The Damned to perform at Unity Hall punk festival

It’s 33 years since The Damned last played there and it all starts again tomorrow (Saturday) at 3pm.

Ask people their favourite memories of the now reborn Unity Hall and it’s likely a good proportion of them will cite one 70s/80s punk gig or another.

That never-to-be-forgotten atmosphere should be crackling again on Saturday when the venue hosts the Year Zero Festival, a good old-fashioned punk (mainly) all-dayer which brings some seminal names to Wakefield.

Topping the bill, for the first time in the city since April 1981, pioneering punks The Damned were right at the forefront of that musical revolution, with October 1976 release New Rose routinely cited as the first British punk single.

Also returning to Unity – albeit they’ve played a number of other Wakey venues in the interim – are 2-Tone legends The Beat, plus punk survivors The Members and TV Smith.

Alongside them will be the cream of the contemporary local crop: the Ainsley Band, Skiprat, The Swindells, Mark Wynn and NARCS.

The doors open at 3pm and advance tickets are £22.50 with a 14-plus restriction (although ages 14–16 must be accompanied by an adult).

Go to www.unityworks.co.uk for more information.