What’s On

ODDSOCK – 9:40
Tone Blanco – 8:30

Unfortunately 29th Funktion could not make it so Tone Blanco will take their place

ODDSOCK are a 4 piece band playing original material inspired by Indie, Punk, Ska & Reggae. Expect big energy, ear worms and engaging live shows. After their first run of gigs in October 2023, a series of promising releases showing the bands potential, and a debut UK tour in March 2024 – ODDSOCK are teeing themselves up as one of the most exciting prospects coming out of the UK.

Catchy tunes & bouncing rooms. A new sound coming out of Cambridge, UK.

Cambridge’s finest band play their first headlining show and it is gonna be a special night as this band have been working their asses off with live shows and recordings… this gig is their call to arms for friends near and far to come and support them as they headline the Portland Arms. We also have one my all-time fave bands from the USA joining the party with their first ever show in Cambridge! I am very excited about this, and it is a bit of dream to be able to put them on at last… I’ve been putting on gigs since 1997, but I have been a fan of this band since 1982! It is a real pleasure and a privilege! There will be one more band to be added… again, it will be someone special… no filler on ababoonsass bill!

SBW x The Portland couldn’t be more excited to come together for a special Portland Summer Sessions, with an ‘All Dayer’ party… unlike any other in Cambridge this year!

We’re going on a [late summer] musical journey to bring you a fresh, feel-good party for all things new, classic and re-imagined. With sparkling mirror balls and a pulsing sound system… come and party in the sun and under the sparkling lights to infectious rhythms and bumpy grooves, leaving all your worries at the door as you round out summer 2024 in style!

We’ll be filling the venue all day and into the night with premium selections of the best Disco/Nu Disco, Italo Disco/House, World Grooves, Funk & Soul, House and RnB!

We’ve managed an incredible line-up, with some of the area’s very finest DJs and party curators to ensure the vibe is perfect throughout.

// Stuart Banks [WoNkY DiScO]

Instagram (@wonkydisco) – Soundcloud Mix

Rooftop parties for the misguided sons and daughters of the stars. Friends and lovers, drift with us through the warmer shades of house and disco as we journey deeper… What started out as DJing free rooftop day party for some friends quickly grew into two rooms of music and attracted the best festival crowd from across the UK. It wasn’t long before Wonky sparked the attention from some of the best festivals in the UK which took us to being asked to be involved in their own piece of magic. Secret Garden Party, Wilderness, Wildwood Disco, We out Here Festival & even to Bulgaria to Meadows in The Mountains. Wherever we’re invited we always bring our party A-game to share with everyone!!

// Gio Ryan [Poize Audio]

Instagram (@giorgio_ryan) – Mixcloud Mix

Gio Ryan is a professional multi-genre DJ from North London. Regularly featuring at events across the UK and London in venues such as Ministry of Sound, Electric Ballroom, Scala and many more – as well as European festival features in Amsterdam and Switzerland. Founder and manager of Poize Audio (@poizeaudio), independent dance music label regularly hosting events across the UK, with releases achieving thousands of streams from all corners of the globe. Gio’s inspirations are rooted in British artists that pioneered their scenes, such as The Prodigy, Oasis, The Streets, Skream, Skepta, and Chase & Status to name a few. Expect plenty of exquisitely crafted reworks of classics we know and love, from smooth ‘80s to dancefloor-dazzling disco house, with plenty of cultured curveballs along the way.

// Joseph Dooley [Rollon]

Instagram (@dothedooleydance) – Mixcloud Mix

Hailing from the ancient, rugged landscapes of Wales and kicking off in the wild embrace of the Hard Dance circuit back in the noughties, Dooley’s journey has propelled him from underground, Welsh hill-top raves to the rolling fields of Great Malvern, the pulsating hard heartbeats of Birmingham, to the depths of London and beyond. Inspired by fun hooks and seductive rhythms, he held a residency at London-based Hard House/NRG party – Twist, a regular at Deevstock since 2017 and Cambridge’s favourite Friday night groove stop, Rollon. This mischief-maker refuses to be confined by genre, moving between the realms of House, Disco, Techno and the smooth-rolling Liquid Funk… Dooley ensures his sonic philosophy: all things must groove.

