Hi Tim, can you tell us a bit about the origins of the band? I’ve known your band for about the past seven years, but can you tell me where and when you got started, your inspirations/influences and the personnel?

Ha ha, it’s a long story…myself and drummer Cank were at Primary and Comprehensive together, but teamed up about 3 years after school to form a ‘proper band’ (Poke it with a stick) .We did ok, half a dozen John Peel plays and a tour supporting the Inspiral Cartpets. Then I was about to booted off my art degree, so we bailed in 1990. A monster lay-off bought along PALOOKA 5. Myself and Cank, joined by bassist Si, Hammond player Alex AND my Mrs Bethan on joint vocal, theremin, and one finger synth runs. We have been signed to the SPINOUT NUGGETS label since 2019, releasing three  (soon to be four) 12” LPs and a 7” EP.

What music do you enjoy listening to?

Wow that’s almost a whole other interview! Thankfully the whole band have pretty catholic tastes. Basically, anything but folk  music! We know how lucky we were to be born late 60s early 70s –  meaning we all have vast record collections. 1950’s 60’ s70’s 80’s 90’s so rockabilly, beat, psych, soul, country, prog , punk  rap the lot !… for instance, drummer Cank has a killer early rap selection, whilst organ boy Alex, brings Vangelis to the fun. It all adds up to a pretty mental melting pot of influences to pull on. No rules, which is healthy… no time for the rigid narrow mindedness…except when it comes to folk music.

The surf influences are probably what initially drew me to you, that and a similarity to the B52s, but I think I‘m correct in saying that the band’s sound has evolved, would that be fair? 

The 2025 version I would describe and ‘Blade Runner meets B52s’. We still remain true to our original surf brief – but we have gradually expanded our sound as sound has we have developed in what we now call ‘Sci Fi Surf’.  We play all over the country and in Europe too recently (Spain and Germany)

Could you tell us a bit about the band’s releases? Where can fans buy your releases?

Our next release is 160th release on Spinout Nuggets label . We are so grateful to Lee Grimshaw’s continued support of us. The new record ‘MetroKino’ is limited to 400 vinyl copies available on blue vinyl. It is Palooka 5’s 5th release with the label following Ultra Marine EP 2020, Rough Magic LP 2021, Alien Grace, LP 2022 and Radio Telescopes EP 2022. All are available via the SPINOUT NUGGETS label website (www.spinoutproductions.com)

Can you tell me about your latest project and the shows that will accompany it?

The LP is called MetroKino. Eleven original tracks, inspired by Fritz Lang’s 1927 expressionist classic film ‘Metropolis’. A goofball riot of ‘live’ instrumentation, retro flair and a whole new direction inspired by one of the films I studied at college. Strap in for a theremin, vocoder, retro synth ride, blended with the twang of 1960s-tinged sci-fi surf. As I mentioned earlier, think B-52s meets Blade

Runner. Its interesting Metropolis’s influence in 2025. Many themes from the original 1927 release (a 100 years ago) are still relevant. Themes such as Ai, social justice, worker exploitation and the rise of the ‘culture wars’ etc…ring true in today..

To support the release of MetroKino we  play 5 dates at to accompany Metropolis:

Saturday 20th September 2025 – London LP Launch Event  – Stow Film Lounge, St Mary’s, Walthamstow, E17 9RJ

Saturday 27th September 2025 – Taunton, Creative Innovation Centre, TA1 3PF

Friday 10th October 2025 – Bridport, Bridport Arts Centre, DT6 3NR

Saturday 11th October 2025 – Bristol, The Cube Cinema, BS2 8JD

Saturday 22nd November 2025 – Birmingham, The Mockingbird Cinema, B9 4AA

Can you tell me a bit about your annual Broadbeat festival?

Broadbeat is an all dayer I run as part of my CLUB KONG PRESENTS club night I run in Taunton. I have run the club night since 2017 at The Creative Innovation Centre Taunton. The Broadbeat all dayer happens in Broadway in Somerset. It has ‘sold out’ in 2023 and 2024, so have plans to increase it in 2026 to a full on weekend event. The format is 8 bands, 6 DJs (lap top DJs need not apply for next years event), plus go go girls, hog roast, woodfired pizza. £25 for the whole day plus free camping. It has been a ton of fun featuring killer bands, Oh! Gunquit, Big Boss Man, The Trouble, Cavegirl and the Neandergals my lot Palooka 5 etc etc. This year we have punk rock royalty Rat Scabies on the bill with his surf combo The Sinclairs. Check out my ‘Club Kono Presents’ page for line up and more info about this years Broadbeat rave up.

Nick Kemp

Buy a copy of Palooka 5’s newest album, ‘Metrokino’, here