IRKED came together in Newcastle in 2022, sparked by guitarist Simon “Hub” Hubbard and drummer Zach McDade. Pulling in vocalist Helen “Hells” Walkinshaw, bassist Mike Hill and second guitarist Sean Kenny, the bands former or overlapping projects include Biscuit Mouth, Blómm, Cave Suns, Frankie & The Heartstrings, Lavotchkin, Pet Crow, Pure Graft, Tough Tits, Shy-Talk and Weekend Faithful. Despite bringing instincts from so many varied backgrounds, IRKED themselves deliver straight-up and very direct punk rock.

Snotty, noisy and DIY, IRKED launched with their debut single Backstreets taking aim at manipulative predators within the local music scene. A strong and confrontational opening statement, the song earned them a place on BBC Introducing’s “Ones to Watch 2024” list as they built their reputation with support slots. Their self-titled debut EP was released in May 2024, with five tight and filthy high-energy tracks full of dirty riffs, furious drums and an intense vocal delivery from Walkinshaw. Off the back of the EP IRKED played at Manchester Punk Festival and supported PIGSx7 on their 2025 UK tour, before working with their producer Sam Grant on their debut album The Grievance.

Plenty of bands can be funny, and plenty of bands can be furious, but very, very few are capable of holding both simultaneously. Raging against the machine by pointing and laughing at the absurdity of it, IRKED wear their North Eastern DIY roots with pride and we believe they may well be the next essential punk band.

We read that the name IRKED came before most of the band members. If it’s not already obvious, why did you choose the name IRKED?

Can you tell us about your various musical backgrounds and other projects?

What was the initial goal when you formed the band?

Do you have a rule about trying to be funny in your writing, or is it just what emerges when you jam together?

Is there an inherent tension between being a political band and being funny as fuck?

Can you take our readers through some of the targets of your rage that have featured in your songs so far?

Tell us about Newcastle. What are the best venues, and who are the legends of the scene that keep it all going?

What do Geordie bands have in them that London bands never could?

What’s coming for the band in the near future?

Finally, what is ultimate goal of IRKED?