// Soroosh [Cambridge Dance]

Instagram (@cambridge_dance) – Mixcloud Mix

Cambridge based curator and resident DJ of the now venerated world groove party, Cambridge Dance, Soroosh is a masterful crate digger, spinning a mixture of classic vinyl collected through years of digging for rare and obscure records.  Heavily influenced by soulful Brazilian and African rhythms, he has developed a unique ear for blending together many different styles from around the world. Expect to be guided through a serendipitous journey into groove and soul with deep rare cuts and blending classic earworms with reimagined ones in unexpected ways.

// Will Lord [Found A Cure]

Instagram (@f0undacure) – Mixcloud Mix

Will Lord is the founder of Found a Cure, a Sunday social for lovers of great music in Cambridge. He is a member of the Family Tree Radio Show collective and a makes regular guest DJ appearances in Cambridge and London. Expect a vinyl-only set that spans the globe, with a big emphasis on West and Southern Africa – afrobeat, kwaito, electronic highlife – and disco obscurities and re-edits that will take you from New York to Trinidad. Will fell in love with DJ’ing and clubbing in Glasgow, spending his Sunday nights (and Monday mornings) at Optimo and taking in house legends at The Arches and the Sub Club. Starting out playing Jamaican music from rocksteady to dancehall Will performed at venues across the city. Nowadays Gilles Peterson and Questlove provide the inspiration, as well as the wealth of talent in Cambridge.

There’s no excuse! With reduced prices for earlier entry, group discounts and a transformation of the iconic Portland live music venue into a chic boutique club, there is nowhere else to spend your bank holiday than with us!

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Timed ticket prices (+BF) online tickets. Tickets are subject to entry conditions. Please see our ticket policy for more information.

Please have your email receipt (ticket) ready at the door for entry.

Doors 7:30pm
Daemonik Force 8:10 – 8:40
G.B.O.A – 9:10 close.

GBOA , the psychedelic electro punk pop ‘grebo’ combo from LA & the Leicester Area are coming to The Portland Arms Cambridge for the very first time on Thursday 5th September.

Gaye Bykers on Acid were formed in late 1984 by Ian Reynolds (Robber) and Ian Hoxley (Mary). They were later joined by guitarist and art student Tony Horsfall and drummer Kevin Hyde. Their first gig was at The Princess Charlotte in Leicester in mid-1985.

Their first releases – the single Everythang’s Groovy and the Nosedive Karma EP – were both recorded in Leeds with Jon Langford of The Mekons, and released on the InTape label. They then signed to Virgin Records releasing the albums Drill Your Own Hole and Stewed to the Gills. Initial quantities of the vinyl version of Drill Your Own Hole were pressed without a hole in the centre, so it was necessary to drill your own hole to play it. The album spent one week at number 95 in the UK Albums Chart in November 1987.

They also played gigs (dressed in women’s clothing) under the name ‘Lesbian Dopeheads on Mopeds’, supporting themselves, and thus getting paid twice. They also performed as a fictitious East German thrash punk band “Rektüm” (they claimed to have jumped over the Berlin Wall), recording an LP Sakredanus and an EP Real Horror Show under the name.

However management problems and poor sales meant that they were dropped by Virgin in 1989. They subsequently released the album Cancer Planet Mission on their own record label, Naked Brain. They also recycled and used the band name ‘The Purple Fluid Exchange’ (PFX) to release their dance cross-over material. It was at this time that Rocket Ronnie joined the band as DJ, sample player and dance advisor.

In 1990 they released Pernicious Nonsense, their last studio album, recorded with Jon Langford at the Stone Room Studios and at Alaska St. Studios with house engineer Chelo Zambelli. After difficult tours in the US and UK the band broke up, the final blow being when the label Rough Trade, who distributed their Naked Brain recordings, went bankrupt owing them and many other bands considerable amounts of cash.

Two compilation albums were subsequently released on the Receiver record label, From the Tomb of the Near Legendary… (1992) and Gaye Bykers on Acid (1993). A further bootleg compilation of Virgin records studio demo’s was sold by their ex-manager (Tracy Lamott) to Cherry Red Records – Everything’s Groovy (2001).

