Proto Punks 2016

Upstate Theatre Project
presents
PROTO PUNKS
THE FESTIVAL OF DISSENT

27-28 August 2016
DROICHEAD ARTS CENTRE & BARLOW HOUSE
Drogheda, Co. Louth

The Subvert All Power book is now available for purchase for €10.00 plus postage and package. Contact Upstate Theatre Project on 041 9844227 or email admin@upstate.ie for further details. 

Proto Punks is a project that emerged from a series of prolonged research by artist Seamus Nolan, supported by Upstate Theatre Project, and  investigated counter cultural movements throughout Drogheda’s history. This led to more contemporary histories based on the emergence of a small punk movement and its various incarnations from the late 1970’s onwards.

Collaborating with a number of different individuals, musicians and cultural activists the project mapped an element of these histories and presented it via the publication, ‘Subvert All Power’. As the preface notes we attempted ‘to gather here, a by no means definitive account of youth culture in Drogheda which somehow identifies punk rock as a point of departure for creative and critical engagement.’

The collected testimonies are evidence of the various interpretations of what cultural action amounts to. The reminiscences are supplemented by an essay from lead artist, Seamus Nolan and a contribution by author, critic and broadcaster, Tony Clayton Lea.

The project culminated in a series of events under the broad banner of ‘Festival of Dissent’ that included contributions from Dave Lordan, Orla Ryan, Nigel Rolf and Paddy Dillon and bands, Okus, The Delta Devils and The Black Pitts. Artist, Brian Hegarty hosts podcasts based on the original interviews and discussions on his website, http://thirtythree-45.com/. A CD, ‘Subvert All Power’ gives access to some of the tracks salvaged from various recordings from local bands through the years.

A small number of ‘Subvert All Power’, publications and CDs, remain available to buy from Upstate Theatre Project.

Proto Punks is kindly supported by the Arts Council Artist in the Community Scheme, managed by Create – the national development agency for collaborative arts.