Anarchistwood describe their music as “prank rock”, and their live shows are a full-on sensory experience, made up of face paint, costumes, and props. This year, they’re bringing their anarcho-punk theatrics to the LOUD WOMEN stage at Rebellion Festival.
Get to know the band…
How did you all meet and when was Anarchistwood formed?
Funkcutter: I started anarchistwood with Candiflip Blackwood in 2005 – the first music was written and uploaded to the internet archive November 22nd, and formed the basis of the first album “Blessed are the Cracked, for they Let in the Light.” Other members arrived from multiple locations across the world, and some from outer space. So far Anarchistwood has had 44 members flow through our time-space reality, and I am the only original member left.
As for current members… David “the wasp” Kahl aka Old Ernie was a fan of the Rude Mechanicals and came to gigs we put on with them at Inn on the Green and at the Sunflower Lounge in Birmingham with Wrapped in Plastic. We gained him as a guitarist in 2015, and probably lost him as a fan.
Scarlet Carsen, also of Bug Central, the longest serving drummer the group have been blessed with, was recommended by psychic Gail Hart when we were in need. He thought he was only doing one gig and he’s been with us now since Imbolc 2016.
J. Mitch Flacko, levitating bassist, long serving member of Hagar the Womb, The Mekons, Big Bottom was inducted into the fray Yule 2017. He wears the suit, or does the suit wear him?
Glenn Noble is a long standing bassist around London and the Southeast (Red Anger, Anoraks) and was also in an outfit called BRUNK – a Brass Punk band – that I was co-opted into. When completing the Chiasmata album after the demise of our instigator, I recruited Glenn and Lydia onto the album, which we then went on to perform live outside All Ages Record Shop in Camden, June 2021, wearing outfits created by Monsterlune Estelle Riviere. Glenn became a permanent member of the band until he was most cruelly whisked away in December ’24. Glenn plays baritone horn and Lydia Fischer, the band leader plays trombone and they will both be attending this gig in Blackpool. We are extremely fortunate, as Glenn now lives in Chicago and Lydia has retuned home to her native France.
Pin Swine aka AJ Lyng joined on guitar when David, who lives in rural Oxfordshire, put his foot down about south London gigs and insisted we find another string shredder. Pin Swine has completed
that level with aplomb and joins us from Pagan Witch Punk band Rites of Hadda.
Dangerous Dinky has been heraldic in wood history and we have performed together since her days in Organ Donner at the Grosvenor Stockwell in the early twenty-teens. Although she is the baby of the band in years of service, if it feels like Dinky has always been there, it’s because she has. Stalwart Babylondinium bike courier and party animal extraordinaire, Dinky has always got your back on stage, at the rave, and in a fight, where she will defend you by screaming GUITAR WANKER at the top of her lungs and scare off any wannabe types from the entire area.
Glenn Brunk: I am one of the more recent members of the gang. Anarchistwood claimed my attention due to a performance at the legendary 12 Bar Club in Denmark Street, Soho. Apart from the music, I enjoyed Funk Cutter’s penis hula skirt! A couple of years later, as fate would have it, Funk and Frank jammed/rehearsed with a punk brass band I was in called BRUNK! Subsequently while the Chiasmata album was gestating, Frank was looking to add brass to a couple of the tracks. Brunk bandmate Lydia Fischer and I were pleased to do so. When asked if we could repeat this feat live, the answer was YES! and the whole sordid association ensued…
Pin Swine: Clowns.
For anyone not familiar with your music, how would you describe your sound?
Funkcutter: Prank Rock.
Glenn Brunk: Hummable pop tunes suitable for children of all ages.
Pin Swine: Clowns.
If you had to recommend one of your songs to a new listener, which one would you choose?
Funkcutter: Bomb in a Luggage Rack.
Glenn Brunk: Stumpfucker – covers a lot of the bases; filth, depravity, and comedy.
What can we expect from your set at Rebellion?
Funkcutter: To look round confused at everyone else with your mouths open.
Glenn Brunk: Ideally a lot of noise, mass panic, and spontaneous orgasms. Will settle for orgasms.
Pin Swine: Clowns.
You’re playing the LOUD WOMEN stage this year. What would you say to someone who maybe doesn’t understand why we still need things like LOUD WOMEN?
