The Mekons to play free show in Rehoboth Beach

For Jon Langford and British punk band the Mekons, craft beer and punk rock have something in common.

Langford and the eight-person band will be right at home when they hit Rehoboth Beach's Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats for a free show Saturday, July 18.

“The craft brewery thing is parallel to punk – it's against the big breweries,” Langford said as he paused while driving to a gig in Wisconsin this week. “Especially in Chicago – and with Sam Calagione and his cronies, there's a lot of camaraderie and just supporting each other.”

Langford was recruited to design some beer bottle labels, including the design for Dogfish's 75-minute IPA. He also designs the posters for Dogfish's annual Analog-A-Go-Go's celebration of vinyl records, art and craft beer.

Langford and some art students in Leeds, England, formed the Mekons in the late 1970s. After decades of music, more than two dozen records, some side-project bands and some solo performances, the Mekons has regrouped for its first tour since 2011. The Rehoboth performance will be the first Delaware show for the Mekons, but not the first for Langford.

Bandmate Tom Greenhalgh said he's looking forward to performing in Delaware, where the Mekons will deliver what he described as a wide mixture of sounds – from punk-rockish roots to mutated country folk – with electric guitar, bass, drums, violin, accordion, gorgeous voices and a little bit of comedy.

“It's just quite spontaneous,” he said. “If people have open ears, they may enjoy it, quite possibly. You can dance to it, you can also, if you choose, have an intellectual discussion. You can make out. It's all available, whatever you want.”

Langford and Greenhalgh agreed that the smaller venue in Rehoboth will make for an interesting evening, both for the band, fans or the people who just happen to be there drinking beer.

“I think once we've drunk lots of beer, it'll be a rocking, peculiar, enjoyable show,” Langford joked in his strong British accent.

There is no cover charge for the show, which starts at 10 p.m. at Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats at 320 Rehoboth Ave. in Rehoboth Beach.

The Mekons are currently on tour and expect to record a new album this month, the first since “Ancient & Modern” was released in 2011. For more information about the Mekons, go to www.facebook.com/mekons or www.bloodshotrecords.com/artist/mekons.

For more information about free shows at Dogfish, go to www.dogfish.com.