5 minutes with Tree from Manchester Punk Festival / Anarchistic Undertones
Ian ‘Tree’ Robinson is one of the UK’s better known promoters; regularly bringing up-and-coming bands to Manchester. He’s been a major supporter of Lockjaw Records bands for years, taking the hallowed pedestal of being Fair Do’s second biggest fan (first is Holly, third is Sarah - fight me). We took five minutes to get to know him better.
Hello! Who are you and what do you do?
Easy! I'm Ian or Tree. I am father to pooch DCI Burnside. I am also one of the organisers of Manchester Punk Festival and I am a third of Anarchistic Undertones / A.U. Booking. I run the music stage at Vegan Camp Out too. Basically, I am all round top guy / fucking legend / sick G, fam.
How did you first get involved with the punk rock community?
I first saw live music at the age of 10 when I went to see Bryan Adams. It was fucking mint. I started going to ‘alternative’ gigs from maybe 13/14, guess it was around then I started seeking out music and going to smaller gigs. Active involvement in the punk scene came at probably 18/19 when my friend Pinguu started putting on nights under the AU name.
What’s your favourite album of all time (and what do you love most about it)?
I'm not a fan of picking favourites because my mood changes so much but I am confident I will never find a better album than Today's Empires Tomorrow's Ashes by Propagandhi. I'd go as far as to say it changed a lot for me. I found it educational, innovative, heavy and I'd never heard anything like it before. I still don't think anything can touch it. If you don't agree you're wrong, but it's fine.
Who’s your favourite new band right now?
My favourite new Manchester band at the minute are Fatalist. I've always said they are young but it turns out most of them are as old as me, so I don't say that any more. They are heavy, fast, great live, they go for it and they are proper nice guys. Go check them out!
There's tons of good shit knocking around. I recently got well in to CF98 from Poland and Distral from Finland but neither are new. I've also been enjoying the debut single from I See Vultures (I think they are from Leicester); not my normal jam but I love it. I also listen to my sweethearts in Blind Man Death Stare a lot these days, they are the real deal! All worth checking out. I realise that's more than one but come at me if you've got a problem.
[ux_video url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBiZvphyrxk"]What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received about music?
You'll never please everyone. I remind myself regularly.
Musically, what’s been your proudest moment?
Very difficult to say one thing really. I'm obviously hugely proud of Manchester Punk Fest and what it's become. Hearing how important it is to so many people and what a big deal it is for bands to play is incredibly humbling. None of us ever saw it growing so quick and being able to say I have put on some of my all time favourite bands, two in particular, is something I'll enjoy for the rest of my life. Seeing so many friends descend on my hometown each year to watch what I think is the best music around is a nice feeling.
I also get huge satisfaction from our monthly gigs, especially when it's bringing a band over from another country that maybe not many people know, and helping them with a tour or watching them gain a new audience. It's nice, you know. It's easy to book popular bands, but I wouldn't find that so satisfying.
If I had to pick one thing though, I'm probably most proud that AU is still going and the things we've done since Pinguu died in 2009. I don't think he'd really believe it and I'd obviously swap it all to see him again.
Who do you most admire in the scene at the moment?
Admire is a strong word, I mean I don't actually like anyone at all.
I admire any one that gets on a stage and shares their art with strangers in dingy shitholes around the country for no reason other than they enjoy it. It takes real commitment! Also, a special mention for Paul and Eddie at New Cross Inn, London who have been killing it for years now.
I also hugely admire all the punk labels and events that give so much to this passion of theirs. Basically everyone except you, Sarah.
What have you got coming up that you’d like people to hear about?
The next edition of Manchester Punk Festival is 24-26 April 2020 and we've announced The Flatliners, Belvedere and Random Hand along with tons more. I'd also be proper grateful if you could join/like/follow Anarchistic Undertones and AU Booking on Facebook. It means a lot.
We have gigs booked up until November 2020 already which is insane, there's some belters in there too. To see this year out we've got Popes of Chillitown and a special NYE gig with Em from Bomb Ibiza. The old gyal is dusting off the cobwebs.
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