Upcoming events.
Whingefest ALL-DAYER (TFi20!) - COWBOY HUNTERS + Wax Head + Whinge + dull. + Wet Man + Stormkerb + El Winstanley
The Ferret & Whinge present:
WHINGEFEST ALL-DAYER XII
THE FERRET IS 20! EDITION
Sat 4th July
3pm - late
The Ferret, Preston
Live Music Line-Up:
COWBOY HUNTERS
WAX HEAD
WHINGE
dull.
WET MAN
STORMKERB
EL WINSTANLEY
Another all-day affair. Live music & DJs all day and night.
ALL ADVANCE TICKETS ARE COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE!
Then just £5 on the door (while stocks last).
Capacity is limited, so grab a FREE TICKET now to guarantee entry. PLEASE only take as many tickets as you need - if you need to return any tickets, please let us know so other Ferret Friends can use them.
Supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
To buy tickets for this event please visit our events page: WHINGEFEST (TFI20! Edition) // COWBOY HUNTERS + Wax Head + more tickets from Skiddle .
THE FERRET is 20!
2006-2026
"The Ferret is 20!" is a series of special events celebrating 20 years of The Ferret in Preston. Between May & August, we present a series of shows featuring some of our favourite artists from around the world - as well as grassroots artists from the across the North West & around the UK.
AND, thanks to public funding by Arts Council England, this series of shows will all be FREE ENTRY &/or very low-cost. Our aim is to encourage more people to experience world-class live music in the intimate setting of The Ferret.
We'll be asking you to tell a friend, invite someone who has never been to The Ferret, invite someone who loves live music but hasn't been to a gig in yonks, maybe invite someone who doesn't even realise what's right on their doorstep.
>>> COWBOY HUNTERS:
69 years have passed since the cowboys attacked. When the world needed them most, Cowboy Hunters were in the pub. This is a story of Farty Rock redemption. Tie your shoes.
>>> WAX HEAD:
A visceral gang of youth rolling around in a sweaty pit of garage-psych riffage. Debut album ‘GNAT’ out now via Sour Grapes Records.
>>> WHINGE:
Your genial hosts. Whingefest veterans since 2k19.
“Whinge. Great name for a crazy band of misfits who their label boss proclaims as ‘fuckin crackers’. Then again he would know being in a band of weirdos himself. Which is why they’ve clicked, along with label mates Michael, Yaang and the up and coming fury of dead things. You can stick your normal up your arse and come along for the ride with this bizarre collection of ‘More DIY than B&Q’ tunes you can pop a knee to.” - Louder Than War
>>> dull.
Lancaster’s post-punk and experimental noise duo, laying down motorik drums and fuzzy bass grooves. Their approach leans into tension and juxtaposition rather than tidy hooks. Fiery urgency wrapped in deliberate simplicity.
>>> WET MAN:
Dive into the world of Wet Man, a solo electroclash sensation whose sound is an electrifying homage to the rebellious spirits of Iggy Pop, The Cramps, Suicide, Lou Reed, and Cabaret Voltaire. With a fusion of punk energy and electronic beats, Wet Man's music is a high-octane ride through the fringes of rock and roll culture, wrapped in a shroud of gritty narratives.
Wet Man's performances are anything but solitary. Each show is a high-energy spectacle, where the stage becomes a battleground of frenetic beats and provocative themes. Songs about lizard alien conspiracy theorists, notorious English scandals, and the raw essence of rock and roll culture are delivered with an intensity that commands the audience's attention.
>>> STORMKERB:
Stormkerb are a rising Preston-based post-punk, post-rock, and post-hardcore band. Known for loud guitars, shifting dynamics, and gloomy yet catchy tracks, their music is heavily inspired by local brutalist architecture. The band emerged from the city's underground DIY music scene, as well as being involved in the local arts scene, collaborating on exhibitions focused on post-industrial life in Preston.
>>> EL WINSTANLEY:
Welcome to El’s living room, the cosy world where she leaves her self-awareness at the door to write sweet but eccentric songs, warm with sincerity, sung in English and Spanish. Using any instrument quiet enough not to wake up the kids, she combines retro synth and rudimentary drum loops with stoner guitar, the sparkling omnichord, and dashes of doo-wap harmonies layered through a loop pedal
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The Ferret & Whinge present:
WHINGEFEST XII
THE FERRET IS 20! EDITION
Sat 4th July
3pm - late
The Ferret, Preston
Live Music Line-Up:
Cowboy Hunters
Wax Head
Whinge
dull.
Wet Man
Stormkerb
El Winstanley
The Ferret, Preston
ALL ADVANCE TICKETS ARE COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE!
Then just £5 on the door (while stocks last).
Claim your free tickets at theferret.live/tfi20
Capacity is limited, so grab a FREE TICKET now to guarantee entry. PLEASE only take as many tickets as you need - if you need to return any tickets, please let us know so other Ferret Friends can use them.
Supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
_________________
All ages welcome (under 18s must be accompanied by a responsible adult).
Accessible ground-floor venue & facilities.
Dog-friendly venue.
TICKETS: skiddle.com/e/42516865
CROCODILES + guests // The Ferret is 20!
THE FERRET is 20!
"The Ferret is 20!" is a series of special events celebrating 20 years of The Ferret in Preston. Between May & August, we'll be presenting a series of shows featuring some of our favourite artists from around the world - as well as grassroots artists from the across the North West & around the UK.
AND, thanks to public funding by Arts Council England, this series of shows will all be FREE ENTRY &/or very low-cost. Our aim is to encourage more people to experience world-class live music in the intimate setting of The Ferret.
We'll be asking you to tell a friend, invite someone who has never been to The Ferret, invite someone who loves live music but hasn't been to a gig in yonks, maybe invite someone who doesn't even realise what's right on their doorstep.
CROCODILES
USA // Psychedelic Noise-Pop + Lo-Fi Garage Punk
+ guests TBA
Local grassroots artists are encouraged to apply for support slots. See below.
Tues 14th July 2026
7pm - 10:30pm
The Ferret, Preston
FIRST 50 TICKETS ARE COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE!
Then just £5 per ticket (while stocks last).
Claim your free tickets here:
To buy tickets for this event please visit our events page: The Ferret is 20! // CROCODILES + guests tba tickets from Skiddle .
Capacity is limited, so grab a FREE TICKET now to guarantee entry. PLEASE only take as many tickets as you need - if you need to return any tickets, please let us know so other Ferret Friends can use them.
Supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
>>> CROCODILES
Nearly 20 years ago, two teenage punks met at an antifascist gathering in their hometown of San Diego. A quick bond was formed over politics, poetry andmusicand the two very quickly became inseparable. Many projects followed, ranging from abrasive punk bands to harmonious '60s-indebted pop groups.
For the last 18 years, Charles Rowell and Brandon Welchez have been creating together under the name Crocodiles. Forever shape-shifting, the band have been celebrated and been maligned, but they have never been boring. And they have been nearly impossible to pin down. Are they psych-punk? Noise-pop? Art-gaze? They are all of this and none of this and more than this. Put simply, Crocodiles are one of the great rock 'n' roll bands of their generation. After nearly two decades, nine albums (including their latest dark-hearted salvo Greetings From Hell), and hundreds of shows around the globe the duo show no signs of letting up.
>>> PLUS GUESTS TBA
Local grassroots artists are encouraged to apply for support slots. Please listen to the acts on the bill and put yourselves forward for relevant shows only. Applications can be made via our Apply To Play form which you can find here.
The Ferret is 20!
CROCODILES
+ guests tba
Tues 14th July 2026
7pm - 10:30pm
The Ferret, Preston
Claim your free tickets at skiddle.com/e/42460239
Capacity is limited, so grab a FREE TICKET now to guarantee entry. PLEASE only take as many tickets as you need - if you need to return any tickets, please let us know so other Ferret Friends can use them.
Supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
_________________
All ages welcome (under 18s must be accompanied by a responsible adult).
Accessible ground-floor venue & facilities.
Dog-friendly venue.
RAE MORRIS + guests // The Ferret is 20!
THE FERRET is 20!
"The Ferret is 20!" is a series of special events celebrating 20 years of The Ferret in Preston. Between May & August, we are presenting a series of shows featuring some of our favourite artists from around the world - as well as grassroots artists from the across the North West & around the UK.
AND, thanks to public funding by Arts Council England, this series of shows will all be FREE ENTRY &/or very low-cost. Our aim is to encourage more people to experience world-class live music in the intimate setting of The Ferret.
We'll be asking you to tell a friend, invite someone who has never been to The Ferret, invite someone who loves live music but hasn't been to a gig in yonks, maybe invite someone who doesn't even realise what's right on their doorstep.
RAE MORRIS
Blackpool-born Alt-Pop songwriter returns to the place it all began.
+ guests TBA
Local grassroots artists are encouraged to apply for support slots. See below.
Fri 24th July 2026
Doors 7pm
The Ferret, Preston
FIRST 50 TICKETS ARE COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE!
Then just £5 per ticket (while stocks last).
Claim your free or £5 tickets here:
To buy tickets for this event please visit our events page: RAE MORRIS + guests tba // The Ferret is 20! tickets from Skiddle .
Capacity is limited, so grab a FREE TICKET now to guarantee entry. PLEASE only take as many tickets as you need - if you need to return any tickets, please let us know so other Ferret Friends can use them.
Supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
>>> RAE MORRIS
Returning to the Ferret for the first time in more than 10 years, Blackpool born singer-songwriter Rae Morris is bringing new material to the place where it all began.
