What could be better than doing good while you’re enjoying some top tier psychobilly? That’s the mission behind Psychobilly Kicks Back, now spread across three countries: kick cancer in its metaphorical behind while we celebrate the joy of great psychobilly. With a tremendous lineup, a quick Ryanair over to Essen was in order to make the most of the opportunity. 

Kicking off the afternoon with an album launch seemed like the perfect start. Tom Toxic & die Poison Jerrys, the band founded at PKB two years ago, return with their debut album and their definitive lineup. Between covering ‘Dirty Old Town’ and the party energy behind ‘Freak Out!’, it’s exactly the show you’d want from a band hungry to make their mark on the scene. Bilingual lyrics, all the bass from Slappin Rockabee and a whole lot of soul make them an early highlight of the day.

Mind Fucks bring stompin psycho with their roots firmly in the punk end of the scene, but with enough bass slap and jangle to rise above the harshness of the vocals. With amazing tiger hair, a rowdy sense of horror and a serious groove on their faster tracks, we’re absolutely loving it as Don’t Panic refills to ‘Friends with Benefits’, their anti love song with some serious power behind it. 

Between Elias’ amazing voice and their rough and ready psycho attitude plus with slamming bass from Mad Mark, we’re going wild for the Lunatics’ tex-mex edge. ‘Ain’t Got No Cigarettes’ features surprising sophistication and whirls of dark desperation served with a cheeky grin and rock riffs, and the odd vocal harmony moment adds retro class to their genre-hopping melodies before a triumphal punkish finish.

“Are you ready for some fuckin rock n roll?” shouts Marco, giving Damage Done by Worms’ set an outlaw start, all tightly plotted Gretsch induced heaviness with prevailing streak of gutsy Americana before ‘Damage Done By Worms Tonight’ flings out growly twang menace.  They’ve got a completely different angle song by song, united by polish and a ton of jangly crowd appeal, and, of course, great classic buildups on the dark rockin tracks and there’s always a satisfying clatter of drums to close. The frontman jumps into the crowd for a blues harp gruffness moment, narrowly avoiding the wreckers at the front of the stage.

Finland’s Flatline Rockers are packed with drama and energy as AV drags his mic stand across the stage, their horror punk tinges never getting in the way of a good time. Their update to ‘Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye’ really works, full of sincerity and sense of fun, and their show is always electrifying, like a spiral staircase of ska beats and magic mirror 80s energy. Psychobilly can be anything you make of it, after all, and their devil may care attitude pays off. ‘Alcohol’ sparks a full on psycho party with its bouncing  glory: neon tripwire guitar, then walls of pure nasty psycho. Closing out with a cover of Batmobile’s  ‘Mad At You’, bursting with melodic omph and rage, is a genius move.

Thousands of Euros were raised towards the fight against cancer over the course of the day, and we’re left with a sense of wellbeing along with the warm glow of community….plus more than a few aching heads the next day.

Kate Allvey

Psychobilly Kicks Back returns on 1st February 2026 in London! Featuring the Dead Shout, Surfin Wombatz, Sin Kings, the Belmont Beach Weirdos, Dead Hombres, Meltdown Kids, the Pharoahs, Thee Creepfreaks and the Highliners…get your tickets here