It was a major bummer when I heard from Excuses Excuses (Canada) that they weren’t going to be able to make it down to play Foreign Dissent 8. In a post to Instagram, the band explained that “due to logistical circumstances far beyond our control, we have been forced to cancel our trip to the US this fall.”
Pretty soon thereafter, another band wisely saw an opportunity and reached out to me. Now joining the already stacked FD8 lineup is Australia’s Amends.
Like most of the other bands playing, this will be Amends first ever shows in the US. The Western Sydney-based quartet is the furthest traveling of the bands playing this year, and they have a new album coming out in September that you can experience in person in a couple months.
My name is Craig Mazer, aka Punching Babies. Foreign Dissent is my passion project, a once-a-year event that I curate and manage because I love it.
I do not take any funds from the event; in fact, I happily ‘lose’ money on FD, spending money out of pocket for printing posters and flyers, social media advertising, etc.
All of the money from tickets goes directly to the bands, including extra funds this year (Foreign Dissent 8) thanks to a sponsorship from Park Ave CDs, Orlando’s best record store.
Support this unique annual event and all the far-traveling bands by grabbing tickets now for FD8, October 23 at Will’s Pub in Orlando.
Incorporating elements of the classic ’60s Coppertone ad, the graphic coolness of retro postal stamps, and the oh-so-Florida alligator, this is a Foreign Dissent poster that’ll be hard to top. Joe has got his work cut out for himself next year.
Get tickets now and we’ll see you at Will’s Pub on October 23!
I’ve never pursued sponsorships for Foreign Dissent in the past. I didn’t want to tarnish the purity and DIYness of the event with anything that came off too corporate or “about the money.” So, I found a sponsor that fits perfectly into all of that.
Please welcome Park Ave CDs (website | Insta) as the first ever sponsor of a Foreign Dissent event. Thank you for your generosity in providing extra funds that will go directly to the bands playing FD8. I’ve been a supporter and customer of Park Ave CDs since the 1990s and they remain Orlando’s best record store and an incubator of musical creativity in our community.
FD8 is right around the corner, so it’s time to get familiar with the 7 bands, from 5 different countries, playing the event. It’s going to be an epic International Punk Rock Party. Learn more about the bands below, check out their videos and songs, and come prepared to party on October 23 at Will’s Pub in Orlando. GET TICKETS NOW!
Sunliner (England)
Visiting the US for the very first time, Sunliner hails from England. Their self-titled debut album came out in November 2022 and it’s an absolute gem. You may be familiar with the vocals, as singer Jake used to be in the band Jake & The Jellyfish.
Jaguero came up with their name during a drunken conversation while trying to recall the name of a famous soccer player. You’ll have to ask the band for more details when you see them at FD8! Formed in 2021, Jaguero dropped a killer EP in April 2022 called Worst Weekend Ever, which is loaded with melodic, anthemic jams. This will be their first visit to the United States!
Please welcome a late addition to the party, Eat Defeat from Leeds, England. Do you like pop punk? Yeah, I know you do. And Eat Defeat is here to satisfy your needs. The 5-piece has been blasting sick melodies for over a decade and they’re ready to entertain your ears and eyes at Foreign Dissent 8.
La Versión Extendida de las Cosas is coming to the US for their very first time, which is a real treat because they’ve been creating sick jams since 2014. It probably won’t surprise you that they will be the longest-named band to ever play Foreign Dissent, but you can also refer to them as La Versión if you need to save some time. Their latest album, Rituales Modernos, just came out in March 2023.
Rising like a phoenix from the sadness of Excuses Excuses’ unfortunate exit from the lineup, Amends slides right in to keep it stacked. And like most of the other bands playing, this will be their first ever shows in the US. The Western Sydney-based quartet is the furthest traveling of the bands playing this year, and they have a new album coming out in September that you can experience in person in a couple months.
It’s mind-blowing that this German powerhouse is only a trio, delivering a massive sound that is visceral. Despite a more than 10-year history and four full-length albums, this will be Fjørt’s first US visit. Their latest album, nichts, came out in late 2022 and is a tour de force of intensity and powerful musical landscapes.
This has been a long time coming. Burnt Tapes was initially scheduled to play Foreign Dissent 7 in 2020, but Covid had other plans. And as much as the band had hoped to make it a reality in 2022 when FD7 finally happened, it wasn’t meant to be. But here we are, doing the thing, with the London-based quartet finally making their FD debut, ready to bring their trademark melodic punk rock awesomeness to the United States once again.
There you have it – the full lineup for what is going to be an epic Foreign Dissent.Tickets are on sale now, so grab yours before they are gone. And we’ll see you at Will’s Pub on October 23!
But wait, there’s more. This is just the first announcement – there will be several more bands announced in early June. Get it in your calendar now: October 23, Will’s Pub, Orlando – probably $10!
It’s the announcement for the announcement you’ve all been waiting for. In a mere 16 days, I’ll be announcing the first bands for Foreign Dissent 8: International Punk Rock Party (Pre-FEST), representing at least three different countries: Italy, England, and Costa Rica.
It’s already an incredible lineup, and there’s still more to come. Get it in your calendar now: October 23, Will’s Pub, Orlando – $10!
First off, huge shoutout to Blaine Helmick, head of video production for Foreign Dissent. He used three cameras to catch multiple angles and then edited all seven sets. He overcame audio challenges we faced, completely out of our control, to still produce great work.