Tony and Kev collaborated in 1993 to form ‘Steroid’, releasing a CD album entitled “Jism Harvester” on Clay Records, a crazy industrial mish mash of samples and guitar riffs. 25 years later they followed it up with “Scrotox Ulcer” in May 2018 and “Baptising The Alien” in September 2018.

On 22 February 2016, it was announced that Gaye Bykers on Acid would be reforming for a final performance at Indie Daze in October 2016 however the band have continued to tour with Mary Byker spending time between big GBOA and Pop Will Eat Itself, 2 bands, 1 great frontman.

Guest support comes from Daemonik Fonce.

We celebrate the life and creativity of Tim Satchwell (Combat Tim) with his friends and family performing music and poetry, with special guests and contributions and amazing raffle prizes. It is to be held at The Portland Arms Cambridge, where Tim loved to perform.
All proceeds will go to Kidney Cancer UK. We are charging £5 for tickets but please add donations to the charity link too.

Tim Satchwell who passed away on 7th December 2023 at home, was one of the kindest and most humble people you could hope to meet, amazing husband and dad and a talented author, poet, artist and musician. So pleased he managed to finish and see the final version of his latest Clash book One More Time (Sandinista). During his illness he received amazing care and attention from the Renal Oncology department at Addenbrookes hospital in Cambridge. We would be grateful for any donations to Kidney Cancer UK to help with their work increasing knowledge and awareness, providing patient information and supporting research into kidney cancer.

https://combattim.muchloved.com/

Japanese noise legends Melt-Banana make a very welcome return to Cambridge in September! Over the last 30 or so years they’ve ploughed their own distinct furrow and played with bands such as Wire, Mr.Bungle, Fantomas, Tool, MGMT, Napalm Death etc.

A bubbling swamp curse of unholy rhythm, Jim Jones All Stars is the latest project from garage godfather Jim Jones (Thee Hypnotics, The Jim Jones Revue). Formed during the pandemic, it features The Jim Jones Revue members Gavin Jay and Elliot Mortimer, drummer Aidan Sinclair, veteran punk blues guitarist Carlton Mounsher (The Swamps), and a full horn section (Tenor Saxophonist Stuart Dace and Baritone Saxophonists Tom Hodges and Chuchi Malapersona).
After a midnight offering at the real crossroads in Clarksdale, Mississippi, the band made the pilgrimage to Memphis, Tennessee to record with Memphis Magnetic founder Scott McEwen (JD McPherson, Nick Waterhouse) in May of 2022.
The resulting LP “Ain’ No Peril” is a thick, greasy slab of Rama lama rhythm and blues that highlights some of Jones’s most inspired songwriting ever and features guest appearances from vocal powerhouse Nikki Hill and Oxbow’s Eugene S.
Robinson.
“When you’re recording within spitting distance of the Mississippi River, there’s something about that heavy Memphis air that changes the way that you hear the groove and grind,” says Jim Jones. ‘Ain’t No Peril’ captures that feeling and bathes in that magic.

CLUB WITH NO NAME proudly presents

CONFLICT …the legendary anarcho-punk band formed in 1980 in South London

with guests ERYX LONDON “ferocious vocals snarl and growl over an onslaught of cathartic noise – with bags of energy and tunes to boot!”
plus SEX GERMS “from Lestah, pure germcore 4 the people!”
and DUDESMELL “…unapologetic noise, energy and anger, straight outta East Anglia”

Apologies from ERYX LONDON, she will not be able to make it tonight Due to Illness

DOORS OPEN: 7:30PM

DUDESMELL: 8pm – 8:30pm

SEX GERMS: 8:45pm – 9:15pm

CONFLICT: 9:45pm – 10:45pm

£20 Tickets on Door

Due to illness this show has been cancelled. Existing ticket holders will be refunded.

Lauded by many as one of Britain’s Finest Live bands in the late 90s and early 00s, Billy Mahonie are back on tour. Taking in many of the towns and cities previously played (Glasgow, Leicester, Cambridge, London, Brighton) and some newer places, the band members have never felt so stoked to get out on the road.

Scarecrow Corner @ Strawberry Fair presents

On line tickets for this event have now sold out, but there will be tickets available on the door for £10. Queercore Psychedelic Punk from Strawberry Fair headliners Rites of Hadda with support from Spitballin.

