Radio Arcane presents Dark Castle Fest A Gothic Music & Dark Arts Festival September 26 – 28th, 2024 Louisville, Kentucky

featuring the bands: Motuvius Rex, Attrition, Frenchy and the Punk, The Neuro Farm, Ghost Painted Sky, Blood Dance, Attic Eyes, The Dead Speak, Tokyo Teens, Sombre Arcane and more tba!

Frenchy and the Punk Perform on Saturday July 28th!

Frenchy and the Punk By way of an electro-acoustic hybrid guitar, loop pedals, fiery live acoustic and electronic percussion and synths, this artful two-person powerhouse creates their own distinct sound with elements of post-punk, darkwave and new wave. Formed in New York City in 2005 as more of a dark cabaret / folk punk act, their sound has expanded and evolved over the years from their relentless touring, which has amounted to nearly 1500 shows around the US, Canada, Europe and West Africa.

Opposites attract. French-born singer, keyboardist, percussionist, Samantha Stephenson, (yes, she was named after the Bewitched character) hails from a background of Dance, studying ballet, modern, jazz and hip hop, Piano and the Visual Arts, as a student of sculpture and painting. Guitarist Scott Helland comes from an entirely different background, the American Hardcore Punk scene of the 80’s. Helland was a founding member and bassist of the legendary hardcore band, Deep Wound which he formed with J Mascis and Lou Barlow now of Dinosaur jr. Helland still joins his old band mates on bass from time to time at clubs and arenas around the world and even performed at Fenway Park Stadium in Boston. He was also a member of Outpatients and School of Violence throughout the 80’s and into the 90’s.

Drawing inspiration from post-punk legends like The Cure, the upbeat energy and percussive textures of Adam and the Ants, the bewitching mystique of Siouxsie and the Banshees, and the quirky charm of The B-52's, Frenchy and the Punk have crafted a sound that is both nostalgic and refreshingly authentic delivered in an unorthodox way. Together Samantha, with her powerful gothy voice, and Scott, with his live looping guitar artistry and noir guitar riffage, have a compelling stage presence and spellbinding delivery that creates an infectious and mesmerizing wall of sound that pushes the boundaries of what two people can do, what Post-Punk.com calls “…a wonderful alchemy of complementary energies.”