THE Ribble Valley’s first punk and new wave festival, Into the Valley, is ready to roll in the spring.

And Stephen Porter – the driving force behind the Ribble Valley Mod and Soul Weekender – predicts the April punk weekend, named after The Skids’ hard-edged anthem, can be just as big a hit as the autumn scooter celebration.

The snarling mayhem of The Sex Pistols Experience, featuring Kid Vicious and Johnny Rotter, will headline the punk bash.

Burnley’s The Joe Publix and The Stories, from Chorley, will provide the support acts at Clitheroe’s Grand Theatre with a host of other bands playing elsewhere in the town.

“We’ve been inundated with requests from groups across Britain wanting to play and that’s fantastic,” said Porter.

“We’ve created a great vibe and a good feeing with the Mod Weekender, and I’m confident the same thing can happen with Into the Valley. The Sex Pistols Experience are the perfect guests to top the bill, because it was the original Pistols, after all, who began the punk revolution in 1976.”

The Mod Weekender is a firmly established date in the diary now, and last year Secret Affair provided the headlining act. Previous acts have included DC Fontana and Essex boys Missing Andy.

“It is our first year doing the punk festival, so I suppose we are just testing the water, but we are really encouraged by the response we’ve had,” added Porter who has teamed up with pal Paul Derbo to stage the festival.

“There’s a lot happening in the Ribble Valley, with the Grand Theatre bringing bands from all over the world to Clitheroe and there’s The Beat-Herder festival.

“I think The Mod Weekender and Into The Valley is becoming a big part of that scene now.”

Porter said he is close to announcing the headliners for the Mod Weekender – staged in September – very soon, adding: “We beat all records last year, with tickets selling out in July. We could have done twice as many tickets, all the hotels and campsites in Clitheroe were booked up.

“A festival can bring so much into a town and the Mod Weekender is getting bigger every year now.”

Porter says several venues throughout Clitheroe will be getting involved in the punk festival.

“Into The Valley will start on Friday, April 17 and already we’ve got bands confirmed at Key Street (Urban Empire and Bush Art) and Microdots at the Castle.

“There will be DJs at various venues, and we are looking at a punk acoustic set at the New Inn, which is a great venue, while the Rose and Crown will be hosting live music also.”

  • Into The Valley punk and new wave festival. The Sex Pistols Experience plus support. Grand Theatre, Clitheroe, Saturday, April 18. Details from 01200 421599 or via: thegrandvenue.co.uk