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Onslaught, Dunedin’s biggest punk and hardcore music event, returns next week for its 12th incarnation, and it’s the most audacious event yet, according to organiser Mark Tyler.

"After swearing I would always keep it to one night, I pushed it further by including an afternoon show last year and with that being a success I decided to extend it to a full weekend, so I guess its just been a natural progression really," Tyler said via email.

"I’ve seen a lot of shows and festivals crumble over the years because they’ve tried to get too big to quick, whereas Onslaught has been a very slow and measured journey to get to this point. With disappearing venues in other major centres and less [sic] people willing to step up and organise, it does seem as if this has almost become the biggest punk event in NZ this year. This was never the intention though; essentially I’d like to see events like this all over the country every year. I’m just trying to hold up our end and ensure the continuation of a deep South punk rock celebration. We are very lucky in Dunedin to have the ongoing support and encouragement of Annie and the Musicians Club, and, of course, Jones and the Crown Hotel, which means that venues are not an issue for us down here."

This year’s event will feature 21 bands from across the diverse punk rock spectrum playing over the two nights and one afternoon.

Tyler is loath to mention anyone as "headline" acts, but said the line-up does contain a large amount of diversity and originality that should appeal to all music tastes.

"I think the main highlight is the fact there will be 21 bands playing! But I am rapt that there will be seven acts from the North Island, which is the most so far ...

"Scumbeat on the Friday night [is] the first ever Auckland band to play Onslaught, who have quickly developed a reputation as a highly skilled and entertaining group ...  And probably Phone Sex Robots from Wellington on the Saturday night, [they are] another band to build a large following."

This year’s event will also  be documented in full by John Lake from Wellington’s Up The Punks webpage, who will be filming and compiling a video documentary of the weekend.

"It’s a great excuse for a whole lot of like-minded humans to be in the same place at the same time with the common purpose of enjoying themselves."

AMPED AND READY TO GO

Youth music mentoring programme The Amped Project is all go this semester, facilitating workshops, instrumental master classes and live shows for the next generation of Dunedin musicians.

Three of the project’s high school-aged bands will play tonight at The Attic.

The show will also feature a  performance from Amped alumni Astro Children.

 

The gigs

• Onslaught 12, Friday, August 26, and Saturday, August 27, at the Crown Hotel and the Dunedin Musos Club (Friday and Saturday nights at the Musicians Club and Saturday afternoon at The Crown). Featuring Phone Sex Robots, Scumbeat, Moral Turpentine, Raw Panic, Ayn Randy, Hairbrains, Tyrannosaurus Wreck, Log Horn Breed, The Ruling Elite, Mince On Toast, Silly Drunken Bastards, Suicide Bombers, Turbulent Juice, Infinite Justice, Machina Rex, Yung Nats, Whiskey and the Wench, Drag Witch, Knee Splitter, Bazooka. Onslaught T-shirts will also be available on the night.

• Amped Gig #2 with Astro Children, tonight, at The Attic, 140 George St, featuring The Only Others, Rowan Latton and Six Years. This gig is all ages and alcohol free. Free entry.

For more details visit: www.facebook.com/Ampedmusicproject/