Review by John Callaghan for MPM
Sometimes you go to a gig because it’s a gig and sometimes you go because it’s a lot more. Sometimes it’s a reunion, a party, a celebration, an opportunity to reconnect with the past and an opportunity to re-commit to the future.
Well, on Saturday 22nd of August 2026 I found myself hurrying to Custom House Square in Belfast to see our greatest punk band; Stiff Little Fingers (commonly abbreviated to SLF) with 5000 others of a similar frame of mind. The annual Putting the Fast in Belfast is more than a gig; it’s a mini festival celebrating how we and the band have travelled and acclaiming the impact of punk on the city.
SLF was formed at the height of The Troubles and has that scar run through their music like a seaside message through a stick of rock. Its hard to separate the 1970s/1980s politics of Northern Ireland from the DNA of SLF. They could have turned inwards, moping and complaining but that’s not the punk way. SLF, while acknowledging the situation, gave us hope, a wider perspective to focus on and a sense of togetherness that has stood the test of time and gelled with many way beyond Belfast’s streets who have entered their influence over the years. For a city that was once a ghost town SLF’s August gig has produced a magnificent juxtaposition by bringing together an invasion of diehard fans from every corner of Ireland, Britain and far beyond. This year was no different. Accents mingled, friendships renewed and a fine collection of fluorescent coloured Mohicans nestled among the greying hair. Fans from the 1970s stood shoulder to shoulder with teenagers just discovering the band all, with equal validity, claiming the band and their music.
First on stage was The Sabrejets, a local four-piece rockabilly band fronted by the wonderful Brian Young, a Belfast punk icon from his days in seminal band – Rudi. Though modest and quietly spoken on stage Brian has a hell of a presence, and we were treated to some real toe tappin’ rockabilly which was finished off with a thumping version of I Fought the Law. I swear there was a punky edge to it that would have got the seal of approval from The Clash.
It was great to see that a sizeable crowd had decided to come early to experience The Sabrejets and, judging by the cheers and applause, they won a lot of new friends.
Next up was Ruts DC, good friends of SLF, and of Belfast, having performed on the bill in 2017. With effortless ease they settled into their all too brief set, but man, they were really on a mission! They crammed in the big hits ending with a great trio of In a Rut, Babylon’s Burning and Staring at the Rude Boys.
Front man, Segs Jennings, finished the performance with a chant of “Never Surrender” which was taken up by the appreciative crowd.
The Undertones, took to the stage next and wasted no time launching headfirst into up-tempo classics Jimmy, Jimmy, You’ve got my Number and Male Model. We knew we were in for a treat! As the applause died down singer Paul McLoone beamed at the audience and loudly announced “isn’t punk rock great!” There was no dissent from the ecstatic assembly! A great front man, McLoone, in his wonderful Derry accent, instructed us in some gig etiquette; “We play a song then stop and you clap, that’s how it works”. I think he was preaching to the converted, but the level of approval rose accordingly. The Undertones continued to ratchet up the pace, throwing the sublime Teenage Kicks into the mix on the way.
A very enthusiastic and furious version of Here Comes the Summer had me remarking to myself that we have been rather lucky with the weather for the gig over the last 8 years. Get Over You blasted out from the stage to the now frenzied crowd. 5,000 eager people had found their voice and were joining in to the perfect pop punk. The Undertones ended their set with McLoone strutting his stuff and leading the overhead clapping to My Perfect Cousin.
The audience was well and truly warmed up and we are hungry for more. There is something amazing about seeing The Undertones perform, smiling and laughing with each other on stage. They have never lost the wonder, sense of fun and the enthusiasm of youth and still perform like excited teenagers. It’s what punk is all about. Its infectious!
The stage was cleared for the main event. After what seemed like an age (brilliantly filled by Belfast legend Terri Hooley on the decks pumping out an incredible mix) Blockbuster by The Sweet blared out at a rather louder volume signalling something was about to happen. The roadies performed the final tweaks to the kit, the stage lights dimmed and the instrumental Go For It from the 1981 album of the same title blasted out. The hairs on the back of my neck stiffened, as usual, and Stiff Little Fingers entered the stage from the right. 5000 people raised 2 hands and on each of those hands two fingers were held aloft in what could, in another context, be considered an obscene gesture. Pure joy washes over the crowd. There are no words to Go For It so we sing our own “…da, da, da, diddly do, da, da, da, diddly do do…”. On a good evening this would rival a 10 KW PA system and 22/08/2026 was one of those evenings.