Whilst attending sixth form college, Preston became an important stomping ground; honing her craft of live performance in venues and bars around the north-west. After being signed to Atlantic records aged 19, Rae went to on release three studio albums of critical acclaim, touring extensively with the likes of Bombay Bicycle Club, Tom Odell and Jungle. As Rae's music evolved towards a more experimental, alt-pop sonic, reminiscent of artists such as Tori Amos and Patti Smith (with whom she had the pleasure of sharing a festival stage with), one thing that has always remained is her ability to tell a deeply personal story using the piano and voice. As she writes songs for her next body of work, a Ferret homecoming couldn't be more perfectly timed. Expect reflections on motherhood and identity with a hefty dose of northern appreciation!
>>> PLUS GUESTS TBA
Local grassroots artists are encouraged to apply for support slots. Please listen to the acts on the bill and put yourselves forward for relevant shows only. Applications can be made via our Apply To Play form which you can find here.
The Ferret is 20!
RAE MORRIS
+ guests tba
Friday 24th July 2026
Doors 7pm
The Ferret, Preston
Claim your free tickets at skiddle.com/e/42530577
Capacity is limited, so grab a FREE TICKET now to guarantee entry. PLEASE only take as many tickets as you need - if you need to return any tickets, please let us know so other Ferret Friends can use them.
Supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
_________________
All ages welcome (under 18s must be accompanied by a responsible adult).
Accessible ground-floor venue & facilities.
Dog-friendly venue.
PET NEEDS // Everywhere At Once x THE FERRET is 20!
THE FERRET is 20!
"The Ferret is 20!" is a series of special events celebrating 20 years of The Ferret in Preston. Between May & August, we'll be presenting a series of shows featuring some of our favourite artists from around the world - as well as grassroots artists from the across the North West & around the UK.
AND, thanks to public funding by Arts Council England, this series of shows will all be FREE ENTRY &/or very low-cost. Our aim is to encourage more people to experience world-class live music in the intimate setting of The Ferret.
We'll be asking you to tell a friend, invite someone who has never been to The Ferret, invite someone who loves live music but hasn't been to a gig in yonks, maybe invite someone who doesn't even realise what's right on their doorstep.
_________________
AND! This edition of The Ferret is 20! joins forces with Everywhere At Once Festival (powered by National Lottery) - The UK's biggest music festival on your doorstep! 1200+ gigs. 500+ venues.1 weekend.
Everywhere At Once x The Ferret is 20!
Another belter show as we welcome back Ferret Friends™ - PET NEEDS - explosive, relentless & showstopping!
PET NEEDS
Essex // High Energy Punk Rock
+ guests TBA
Local grassroots artists are encouraged to apply for support slots. See below.
Fri 26th June 2026
7pm - 11pm
The Ferret, Preston
FIRST 50 TICKETS ARE COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE!
Then just £5 per ticket (while stocks last).
Claim your free tickets here:
To buy tickets for this event please visit our events page: Everywhere At Once vs The Ferret is 20! ft PET NEEDS + guests tickets from Skiddle .
Capacity is limited, so grab a FREE TICKET now to guarantee entry. PLEASE only take as many tickets as you need - if you need to return any tickets, please let us know so other Ferret Friends can use them.
Claim your free tickets at skiddle.com/e/42455606
Supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
>>> PET NEEDS
Founded with humble bedroom-band beginnings by brothers Johnny and George Mariott and now joined by Jules (drums) and Ryan (bass) - PET NEEDS' career has been sky-rocketing ever since the release of their acclaimed debut 'Fractured Party Music' back in 2021. From getting signed, to SOLD OUT shows, rave reviews, to rabid fans, and embarking on extensive global tours with the likes of Frank Turner, The Lottery Winners, Flogging Molly; demand for these four lads from Essex has been on a trajectory with the stratosphere. Having attracted attention with their relentless live shows and powerful studio releases, PET NEEDS have attracted praise from the likes of Backseat Mafia, The Rodeo, Times Radio, NARC Magazine and more with the latter dubbing the showstopping Frank Turner-produced album 'Primetime Entertainment' as a record of "joyous experimentation".
>>> PLUS GUESTS TBA
Local grassroots artists are encouraged to apply for support slots. Please listen to the acts on the bill and put yourselves forward for relevant shows only. Applications can be made via our Apply To Play form which you can find here.
Everywhere At Once Festival x The Ferret is 20!
PET NEEDS
+ guests tba
Fri 26th June 2026
7pm - 11pm
The Ferret, Preston
Claim your free tickets at skiddle.com/e/42455606
Capacity is limited, so grab a FREE TICKET now to guarantee entry. PLEASE only take as many tickets as you need - if you need to return any tickets, please let us know so other Ferret Friends can use them.
Supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
#theferretis20 #tfi20
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All ages welcome (under 18s must be accompanied by a responsible adult).
Accessible ground-floor venue & facilities.
Dog-friendly venue.
THE ZAWOSE QUEENS (Tanzania) + guests // THE FERRET is 20!
THE FERRET is 20!
"The Ferret is 20!" is a series of special events celebrating 20 years of The Ferret in Preston. Between May & August, we'll be presenting a series of shows featuring some of our favourite artists from around the world - as well as grassroots artists from the across the North West & around the UK.
AND, thanks to public funding by Arts Council England, this series of shows will all be FREE ENTRY &/or very low-cost. Our aim is to encourage more people to experience world-class live music in the intimate setting of The Ferret.
We'll be asking you to tell a friend, invite someone who has never been to The Ferret, invite someone who loves live music but hasn't been to a gig in yonks, maybe invite someone who doesn't even realise what's right on their doorstep.
The Ferret is 20: We welcome back one of our favourite acts of 2025, the incredible Zawose Queens! Soaring chizeze fiddle, buzzing illimba thumb piano, ngoma drums that chatter & thunder - a blend of the organic, harmonic & modern-day electronic...
THE ZAWOSE QUEENS
Tanzania // Real World Records
+ DR AKP
UK-based Nigerian artist
+ TAEYBS
Lo-Fi Avant-Pop
+ Jazzin The Park DJs
African Vinyl + Broken Beats
Thurs 18th June 2026
7pm - 10:30pm
The Ferret, Preston
FIRST 50 TICKETS ARE COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE!
Then just £5 per ticket (while stocks last).
Grab your tickets here:
To buy tickets for this event please visit our events page: THE ZAWOSE QUEENS (Tanzania) + more tba // The Ferret is 20! tickets from Skiddle .
Supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
>>> THE ZAWOSE QUEENS
The Zawose Queens are Leah and Pendo Zawose of the Tanzanian Wagogo people, whose joyous otherworldly vocals and polyphonic rhythms deftly blend the acoustic, electronic, traditional and modern.
There is spirit and fire in the music of The Zawose Queens. There's the vibrations of the ancestors, coming through on traditional instruments - soaring chizeze fiddle, buzzing illimba thumb piano, ngoma drums that chatter and thunder - and voices that go deep, high and out there. There's the connection to nature, to ceremony and ritual, in their dance-inspired fusion, their blend of the organic, harmonic and modern-day electronic. There are lyrics that tell, in their native kigogo, of the passion for music, the wonders of life. Of pride in environment, in tradition. In their East African roots.
Pendo and Leah Zawose showcase the fluid polyrhythms and rapturous polyphonic singing of the Gogo (aka Wagogo) people of the arid, hilly Dodoma region of central Tanzania. The most famous exponent of this musical tradition is the late, great Dr Hukwe Zawose (Pendo's father and Leah's grandfather).
Maisha, the debut album by The Zawose Queens (on Peter Gabriel's Real World Records), marks the first time that women from this famous musical family take their place as lead vocalists and performers. Emboldened by workshops in songwriting and music production with visiting UK-based producers Oli Barton-Wood (Jordan Rakei, Obongjayar, Nilufer Yanya) and Tom Excell (Nubiyan Twist, Onipa), The Zawose Queens began writing their first ever songs. The resulting collection of songs range from the stripped back and traditional-sounding to those treated with subtle electronic elements, with beats and drops and found sounds and switch-ups.
+ DR AKP
UK-based Nigerian artist
+ TAEYBS
Lo-Fi Avant-Pop
+ Jazzin The Park DJs
African Vinyl + Broken Beats
The Ferret is 20!
THE ZAWOSE QUEENS
+ guests
Thurs 18th June 2026
7pm - 10:30pm
The Ferret, Preston
Claim your free tickets at skiddle.com/e/42448161
Capacity is limited, so grab a FREE TICKET now to guarantee entry. PLEASE only take as many tickets as you need - if you need to return any tickets, please let us know so other Ferret Friends can use them.
Supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
_________________
All ages welcome (under 18s must be accompanied by a responsible adult).
Accessible ground-floor venue & facilities.
Dog-friendly venue.
VERB T (The Four Owls) + guests - THE FERRET is 20! UK Hiphop Special
THE FERRET is 20!
"The Ferret is 20!" is a series of special events celebrating 20 years of The Ferret in Preston. Between May & August, we'll be presenting a series of shows featuring some of our favourite artists from around the world - as well as grassroots artists from the across the North West & around the UK.
AND, thanks to public funding by Arts Council England, this series of shows will all be FREE ENTRY &/or very low-cost. Our aim is to encourage more people to experience world-class live music in the intimate setting of The Ferret.