Cheap Dirty Horse are a big rowdy queer trash folk-punk band from Nottingham. Blending acoustic and electric guitar with banjo, accordion, bass, drums, and sometimes mandolin, they write energetic, joyful protest music. They sing about trans rights, dead billionaires, and the importance of doing the things you love. They sing about grief, washing machines, and stealing shit. Angry, but always empowering.

KL MB – Anarcha-folk punk-rap duo with aggressively political lyrics that focus on cathartic reclamation of power. Their music explores themes of forms of power, apathy, paganism, freedom, climate collapse, and the anxieties of living in late stage capitalism.

iburnpolice – Some little guy who does some sad songs, some very sexual songs, and sometimes electronic music, but is always gay

We’ve kept some guest list spots available for those who cannot afford a ticket, please DM us on instagram or email us at cheapdirtyhorse(at)gmail.com if you’d like to come but don’t have the money to.

https://instagram.com/cheap_dirty_horse
https://www.facebook.com/cheapdirtyhorse
https://tiktok.com/@cheapdirtyhorse

INNER TERRESTRIALS – Obviously we couldn’t let our long-time friends and supporters, the Inner Terrestrials celebrate 30 years without inviting them to play in Cambridge for us! Formed in 1994, London’s legendary Inner Terrestrials are original pioneers of the UK Dub Punk sound – a stomping mix of Dub, Punk, Ska, Folk and general anarchic danceability – with lyrics that are more often than not aggressively political, covering subjects such as anarchism, animal rights, land ownership, the class system and war.

One of the hardest working bands around, they have gigged and toured extensively playing venues, festivals, squat parties, demos and protest sites all over the UK and Europe. Inner Terrestrials are the real deal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un1RAg8ILNc

http://innerterrestrials.bandcamp.com
http://www.facebook.com/innerterrestrials

KILLDREN – Killdren are a two-bit rave-punk band with a smelly attitude. Sitting uneasily between straight-up nihilism and fresh-faced naivety, Killdren pen politically charged slapstick anthems. They form the ideal soundtrack to the worst generation in history.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmznV9gk8FU

https://www.killdren.com/
https://killdren.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/defonotkilldren

THE MINOR DISCOMFORT BAND – It’s a fuckin’ punk rock barn dance! This is going to be so special. A rare live performance by Ed, Zoe and Kai, current/former members of I.C.H., Casual Nausea, Faintest Idea, The Domestics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGgoWmOGe4Y

https://theminordiscomfortband.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TheMinorDiscomfortBand

LAST GANG DJs – Punk, Ska & beyond…
http://www.facebook.com/LastGangInTownUK

DOORS: 7:30PM

DJ: 7:30 PM- 8:30PM

THE 900: 8:30PM – 10:00PM

The 900 are the UK’s first and only “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater” cover band. Formed by their mutual understanding that no other soundtrack could ever top THPS, The 900 gives you a reason for your back to hurt in the morning. With the approval of the Birdman himself, as well as Goldfinger’s John Feldmann, they’re ready to kickflip into every big banger from THPS1 to American Wasteland.

Expect to hear tunes spanning all the games including AFI, Alien Ant Farm, Bad Religion, Black Flag, CKY, Dead Kennedys, Goldfinger, Green Day, Lagwagon, Less Than Jake, Millencolin, Motorhead, NOFX, Papa Roach, Powerman 5000, Rage Against The Machine, The Ramones, Refused, Suicidal Tendencies, System of a Down and many more!

£1 from each ticket will be donated to CamSkate.

*SOLD OUT – Sorry but there will be no tickets on the door*

Quickly becoming one of the funkiest bands in Cambridge, Half Orange wants you dancing.

Stank is the staple of our diet at Half Orange. Hip movement and head bopping is the only appropriate response. We can promise covers of your favourite house, soul and disco tunes with a little bit of orangey zest added in there to keep you moving. You might have seen them at May Balls, Clare Cellars, or even at your college bop and thought ‘Wow, those orange trousers are sexy, that bassline so fruity, who on earth are these guys?’. Well, here we are. 7 musicians providing non-stop bangers and good energy, don’t miss your chance to see some of Cambridge’s finest funk musicians play the night away.

Supported by The Jazz Disciples, this double bill is one of a kind, and half of your 5 a day.