For this episode of Punks Unknown, we travel 217 miles north of the Arctic Circle to Tromsø, Norway, home of Bastard Bar – possibly the most northern punk dive bar in the world.

Liam sits down with Paul, co-founder of Bastard Bar, to hear how a snowboard kid who loved punk ended up running a basement venue that puts on around 180 shows a year in one of the coldest, darkest parts of Europe.

We discuss starting the bar back in 2009, why Bastard Bar became a home for punk, hardcore, and all things loud, and how Tromsø has changed as tourism has exploded.

Paul explains the reality of keeping a DIY venue alive in a city where hotels are full of Northern Lights tourists, and big corporate bar chains are trying to buy up independent spaces.

This really is a love letter to small venues, stubborn punks, and the people who keep scenes alive at the very top of the world.

All music in this episod are from Norwigan Punk bands (Names below), and thank you to Michael Rigby for the intro track 'Punks Unknown' — links to Mike’s music can be found via this⁠ link

Turbonegro - All My Friends Are Dead

Honningbarna - Festen Som Aldri Stopper

The Good The Bad and The Zugly - How To Do Nothing

Blood Command - The Plague On Both Your Houses

Our Christmas special with Obi Fernandez (Westbound Train)

We talk family Christmas traditions, his time at Berklee, a rodie called Eric Andre, the early grind, and how a Hellcat deal changed their path.

Obi opens up about stepping away after 2009, leading worship, and finding a healthier way back with 2022’s Dedication.

We recorded this on the day Sing the Ghosts Away was released (Go pick up a copy of the album) , so we dive into why it matters to him, how he and drummer Eric built it, and what he hopes you hear.

Follow the podcast ⁠⁠⁠@punksinpubs⁠⁠⁠ across all social media and give us a⁠⁠⁠ rate and review⁠⁠⁠ while you are at it.

Jose from MakeWar joins us in a proper London boozer to talk barrier-free stages, why small rooms hit harder, and how the Fat→Hopeless move (and debt wipe) landed for bands.

We dig into his Venezuelan upbringing, finding punk through skate and surf tapes, Miami’s Churchill’s open-mic, the New York DIY grind at Suburbia, and why he still writes melody first before lyrics.

Jose also opens up about anxiety, therapy, and what actually helps on the road—plus a nod to the Common Thread tour and a lot of love for fellow artists.

You can support the band by picking up some merch via this link

Follow the podcast ⁠⁠⁠@punksinpubs⁠⁠⁠ across all social media and give us a⁠⁠⁠ rate and review⁠⁠⁠ while you are at it.

In this episode, Liam sits down with Scott Eastman,
Greg Mytych, and Bryan Jones from Horace Pinker — the veteran punk band that’s been defying trends and expectations since the early 90s.

They talk about everything from growing up in their local punk scenes and surviving chaotic mosh pits to balancing day jobs with life on the road, DIY ethics, and why touring now is tougher than ever.

Expect stories about playing with Green Day, sharing dinner (and too many drinks) with Dave Grohl, and the bizarre fate of a Horace Pinker T-shirt once owned by Kurt Cobain.

New album Now and the Future is out now — a perfect excuse to dive back into a band that never lost sight of why they started doing this in the first place.

Follow the podcast ⁠⁠⁠@punksinpubs⁠⁠⁠ across all social media and give us a⁠⁠⁠ rate and review⁠⁠⁠ while you are at it.

In this episode of Punks Unknown, we shine a light on Iran’s underground punk scene through the story of Tof, a hardcore band fighting to keep punk alive under heavy restrictions.

This conversation explores:

• Growing up with music in a country where punk is considered “forbidden”

• Discovering bands like Metallica, Misfits, and Minor Threat through bootleg tapes and satellite TV

• The risks and realities of playing punk in Iran, from underground shows to government crackdowns

• The importance of international connections and DIY spirit in keeping the scene alive

  
  

TOF's journey is a raw reminder of punk’s power as resistance and connection across borders.

You can support TOF by visiting their Bandcamp page

Featuring a brand-new intro track by Michael Rigby — links to Mike’s music can be found via this link

Follow the podcast ⁠⁠⁠@punksinpubs⁠⁠⁠ across all social media and give us a⁠⁠⁠ rate and review⁠⁠⁠ while you are at it.

Recorded under the blistering sun at 2000 Trees Festival 2025, Liam chats with some of the best punk bands on the bill:

• Kid Kapichi
• Grade 2
• Cloud Nothings
• Press Club
• Last Hounds

They talk musical evolution, political censorship, AI in music, touring with dogs, and whether punk still makes space for outsiders.

A sweaty, funny, and thoughtful look at a festival that brings the punk community together.

If you want to attend 2000 Trees in 2026, you can grab tickets now with a 30% discount via this link — offer ends July 21st

In this episode, Liam sits down with legendary photographer and journalist Maggie St. Thomas.

With a camera in hand, Maggie has spent decades capturing raw, unfiltered moments from music’s most chaotic corners — from the grime of LA’s underground punk scene to the haze-filled green rooms of hip hop royalty.

We talk about her new book Subject: Punk, her childhood surrounded by music and mayhem, photographing the Ramones, Sublime, and yes — smuggling weed in a trench coat to photograph Snoop Dogg for High Times.

Maggie also opens up about her time working in a crematorium, the emotional weight of documenting vulnerable artists, and why punk isn’t just a sound — it’s a way of being.

Check out Maggie's work via this link

Live from The Salty Dog in Northwich, UK, Liam sits down with Chris Mundy—drummer, venue owner, and all-round punk stalwart.

In this episode, we dive into Chris’s journey from being a teenage Green Day fan to touring the world with Oi legends The Business, and eventually founding one of the UK’s most respected grassroots venues.

We talk about his new band Kicked In The Teeth and their new album Watling Street Chambers (out now on Rare Vitamin Records), the power and politics of punk, scene beefs, Rebellion Festival, and why grassroots venues matter more than ever.

Also: what happens when you take a piss in the wrong alley in Missouri? Chris knows.

You can pick up the new album Watling Street Chambers⁠ via this link and find there tour dates via this link

Thank you to ⁠⁠⁠Fidlar⁠⁠⁠ for not suing us and letting us use "Cheap Beer" as the podcast's opening track.

Follow the podcast ⁠⁠⁠@punksinpubs⁠⁠⁠ across all social media and give us a⁠⁠⁠ rate and review⁠⁠⁠ while you are at it.