Back and bigger than ever this weekend, Teddy Rocks Festival is now in its 6th year. Started by Tom Newton to help fundraise for the charity Teddy20, which was started by his parents to raise money for children and families fighting cancer after the sad loss of his brother, Ted Newton, who was 10 years old when he lost his life to a rare bone cancer.
With Dodgeball, Zorb Football and Gladiator Jousting, not to mention the Teddy Raves silent disco which will take place every night, bands aren’t the only draw to the festival so here’s our guide to which ones you should make the time to see.
Dream State – Checkatrade Main Stage – Saturday
Following in the footsteps of fellow South Wales locals Kids in Glass Houses and The Blackout come
Dream State, a new alt-rock five piece already making big waves on the UK circuit. Snappy lyrics,
hooky riffs and poppy melodies with a biting edge, this is all your favourite emo bands from 2005
kicked back to life with an addictive fresh twist.
The Bottom Line – Vocalzone Stage, Sunday
Raw, genuine, old school pop punk – The Bottom Line are reminiscent of 90s Blink-182 and Green
Day. The South Coast band released their brilliantly titled ‘I Still Hate You’ EP last year, and it’s just as fun as the name suggests – much like their live show, which is guaranteed to get feet moving and
plaster smiles on faces.
Press To Meco – Vocalzone Stage – Friday
Surrey-based Press To MECO are keeping busy in 2018, starting with support slots for Arcane Roots
and Don Broco before releasing second album ‘Here’s to the Fatigue’. If wall to wall pitch perfect
harmonies as part of a varied and technically accomplished soundtrack sounds appealing, Press to
MECO will deliver exactly what you need.
Palm Reader – Vocalzone Stage, Saturday
Three years after ‘Beside the Ones We Love’, Palm Reader returned in relentlessly powerful form
with third album ‘Braille’ on 6th April this year. Combining emotive lyrics with heavy, technical
musicianship, this is eardrum blasting melodic hardcore that is unmissable for fans of bands like
Cancer Bats and Every Time I Die – or for anyone who loves to feel the ground shake as the music
takes your soul.
Funeral Shakes – Checkatrade Main Stage – Sunday
Rock n Roll Brits Funeral Shakes have some fine pedigree. Featuring Gallows drummer Lee Barratt
and Nervus guitarist/vocalist Em Foster, their self-titled album was released in February and is
packed with infectious melodies that make no secret of their 50s pop influences. This is the band to
see for thoroughly enjoyable, summery tunes – no blame will be accepted for them getting stuck in
your head for days…
Koo Koo Kangaroo – Vocalzone Stage – Friday
Ok bare with us on this one… yes technically Koo Koo Kangaroo are a kids band, but who doesn’t like songs about pizza and pooping? Especially a few beers in, in the sunshine. Their catchy chorus’s and crazy dance moves are great fun for all ages and if tit’s good enough for Warper Tour it’s good enough for us. Check them out, you won’t be disappointed.