The band take up familiar positions – Rhythm guitarist, Ian McCallum, on the left, Ali McMordie on bass to the right, vocalist and lead guitarist, Jake Burns, nestles into the centre in front of drummer Steve Grantley. A long drum intro started Tin Soldier. I was surprised by this choice of opener. It usually nestles towards the end of the set when the crowd have been adequately excited or in the encore. Ian’s rasping vocals add a edge. Straight into Nobody’s Hero and Roots, Radicals, Rockers and Reggae. What an opening of high energy! SLF mean business and the pace never slackened throughout the rest of the set. We were all teenagers again. Jake paused with a “Good evening Belfast!” to the rapturous crowd.
He now lives in the USA and brought his Belfast wit, observation and values with him. Recent song writing has focused on events in the US with clear parallels to his young life in Belfast. The incumbent in the Whitehouse was taken to task to much appreciation from the crowd and ICE was likened to “a private Gestapo”. We were treated to a more recent song; Raise Your Heart. SLF are certainly no nostalgia band! Back to Front was followed by State of Emergency. Jake mentioned American boxer, Sonny Liston, and the prejudice he faced for simply being black. He wrote Walking Dynamite about it. Silver Lining brought us back to 1981 and to a government slashing pensions and services.
From the same period At the Edge, a dive into teenage angst ensued. Jake relived a chat with his dad after performing the song on Top of the Pops in which his dad recognised the words as his own! The tough upbringing of working-class children in Britain at the time was laid bare by the poignant Bits of Kids. Listen was next. By now the Belfast crowd was lost in the moment, mesmerised by Jake’s stage presence and the tight band. He introduced the fantastic cover of The Specials Doesn’t Make it Alright. A real crowd pleaser and we helped with the vocals. Just Fade Away followed and then the greatest dig at paramilitaries; Wasted Life. I was overjoyed that my youngest son, a peacetime baby, belted out the lyrics with as much venom and passion as I did at his age all those years ago. Cheers Jake! Putting the Fast in Belfast 8 was drawn to a close with a pair of much anticipated classics.
When the first unmistakable bass notes of Gotta Get Away rang out I focused in on Ali. He was on the far side of the stage from my vantage point, but I could see he was quite clearly enjoying it. Each iconic chord of one of punk’s greatest bass lines was played with great aplomb. Mr McMordie is an exceptional player, well respected in the punk community. The over excited crowd started singing the opening lines way too soon. Ali milked it. He knew he was in charge and from the grin on his face he basked in every single second of it.
No pause for applause and it was straight into their very first single from 1978; Suspect Device. Jake sang with more energy and feeling than ever and no-one can accuse SLF of going through the motions. The crowd went wild and the pogo spread out from the front mosh pit. Then they were gone with a quick “Goodnight Belfast”. After the popular chant of “one more tune, one more tune…” the inevitable happened and they took to the stage again.
The encore kicked off with the welcome return of reggae themed Johnny Was. Drummer Steve produced a next level intro, making the classic very much his own. Jake poured on some real emotion. He seemed so energised by the crowd singing along and we became part of the band. Without a pause for breath and without dropping a note Jake hit the famous D chord that signalled “the national anthem” – Alternative Ulster. The crowd became a unitary out of control mass! The band filed off the stage with Jake throwing out a tease about next year and we were left exhausted and ecstatic.
SLF are certainly in a class of their own when it comes to reproducing the spirit, the energy and anarchy the late 1970s. They took the audience on a mesmerising trip through the timeless anthems with an energy never flagging from the explosive opening salvo. We were taken on a journey through the albums and, at times, brought right up to date. Jake has a wonderful way with his crowd hitting the perfect balance of engaging the audience and letting the music do the talking. But SLF isn’t a one-man band, they are a tight unit, and all make their presence known. As the crowd thins out and disperses, I wonder what Jake has in mind for next year’s 50th anniversary. It will give him a headache to top Putting the Fast in Belfast 2026. Good!
Photography by Darren Mcveigh for MPM
