Dirty Squatters
From 1980s to the 2000s Josie and Gwyn were Welsh traveller kids who lived outside the law with their family in the punk rock band 2000 DS. The band toured the major squat venues of America & Europe, where they witnessed waves of political upheaval, framing the band’s many amazing adventures in a now vanished world.
But in 2011 the kids were involved in a Jamaican road accident which destroyed the band, killed their family and left them with traumatic injuries.
With the discovery of a suitcase full of their father’s videotapes, Josie and Gwyn retrace the band’s doomed journey and rediscover their past.
- Genre: Archive, Documentary, Music
Welsh Connections
- Cast: Josie Bamford, Gwyn Bamford, Gary Bamford, Paul Bamford
- Filming Locations: Cwmbran Town Centre & on and around Twmbarlwm Mountain
- Other Welsh Connections:
- Narrative: The Bamford brothers grew up in Cwmbran, where Gary and his father were Welsh Trials bike champions. They frequently rode their bikes on Twmbarlwm Mountain, supposed burial place of King Bran (King of the Crows) and Gary used the motif of a crow throughout his musical career, nurturing a ‘Crow Posse’ of devoted groupies. Twmbarlwm was the scene of Gary’s first musical festival in 1986 and although it was shut down by the Gwent Constabulary and Gary imprisoned, he went on to plan and organise many more festivals and gigs across Wales and the World. Twmbarlwm was the spiritual home of the band and the family still return there to honour the memory of Gary, Kath and the rest of those who died in Jamaica.
- Lots of 2000DS songs reference Wales (Rechem, Blue Bile), features a poem spoken in Welsh in the film. The film features a strong recurring theme which explores Welsh legends and mysticism. Welsh interviewees, including Taf from the band Disorder and Mark ‘Sparky’ Philipps.
Other Key Production Details
- Director: Andrew Gaston
- Producer / Exec Producer: Aaron Trinder
Technical Details
- Running time: TBC
- Language: Bilingual (English / Welsh)
- Certificate: Uncertified
- Accessible Formats: Subtitles
Release
- Date: December 2026
Links
- Screenings: Doc’n’Roll Spring UK Tour
Rights holder / distributor: Dirty Squatters Film / AG Films
Booking / contact details: Andrew Gaston - [email protected]