Brotfabrik Kulturprojekt 21 e.V.

Uncompromising to the core, creatively restless, simultaneously sharp-tongued and profoundly cynical - and apparently incapable of repeating themselves - the Mekons are one of the few bands of the first British punk wave who not only never betrayed their original ideals, but held on to them even more firmly as time went on. (This explains why their audience is relatively small but steadfastly loyal). The Mekons were (and are) as political as almost any other band except perhaps Crass, but their Marxism came from the pub-goer's perspective - not unintelligent, but rarely academic.

Since 1977, the Mekons have followed a musical path that has taken them through punk ("Never Been in a Riot"), noisy experimentalism (The Quality of Mercy Is Not Strnen), synthesizer-based avant-pop (Devils, Rats, and Piggies: A Special Message from Godzilla), fractured country (Fear and Whiskey), rock 'n' roll (The Mekons Rock 'n' Roll), electronic sounds (Me) and various forms of folk (Natural, Ancient and Modern and Jura). And despite all these sonic transformations, they have always managed to sound like the Mekons - brave lateral thinkers who have long since gone too far to stop.

Photo credit: Brotfabrik

29.5., 8 p.m.

Brotfabrik, Bachmannstr. 2–4, Frankfurt

2for1: 25 € (standing room)

29.5., 19-19.30, box office