Funkcutter: For many years I was anti-feminism and ascribed more to humanism as I thought the world had grown up. Over the long time of witnessing continuing misogyny in multiple countries, including the ones of our birth, I’ve realised we have to keep flying the righteous flag. With world leaders co-existing as convicted sex offenders, the abysmal stupidity or cruelty of the manosphere is more pertinent now than ever.
Glenn Brunk: If you don’t understand why, then wake the fuck up, dickhead.
Pin Swine: Clowns.
Are there any other bands on the line-up you’re particularly looking forward to seeing?
Funkcutter: Split Dogs – could watch them over and over – we have done many gigs with this gang and they are the dog’s proverbial. Yur Mum – same, fantastic band that we’ve crossed path with a lot. Zounds are always a pleasure to witness.
Glenn Brunk: Are The Menstrual Cramps on?
Pin Swine: Yes. [ed– actually, no they’re not playing Rebellion, but they are playing LOUD WOMEN Fest!]
Could you tell us a bit about Black Triangle Films?
Funkcutter: BTF started when a filmmaker, Stud, offered to make a video for Bomb in a Luggage Rack back in 2017. We gathered our band mates, lost a bassist, and therefore this first video portrays main guitarist and instigator Candiflip Blackwood (RIP) playing bass, the Wasp on guitar, Scarlet Carsen on drums and lil ol me on vox, and all on a bouncy castle. After working with Stud on this project in a cold unheated house in Surrey over a November weekend, we realised we made an excellent team. Me and Stud created under Black Triangle Films on several other popVid pieces together for Jemma Freeman and the Cosmic Something, and Anarchistwood’s music video / short film “Fear is the Mind Killer”, winning Portobello Film Festival’s music award 2018. Black Triangle Films went on to produce works for The Frixion, Mark Charles and the White Reflectors, Wendy Rae Fowler, Shooting Daggers, Rita Lynch, Seamoss out of Portland, Oregon, and Italian electronic act Strange in Stereo.
Me and Stud continue to VJ for Convoy Cabaret at Bearded Theory festival and the Naughty Corner festival in Somerset annually. This year we will be doing a few private festivals too.
Glenn Brunk: I volunteered to be a gofer, and ended up appearing in the film (actual film not video!) Candy Run, commissioned for Portland Oregon-based DIY electronics, drums and vocals band Sea Moss, so hooray for Hollywood or possibly Cricklewood.
Pin Swine: Clowns.
What else are you up to this year – any tours/festivals/releases you want to tell us about?
Funkcutter: This year is Anarchistwood’s vicenarian, and therefore are celebrating this momentous feat with a happening at the Finnish Church in London, where we had our last album – Chiasmata – launch in March 2022. Joining us are many prior performing members of Anarchistwood on various tracks. It promises to be the mother of all reunions, and who knows if any Malificents will attend! We are also supported by the fabulous Rude Mechanicals – Ex Gratia label mates. Klank Monster will perform their righteous unpop sounds to all worshipers, and Dirty Honky will be the Master of Ceremonies. We also have recruited Max Quirk to DJ and Bisonx, who we couldn’t do without, will be on sound.
Besides that excitement, Anarchistwood are playing LOUD WOMEN’s pre-Rebellion gig at the Lexington 3rd August, supporting MDC at the New Cross Inn 4th August, playing Rebellion Introducing Stage c/o Loud Women 10th August, Griffstock over the Bank Holiday weekend, Convoy Cabaret Naughty Corner 4-7th September, Rude Mechanicals album launch 25th September, and starting off 2026 by hosting Anarchistwoodfest at the Hope and Anchor c/o Timmy DeRella’s Rockaway Beach on 30th January with our buddies Rites of Hadda, Agents of the Lexicon and Jem Moore.
One of the plans was to get a new album out, but with my Psychology masters and health constraints, we have had to delay slightly. Planning Anarchistwood’s fifth album and sixth LP release (work that out if you can) “blooming, buzzing confusion” will be released 2026.
Pin Swine: Clowning.
And finally, is there anything else you’d like to add?
Funkcutter: Peace on Earth.
Glenn Brunk: Keep your eyeballs white and keep your needle clean.
Pin Swine: Yes, frequently.
Thank you so much to Funkcutter, Glenn Brunk, and Pin Swine for answering these questions!
Rebellion Festival takes place 7-10 August 2025 – full details and tickets here
You can find anarchistwood on their website | Facebook | Instagram
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