We'll be asking you to tell a friend, invite someone who has never been to The Ferret, invite someone who loves live music but hasn't been to a gig in yonks, maybe invite someone who doesn't even realise what's right on their doorstep.
The Ferret is 20! UK HIP-HOP SPECIAL
VERB T
The Four Owls // High Focus Records
HALF DECENT
Oxford-based rapper & producer
DJ MARK SKI
DJ & producer // FFSYTHO? live DJ
BRAPSCALLION
Lo-Fi House + Hip-Hop
PIQUE ROSCO
Northern Hip-Hop Wordsmith
WARRIOR TALES
Hip Hop & Spoken Word
BIG THINGS DJs
Beats & pieces
Fri 12th June 2026
7pm - late
The Ferret, Preston
FIRST 50 TICKETS ARE COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE!
Then just £5 per ticket (while stocks last).
Claim your free tickets here:
To buy tickets for this event please visit our events page: The Ferret is 20! ft VERB T + Half Decent + DJ Mark Ski + more tickets from Skiddle .
Capacity is limited, so grab a FREE TICKET now to guarantee entry. PLEASE only take as many tickets as you need - if you need to return any tickets, please let us know so other Ferret Friends can use them.
Claim your free tickets at skiddle.com/e/42447131
Supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
Check out the amazing lineup:
>>> VERB T
Verb T is one of the most prolific hip hop artists in the UK and a member of supergroup The Four Owls, he has worked with most of the biggest names in UK hip hop including Jehst, Sway, Harry Love and many more. Verbs is an artist with a unique style and lyrical outlook embracing classic 90's U.S hip hop as well as experimenting with new styles with his own production. Noted influences include artists such as Slick Rick, Al Green, De La Soul, and Jimi Hendrix. Verb T's music has covered topics of social awareness, paranoia, drug addiction and self improvement.
A cornerstone of UK underground hip hop, Verb T is known for his razor-sharp storytelling, dark humour and unmistakable laid-back flow. Emerging from London's late-90s open mic scene, he built a cult following through acclaimed solo releases, collaborations with producer Harry Love, and landmark projects on Low Life Records and High Focus Records.
A founding member of The Four Owls alongside Fliptrix, Leaf Dog and BVA, Verb T has toured extensively across the UK, Europe and the US, sharing stages and records with names including Sway, Jehst, DJ Premier, Kool G Rap and R.A. The Rugged Man.
With a catalogue spanning underground classics like Bring It Back To Basics, Morning Process and the Foggy trilogy with Illinformed, Verb T remains one of UK rap's most respected and consistent voices, still pushing forward with recent releases including The Tower Where The Phantom Lives and 2025's To Love A Phantom with Vic Grimes.
>>> HALF DECENT
Half Decent is an Oxford-London based rapper and producer turning heads in the UK and beyond. Half Decent puts relatable and thought-provoking lyrics at the forefront of his eclectic sound. He's a keen observational lyricist, who blurs the lines between genres, making him a truly unique artist.
>>> DJ MARK SKI
DJ Mark Ski is a Northampton hip-hop DJ, turntablist and producer widely regarded as the "Godfather of the Northampton Hip-Hop scene". Known for his razor-sharp cuts and heavyweight live sets, he's shared stages with some of the genre's biggest names and currently serves as live DJ for FFSYTHO, bringing raw energy and classic hip-hop craftsmanship to every performance.
BRAPSCALLION
Lo-Fi House + Hip-Hop
PIQUE ROSCO
Northern Hip-Hop Wordsmith
WARRIOR TALES
Hip Hop & Spoken Word
BIG THINGS DJs
Beats & pieces
The Ferret is 20! UK HIP-HOP SPECIAL
VERB T
HALF DECENT
DJ MARK SKI
BRAPSCALLION
PIQUE ROSCO
WARRIOR TALES
BIG THINGS DJs
Fri 12th June 2026
7pm - late
The Ferret, Preston
Claim your free tickets at skiddle.com/e/42447131
Capacity is limited, so grab a FREE TICKET now to guarantee entry. PLEASE only take as many tickets as you need - if you need to return any tickets, please let us know so other Ferret Friends can use them.
Supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
_________________
All ages welcome (under 18s must be accompanied by a responsible adult).
Accessible ground-floor venue & facilities.
Dog-friendly venue.
THE FERRET is 20! Launch Weekender ft Man of Moon, The DSM IV, Loose Articles, Zookraught, The Empty Page & much more!
THE FERRET is 20!
This year marks The Ferret's 20th Birthday! Throughout the year, we'll be bringing back some of our favourite artists from across 20 years of incredible live music, as well as introducing you to some incredible brand-new acts (as per).
And now, we’re very excited to announce a new project!
“The Ferret is 20!” is a series of special events celebrating 20 years of The Ferret in Preston. Between May & August, we’ll be presenting a series of shows featuring some of our favourite artists from around the world - as well as grassroots artists from the across the North West & around the UK.
AND, thanks to public funding by Arts Council England, this series of shows will all be FREE ENTRY &/or very low-cost. Our aim is to encourage more people to experience world-class live music in the intimate setting of The Ferret.
We’ll be asking you to tell a friend, invite someone who has never been to The Ferret, invite someone who loves live music but hasn’t been to a gig in yonks, maybe invite someone who doesn’t even realise what’s right on their doorstep.
We launch this program with a pair of all-dayers featuring some of our favourite bands…
The Ferret is 20! - Launch Weekender
FREE ENTRY ALL DAYERS
Sat 23rd + Sun 24th May 2026
3pm - late
The Ferret, Preston
Claim your free tickets here:
To buy tickets for this event please visit our events page: The Ferret is 20! Launch Weekender tickets from Skiddle .
Sat 23rd May:
MAN OF MOON
THE DSM IV
OORYA
THOSE FKKKKNG SNOWFLAKES
TRIANGLECUTS
POCKETKNIFE
HUMMUS
Sun 24th May:
LOOSE ARTICLES
ZOOKRAUGHT (usa)
THE EMPTY PAGE
THE RED STAINS
THE DIRT
MUTT
DREW YOUNG
Capacity is limited, so grab a FREE TICKET now to guarantee entry. PLEASE only take as many tickets as you need - if you need to return any tickets, please let us know so other Ferret Friends can use them.
Claim your free tickets at skiddle.com/e/42434771
Supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
Check out the amazing lineup:
>>> SAT 23RD MAY (doors 3pm)
MAN OF MOON
Since their beginning Man of Moon have been a standout live act. The Glasgow-based duo possess an extraordinary talent for cross-pollinating genres and styles but their sound is not hybridised, rather they are a synthesis of their influences; a pure sonic distillation of what has come before. You hear the mesmeric drones of Mogwai, the dynamic shifts of Radiohead, the harmonic angularity of Tool, the industrial amalgam of Nine Inch Nails, even hints of Pink Floyd's austere and abstract lyricism. Man of Moon are so much music in one band. And yet they've always sounded uniquely themselves; there is deep intentionality in every song's construction.
THE DSM IV
Formed in Liverpool in 2018 by former Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster frontman Guy McKnight, THE DSM IV crystallise the ultra real and the otherworldly, bringing a focused hyperrealism to the party. Their convention-defying live performances toy with audience expectations and stimulate questions of the narratives being sold to us as news—or entertainment—all to the beat of the drum machinist.
OORYA
- pronounced WHO ARE YA!? is a Queer Electro Punk Folk sonic excavation.
“We are pulsing against the tide of inequality, and the mycelium knows”
Made with a lyrically dancing neurodivergent synaesthetic soul machine; guitar, beats, synth and accompanied by Eon The Emotional Support Dinosaur. They are “incendiary” (BBC Introducing) “Breathtaking & Unforgettable” (Louder Than War) and a must see live! Guest artist on BBC 6Music’s Trunk Of Punk & signed to Society of Losers (Revolutionary Liverpool based record label) on their second gig.
“It is rare to see an artist so unique” (Future Yard)
THOSE FKKKKNG SNOWFLAKES
A vibrant clash of left wing punk, noise rock and jazz tinged math, a band formed as a means to scream out the dread and horror faced in these terrible times of our modern society. From the current mess of the UK political system to the intolerance of, well, everything. From race and gender to such simple items as Greggs releasing a Vegan Sausage Roll, the band are shouting about it backed with a tight unique sound and occasional off kilter humour.
"Deploying 1000 volts through the civility of discourse."
TRIANGLECUTS
Trianglecuts are a post punk electronic duo from Manchester. Recent gigs include supporting Dead Space Chamber Music and Vanishing at Samuel Worth Chapel in Sheffield, ‘Of Thee in the Tree’ at FellFoot Woods, Ulverston and ‘Say Hello Wave Goodbye’ at Aatma, Manchester.
POCKETKNIFE
Pocketknife are a Welsh/Mancunian melodic post-punk duo blending math-rock energy with hook-driven songwriting. Drawing influence from Biffy Clyro, PJ Harvey, Queens of the Stone Age and Dinosaur Jr., the band are known for intense live performances and have previously shared stages with Lightning Bolt, The Joy Formidable and Melt-Banana. After a hiatus, they've recently returned with new music and live shows.
HUMMUS
Lancaster four-piece Hummus blend prog-metal precision with funked-up grooves and leftfield pop hooks, serving up technically sharp original music packed with odd time signatures, soaring guitar work and plenty of personality.
>>> SUN 24TH MAY (doors 3pm)
LOOSE ARTICLES
Recently winning themselves coveted, high profile support slots with the likes of New Order, Foo Fighters, The Lovely Eggs, and Gang of Four, Loose Articles are a punk quartet with plenty to say. Specialising in discordant, hypnotic repetition, tales of nights out, and radical politics, their music speaks to all those determined to get through the age of austerity with tongue in cheek and two feet firmly on the dancefloor.
Plying repetition (repetition, repetition…) with ragged edges and a sardonic, sarcastic drawl delivered with fierce, in your face, punk-fueled attitude, both feminine & threatening, Loose Articles are here to make a point.
Already heavily championed by Steve Lamacq at BBC 6 Music (where they’ve also seen strong support from Chris Hawkins, Tom Robinson and Amy Lamé) the band have also picked up love from John Kennedy at Radio X, appearing on the Evening Playlist, and have appeared on Spotify’s The Punk List & championed by NME as one of The NME 100 list.
ZOOKRAUGHT (Seattle, USA)
3 piece dance-punk from Seattle - “Vida Violet is the captivating full length debut album of Seattle Dance-Punk trio Zookraught. From the opening squalls of Key and Lock, to the dizzying pace and frenetic energy of Chew Tobacco, Spit, and even a chaotic visit to the Waterparks of America (and Other Places, Too), Zookraught has adeptly transcribed the magic of their live shows that has developed for them a cult-like following in the Seattle punk scene. To the listener willing to let go and Get Zooked, Vida Violet is the album of the year.” - Jocelyn Crafts on Zookraught’s album VIDA VIOLET, out now!
THE EMPTY PAGE
Born in a humdrum town, Manchester alt-punkers The Empty Page started life in a freezing cold rehearsal space in a former cotton mill. Their anxious, energetic songs address heavy subjects like victim blaming, toxic anti-ageing rhetoric, and the end of the (f***ing) world but also bed rot, disco nostalgia, and house cats.
Fiercely independent, the band has released two LPs on its own DIY label. Unfolding, recorded with Gggarth Richardson (L7/Biffy Clyro/RATM) in Vancouver Canada, and Imploding produced by Morton Kong (Orielles/Everything Everything) in Stockport.
Between albums, a trio of 7-inch singles were released on bedroom label Punk Fox, and more recently, another trio, recorded with Matt Peel (Eagulls, Dream Wife, Bodega) at Nave Studios, a former church in Leeds. These catapulted the band beyond their cult status, with recent single A Feminine Ending shared by rock legends Courtney Love of the band Hole and Shirley Manson from Garbage.
THE RED STAINS
Cooking up a plastic fantastic disco-punk sound from a collage of musical influences, Manchester four-piece The Red Stains embrace the kitsch and the tacky as a power to disrupt the male-dominated music industry. Their sharp and sarcastic lyrics hold a mirror up to domestic everyday life: consumerism, mental illness, public transport, discount supermarkets and being queer.
Forming the Red Stains’ distinctive ready-meal-punk sound are four ingredients: Natalie Lauren’s fiery and powerful vocals hang over a backdrop of Sterling Kelly’s gritty, throbbing bass, Robyn Elliott’s drum beats that demand your attention and newly added into the mix; Liss Connelly’s cosmic synthesisers that shapeshift like shimmering stardust on nuclear alert to create the familiar ‘Red Stains’ chaos. Turn your microwaves up, turn the volume up, turn the hoover on and get ready to dance your socks off.
THE DIRT
The Dirt are a transglobal collaboration between Japanese musician Sachiko and partner Jack (aka Leon the pig Farmer), a spoken word artist living in Manchester UK. they combine Psych shoe gaze guitars, electronic rhythms and abrasive spoken verse to full genre bending effect.
MUTT
A selection of janky riffs and melodic bass lines, seamlessly blending atmosphere and groove with a political message! Preston-based band MUTT make motivated music for motivated people. No love songs here!
DREW YOUNG
Music enthusiast.
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The Ferret is 20! - Launch Weekend
FREE ENTRY ALL DAYERS
Sat 23rd + Sun 24th May 2026
3pm - late
The Ferret, Preston
Claim your free tickets at theferret.live/tfi20
Sat 23rd May:
MAN OF MOON
THE DSM IV
OORYA
THOSE FKKKKNG SNOWFLAKES
TRIANGLECUTS
POCKETKNIFE
HUMMUS
Sun 24th May:
LOOSE ARTICLES
ZOOKRAUGHT (usa)
THE EMPTY PAGE
THE RED STAINS
THE DIRT
MUTT
DREW YOUNG
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All ages welcome (under 18s must be accompanied by a responsible adult).
Accessible ground-floor venue & facilities.
Dog-friendly venue.
THE FERRET is 20! Bonnie Trash + Two Tonne Machete + Tay Temple
THE FERRET is 20!
This year marks The Ferret's 20th Birthday! Throughout the year, we'll be bringing back some of our favourite artists from across 20 years of incredible live music, as well as introducing you to some incredible brand-new acts (as per).
And now, we’re very excited to announce a new project!
“The Ferret is 20!” is a series of special events celebrating 20 years of The Ferret in Preston. Between May & August, we’ll be presenting a series of shows featuring some of our favourite artists from around the world - as well as grassroots artists from the across the North West & around the UK.
AND, thanks to public funding by Arts Council England, this series of shows will all be FREE ENTRY &/or very low-cost. Our aim is to encourage more people to experience world-class live music in the intimate setting of The Ferret.
We’ll be asking you to tell a friend, invite someone who has never been to The Ferret, invite someone who loves live music but hasn’t been to a gig in yonks, maybe invite someone who doesn’t even realise what’s right on their doorstep.
The Ferret is 20! - Show #1
BONNIE TRASH
Ontario - Canada - Post-Punk + Goth Rock
TWO TONNE MACHETE
NW + North Wales - DIY Feminist Punk
TAY TEMPLE
Alt Rock with a splash of Punk
Thurs 21st May 2026
7pm - 10:30pm
The Ferret, Preston
Claim your free tickets here:
To buy tickets for this event please visit our events page: The Ferret is 20! Bonnie Trash + Two Tonne Machete + guests tickets from Skiddle .
Capacity is limited, so grab a FREE TICKET now to guarantee entry. PLEASE only take as many tickets as you need - if you need to return any tickets, please let us know so other Ferret Friends can use them.
Claim your free tickets at skiddle.com/e/42434771
Supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
Check out the amazing lineup:
>>> BONNIE TRASH
Bonnie Trash is the project of twin sisters Emmalia and Sarafina Bortolon-Vettor, wedding post-punk's steeley-eyed austerity to goth rock's brooding grandeur. Rather than fashioning nightmares into reality, the band paints reality as a nightmare; rife with pain, suffering, and gothic theatre.
Like their forebears Joy Division, Black Sabbath, or John Carpenter, Bonnie Trash understands that everyday atrocities haunt the periphery of our lives. A black cloud looming on the edge of our vision. Curses abound. You can't ward them off. You'd best make an unholy racket.
Where their first full length, Malocchio (2022), shrouded Bonnie Trash's nightmares in dusky dreamlike reverb, Mourning You (2025) is vivid and immediate. Mourning You is less a post-mortem fantasia than a sudden, swift dagger to the heart. This is sorrow not as a lingering bruise, but a gushing wound.
Bonnie Trash has performed at renowned festivals across Canada, and has shared the stage with TRAITRS, Chastity, Dilly Dally, Bria Salmena, and The OBGMs. In 2025, they embarked on their first UK and USA tour, and played to a sold-out crowd at Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg. They have been featured in Guitar World, Metal Hammer, Classic Rock Magazine, Exclaim!, BrooklynVegan, and The Line of Best Fit.
>>> TWO TONNE MACHETE
TWO TONNE MACHETE are a feminist alt punk band who make authentic, high energy, feel good punk anthems based in North West England and North Wales. Fronted by Emily's powerful vocals and guitars, their sound is bass-driven, melodic and unrelenting-landing somewhere between Mannequin Pussy, IDLES, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Distillers. Fiercely political and unapologetic, their songs tackle misogyny, control, toxic masculinity, sexuality and dissent with full-throttle energy and depth, keeping punk ethos front and centre.
Proudly DIY yet fast gaining momentum, TTM have been featured on BBC Introducing Merseyside and Radio X (John Kennedy), nominated for Radio Wigwam's Best Band, and won Best Band and Best Song at the Punk AF Awards 2025. With standout festival appearances at Focus Wales, Manchester Punk Festival and Rebellion Festival, they're building serious buzz.
>>> TAY TEMPLE
Alt Rock with a splash of Punk, Tay Temple is one of Manchester’s most ferocious acts.
Her music is centred in proudly asserting her queerness, advocating for self-expression and finding power in your own narrative.
Tay’s striking and dynamic live performance captivates audiences with untamed guitars, thrashing drums and soaring vocals that are ultimately a joyous outlet of rage. Citing influences of Dream Wife, Crawlers & Avril Lavigne.
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The Ferret is 20! - Show #1
BONNIE TRASH
TWO TONNE MACHETE
TAY TEMPLE
Thurs 21st May 2026
7pm - 10:30pm
The Ferret, Preston
Claim your free tickets at theferret.live/tfi20 or skiddle.com/e/42438587
Capacity is limited, so grab a FREE TICKET now to guarantee entry. PLEASE only take as many tickets as you need - if you need to return any tickets, please let us know so other Ferret Friends can use them.
Supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
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All ages welcome (under 18s must be accompanied by a responsible adult).
Accessible ground-floor venue & facilities.
Dog-friendly venue.
