and if things keep going well, I would bet my bottom dollar, that Lizzy Farrell could end up opening on some pretty massive shows in the not-too-distant future (if the booker for that Taylor Swift tour with support from Paramore are looking for local acts to add to, then Liverpool would be a perfect shout for Manchester based Lizzy if you ask me). Her debut album was released in 2020 and there is a brand spanking new album being released just the week before she hits the stage at No Play Festival. It’s going to be an exciting time to see her, that’s for sure.

Listen to Lizzy Farrell here: