ArcTanGent was a burgeoning assembly of some of the finest aspiring folk on the independent music scene. The community spirit of ArcTanGent festival is highlighted here as we caught up with a bunch of D.I.Y music-scene folk to ask them their thoughts on the weekend;
Krystian Hudson - Yeah Buddy!
Festival Highlight: The togetherness of the ArcTanGent community which was highlighted for me with 2 brilliant moments;
1. As me and my wife were setting our tent a charming gentleman came over to offer a hand along with his friends. As we were talking it transpired that it was in fact Chris Chapman from 'A Cheery Wave' and 'Flies Are Spies', we exchanged details and ATG united 2 powers of the D.I.Y music scene.
2. The union of Alpha Male Tea Party and Cleft to really kick off the festival on Thursday. Cleft were joined on stage by Tom, Ben and Greg of Alpha Male Tea Party, they played a medley of riffs to n audience in awe. Moments like this make festivals special and highlights the solidarity among many of the ATG faithful.
Summary: One of the best festival experiences I've ever had, a weekend that has opened my eyes to small scale festivals and how damn good they can be.
Top Pick of the Bands: Juffage was my favorite new find. I felt like a proud sibling when I watched Pocket Apocalypse take their biggest opportunity yet by the scruff of the neck and riff it out of the field. Trojan Horse were excellent, Delta Sleep, The Fierce and the Dead and Oxygen Thief too.
www.facebook.com/YeahBuddyDIY1 // @YeahBuddyDIY
Festival Highlight: The togetherness of the ArcTanGent community which was highlighted for me with 2 brilliant moments;
1. As me and my wife were setting our tent a charming gentleman came over to offer a hand along with his friends. As we were talking it transpired that it was in fact Chris Chapman from 'A Cheery Wave' and 'Flies Are Spies', we exchanged details and ATG united 2 powers of the D.I.Y music scene.
2. The union of Alpha Male Tea Party and Cleft to really kick off the festival on Thursday. Cleft were joined on stage by Tom, Ben and Greg of Alpha Male Tea Party, they played a medley of riffs to n audience in awe. Moments like this make festivals special and highlights the solidarity among many of the ATG faithful.
Summary: One of the best festival experiences I've ever had, a weekend that has opened my eyes to small scale festivals and how damn good they can be.
Top Pick of the Bands: Juffage was my favorite new find. I felt like a proud sibling when I watched Pocket Apocalypse take their biggest opportunity yet by the scruff of the neck and riff it out of the field. Trojan Horse were excellent, Delta Sleep, The Fierce and the Dead and Oxygen Thief too.
www.facebook.com/YeahBuddyDIY1 // @YeahBuddyDIY
John Niblock - Vasa, Main man at Taribo West
Festival Highlight: Sounds cheesy but our set was the highlight of the festival. Taking to the stage and seeing a full tent that was overspilling to the bar tent behind the PX3 was amazing and even though my bass-tone left a lot to be desired I was happy that the good people of ATG tolerated it for the duration of our set.
Summary: It's probably one of the best festivals in the world. The line up was fantastic and the crowds are great. Everyone at the festival is so positive and friendly and it makes for a great experience all round.
Top Pick of the Bands: Body Hound, Black Peaks, Quadrupede, Alright the Captain
www.facebook.com/VasaBand // @VasaBand
www.facebook.com/TariboWestBooksBands // @Taribomoshparty
Festival Highlight: Sounds cheesy but our set was the highlight of the festival. Taking to the stage and seeing a full tent that was overspilling to the bar tent behind the PX3 was amazing and even though my bass-tone left a lot to be desired I was happy that the good people of ATG tolerated it for the duration of our set.
Summary: It's probably one of the best festivals in the world. The line up was fantastic and the crowds are great. Everyone at the festival is so positive and friendly and it makes for a great experience all round.
Top Pick of the Bands: Body Hound, Black Peaks, Quadrupede, Alright the Captain
www.facebook.com/VasaBand // @VasaBand
www.facebook.com/TariboWestBooksBands // @Taribomoshparty
Stewart Ramsay - Bad Owl Presents
Festival Highlight: Impossible to pick just one but it's always fantastic to see the bands we've put on for our Bad Owl Presents nights getting to perform in front of massive crowds. It kind of makes me feel like a proud Uncle.
Summary: Goc, James and Si delivered what was, in my opinion, the best ATG yet. Every band that I saw put on as good a performance as I've seen them play and I think it's the massive feel-good factor of the festival that pulls that out of the acts. As with the previous years, the camaraderie between people was second to none and it felt great to be part of something very special.
Top Pick of the Bands: As above, every band that I had the good fortune to see were amazing but I'm going to give some gold medals out to Mutiny On The Bounty, We Never Learned To Live, Her Name Is Calla, Emma Ruth Rundle, Polymath, Marriages, Vasa and Alright The Captain for making me smile involuntarily or making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up as they played. Unfortunately we arrived too late to catch Alpha Male Tea Party and Cleft or I'm sure they'd have made the list too.
www.facebook.com/BadOwlPresents // @BadOwlPresents
Festival Highlight: Impossible to pick just one but it's always fantastic to see the bands we've put on for our Bad Owl Presents nights getting to perform in front of massive crowds. It kind of makes me feel like a proud Uncle.
Summary: Goc, James and Si delivered what was, in my opinion, the best ATG yet. Every band that I saw put on as good a performance as I've seen them play and I think it's the massive feel-good factor of the festival that pulls that out of the acts. As with the previous years, the camaraderie between people was second to none and it felt great to be part of something very special.
Top Pick of the Bands: As above, every band that I had the good fortune to see were amazing but I'm going to give some gold medals out to Mutiny On The Bounty, We Never Learned To Live, Her Name Is Calla, Emma Ruth Rundle, Polymath, Marriages, Vasa and Alright The Captain for making me smile involuntarily or making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up as they played. Unfortunately we arrived too late to catch Alpha Male Tea Party and Cleft or I'm sure they'd have made the list too.
www.facebook.com/BadOwlPresents // @BadOwlPresents
Christopher Olsen - Death and the Penguin
Festival Highlight: Not sure if it counts as a highlight, but Friday night was incredible. Fall of Troy were insane, Vennart were beautiful and Dillinger ripped us all to shreds (pun intended).
Summary: there is no festival quite like ATG. Every band I saw blew me away and everyone I met was a bloody legend.
Top Pick of the Bands: On top of the above bands, and of course the Alpha Male Cleft Medley, 100 Onces were the perfect (and much needed) hangover cure on Saturday.
Festival Highlight: Not sure if it counts as a highlight, but Friday night was incredible. Fall of Troy were insane, Vennart were beautiful and Dillinger ripped us all to shreds (pun intended).
Summary: there is no festival quite like ATG. Every band I saw blew me away and everyone I met was a bloody legend.
Top Pick of the Bands: On top of the above bands, and of course the Alpha Male Cleft Medley, 100 Onces were the perfect (and much needed) hangover cure on Saturday.
Andy Acred - Death and the Penguin
Festival Highlight: Musically, I've always leant towards the softer side of noise/math/post rock and am a sucker for huge, expansive guitar noise and big melodies. So Vennart was definitely a highlight for me; Operate has got to be one of the anthems of the year.
Summary: What always strikes me about ArcTanGent is how friendly the crowd is. The math rock scene has a real DIY attitude, and none of the pretence that you might find in 'cool' venues in London. It's about showcasing hard working and creative musicians, with no added bullshit. It was great to see our mates in Alright The Captain, Quadrilles and AMTP play, and to feel right at home nerding out and being as weird as possible (yep, that was us in the pig onesies, singing the Postman Pat theme...). In any case, ArcTanGent you make the world a better place and we will definitely be back next year.
Top Pick of the Bands: pg.Lost were a great discovery, masters of the epic. Having not seen Dillinger since Reading 2002 (remember that...), they did not disappoint and tore the entire field to shreds. In danger of being 'a bit too pop', I'd love to see ASIWYFA play ATG again, along with Three Trapped Tigers and, dare I say it, Battles (headliner... please?!).
www.facebook.com/datpmusic // @datpmusic
Festival Highlight: Musically, I've always leant towards the softer side of noise/math/post rock and am a sucker for huge, expansive guitar noise and big melodies. So Vennart was definitely a highlight for me; Operate has got to be one of the anthems of the year.
Summary: What always strikes me about ArcTanGent is how friendly the crowd is. The math rock scene has a real DIY attitude, and none of the pretence that you might find in 'cool' venues in London. It's about showcasing hard working and creative musicians, with no added bullshit. It was great to see our mates in Alright The Captain, Quadrilles and AMTP play, and to feel right at home nerding out and being as weird as possible (yep, that was us in the pig onesies, singing the Postman Pat theme...). In any case, ArcTanGent you make the world a better place and we will definitely be back next year.
Top Pick of the Bands: pg.Lost were a great discovery, masters of the epic. Having not seen Dillinger since Reading 2002 (remember that...), they did not disappoint and tore the entire field to shreds. In danger of being 'a bit too pop', I'd love to see ASIWYFA play ATG again, along with Three Trapped Tigers and, dare I say it, Battles (headliner... please?!).
www.facebook.com/datpmusic // @datpmusic
Peter Bevan - Bear Vs Manero, Top Dog at Skingasm Records
Festival Highlight: The music is great, but 3 days in a field with all your friends is the best part.. That and when it stopped raining for a bit on Saturday and I could take my wellies off!
Summary: Much more varied lineup this year than last, but I still get tired of hearing so many notes after a while!
Top Pick of the Bands: Deafheaven, Deerhoof, USA Nails, 65Days, Helms Alee and of course Dillinger (Life lesson learned: Don’t take acid before entering a Dillinger pit!)"
www.facebook.com/BearVsManero // @BearVsManero
www.facebook.com/skingasm // @SkingasmRecords
Festival Highlight: The music is great, but 3 days in a field with all your friends is the best part.. That and when it stopped raining for a bit on Saturday and I could take my wellies off!
Summary: Much more varied lineup this year than last, but I still get tired of hearing so many notes after a while!
Top Pick of the Bands: Deafheaven, Deerhoof, USA Nails, 65Days, Helms Alee and of course Dillinger (Life lesson learned: Don’t take acid before entering a Dillinger pit!)"
www.facebook.com/BearVsManero // @BearVsManero
www.facebook.com/skingasm // @SkingasmRecords
Charlie Barnes - Chiyoda Ku
Festival Highlight: General highlight for me would probably have to be the Cleft/AMTP medley, so good!
Summary: The wet weather matched the heavier lineup perfectly. Silent Disco was gooooood. ATG just gets better every year!Top Pick of the Bands: Alright the Captain, Deerhoof, Quadrupéde, Quadrilles, Lambhorn, Body Hound, 100 Onces, Cleft, AMTP...I'm going to stop now before I name every single band I went to see.
www.facebook.com/ChiyodaKuBand // @chiyodaku
Festival Highlight: General highlight for me would probably have to be the Cleft/AMTP medley, so good!
Summary: The wet weather matched the heavier lineup perfectly. Silent Disco was gooooood. ATG just gets better every year!Top Pick of the Bands: Alright the Captain, Deerhoof, Quadrupéde, Quadrilles, Lambhorn, Body Hound, 100 Onces, Cleft, AMTP...I'm going to stop now before I name every single band I went to see.
www.facebook.com/ChiyodaKuBand // @chiyodaku
Andy Hughes - Birthday Cake Breakfast
Festival Highlight: The festival itself is one big highlight reel for me, with this year’s edition being no exception. It gets better every year, and I think a lot of that is down to the vibe. Everyone is just having a great time and the line-up is always pretty special.
Summary: I’ve not stopped thinking about USA Nails since their set on Saturday morning. Utter power from start to finish and a total cure to the frivolities of Friday evening. Most of our party had to shy away from the dirty-as-fuck noise that was polluting the Yohkai stage, citing it as a bit too much for them, but I loved it. Picked up the new record before release too, which will likely be on heavy rotation over the coming months. It was a real thrill seeing Young Legionnaire make their return to UK soil. I’ve not seen them for years, and they just dominated. In my drunken stupor, I was a little bit captivated by Paul Mullen – the geezer has such an aura about him, and I thought he looked rad with his new look. They played some new stuff which sounded mighty! Special mention too for the Alpha Male Tea Party/Cleft mash-up which was pretty incredible. 10/10 for Slayer!
Top Pick of the Bands: There were a few bands that I’d not seen before too who thoroughly impressed me – the likes of IEPI (whose name Marty from Alright The Captain informed me is pronounced Yeppi…), Cousin, Valerian Swing and of course Dillinger.
www.facebook.com/BirthdayCakeForBreakfast // @BirthdayCakeFB
Festival Highlight: The festival itself is one big highlight reel for me, with this year’s edition being no exception. It gets better every year, and I think a lot of that is down to the vibe. Everyone is just having a great time and the line-up is always pretty special.
Summary: I’ve not stopped thinking about USA Nails since their set on Saturday morning. Utter power from start to finish and a total cure to the frivolities of Friday evening. Most of our party had to shy away from the dirty-as-fuck noise that was polluting the Yohkai stage, citing it as a bit too much for them, but I loved it. Picked up the new record before release too, which will likely be on heavy rotation over the coming months. It was a real thrill seeing Young Legionnaire make their return to UK soil. I’ve not seen them for years, and they just dominated. In my drunken stupor, I was a little bit captivated by Paul Mullen – the geezer has such an aura about him, and I thought he looked rad with his new look. They played some new stuff which sounded mighty! Special mention too for the Alpha Male Tea Party/Cleft mash-up which was pretty incredible. 10/10 for Slayer!
Top Pick of the Bands: There were a few bands that I’d not seen before too who thoroughly impressed me – the likes of IEPI (whose name Marty from Alright The Captain informed me is pronounced Yeppi…), Cousin, Valerian Swing and of course Dillinger.
www.facebook.com/BirthdayCakeForBreakfast // @BirthdayCakeFB
Mike Dench - Goodsoul Promotions
Festival Highlight:Seeing Cleft on stage, and playing an absolute stormer! After everything Dan from the band has been through, to be on stage, playing and playing so well was just fantastic.
Summary: My thoughts on ATG 2015- It is a brilliantly organized festival, with pretty much everything about it being quality. If we were to do a festival, we would do it the way they have. The band's show their enjoyment by playing to the very best of their ability, with people or the band saying it's the best they've been. Already looking forward to next year and who they will bring!
Top Pick of the Bands: Alpha Male Tea Party, Cleft, AK/DK, Her Name Is Calla, Trojan Horse, Polymath, Vasa, Toundra, Alright The Captain
www.facebook.com/pages/Goodsouls-Promotions/208950689209362 // @GoodsoulPromo
Festival Highlight:Seeing Cleft on stage, and playing an absolute stormer! After everything Dan from the band has been through, to be on stage, playing and playing so well was just fantastic.
Summary: My thoughts on ATG 2015- It is a brilliantly organized festival, with pretty much everything about it being quality. If we were to do a festival, we would do it the way they have. The band's show their enjoyment by playing to the very best of their ability, with people or the band saying it's the best they've been. Already looking forward to next year and who they will bring!
Top Pick of the Bands: Alpha Male Tea Party, Cleft, AK/DK, Her Name Is Calla, Trojan Horse, Polymath, Vasa, Toundra, Alright The Captain
www.facebook.com/pages/Goodsouls-Promotions/208950689209362 // @GoodsoulPromo
Marty Captain - Alright The Captain, Button Pusher DIY
Festival Highlight: The whole festival is one big highlight but for me the sun coming out Saturday morning was ace cos it was so nice just chilling in a field surrounded by awesome people and excellent music
Summary: Once again the best festival of the summer! If only it lasted a little bit longer.
Top Pick of the Bands: Lite, Quadrupede, Vasa, Quadrilles and Dillinger Escape Plan were my top picks but I didn't really see any crap bands there at all, James, GoC and Si did a great job as per.
www.facebook.com/alrightthecaptain // @Alrightthecapn
www.facebook.com/buttonpusherbookings // @ButtnPusherDIY
Festival Highlight: The whole festival is one big highlight but for me the sun coming out Saturday morning was ace cos it was so nice just chilling in a field surrounded by awesome people and excellent music
Summary: Once again the best festival of the summer! If only it lasted a little bit longer.
Top Pick of the Bands: Lite, Quadrupede, Vasa, Quadrilles and Dillinger Escape Plan were my top picks but I didn't really see any crap bands there at all, James, GoC and Si did a great job as per.
www.facebook.com/alrightthecaptain // @Alrightthecapn
www.facebook.com/buttonpusherbookings // @ButtnPusherDIY
Ben Forrester - Bad Grammar
Festival Highlight: The general vibe at ATG is of pure happiness and I spent most of the weekend downing warm cans of cider, air drumming and talking about the genius of hit 80's TV show Bullseye….. Roll on year four!
Summary: ATG was another triumph this year! With last years line up focussing on more post rock vibes, it was nice to see a progression this year with a lot more techy and heavier bands taking over the line up!
Top Pick of the Bands: For me, it was all about the riffs, bands like USA Nails and Young Legionnaire knocked my socks off with their scuzzy, chunky riffage. But it was also great to see some great twiddly sounds from the likes Delta Sleep and Alright The Captain who both played faultless, carer defining sets!
www.facebook.com/badgrammaruk // @BadGrammarBand
Festival Highlight: The general vibe at ATG is of pure happiness and I spent most of the weekend downing warm cans of cider, air drumming and talking about the genius of hit 80's TV show Bullseye….. Roll on year four!
Summary: ATG was another triumph this year! With last years line up focussing on more post rock vibes, it was nice to see a progression this year with a lot more techy and heavier bands taking over the line up!
Top Pick of the Bands: For me, it was all about the riffs, bands like USA Nails and Young Legionnaire knocked my socks off with their scuzzy, chunky riffage. But it was also great to see some great twiddly sounds from the likes Delta Sleep and Alright The Captain who both played faultless, carer defining sets!
www.facebook.com/badgrammaruk // @BadGrammarBand
Calum MacVicar - Emilio Largo, 43% Shows
Festival Highlight: With The Dillinger Escape Plan headlining on the Friday night. They were the highlight of my weekend, sorting out my brutal hangover!
Summary: ArcTanGent is one of the stand out festivals throughout the year for me. Fernhill Farm is an incredible setting and the line up always delivers. This year was no exception. My only complaint about the weekend, the absence of the Pieminister stall! #bringbackpieminister
Top Pick of the Bands: A few other bands I particularly enjoyed over the weekend were Mutiny on the Bounty, Body Hound and Axes.
www.facebook.com/EmilioLargoBand // @emiliolargoband
www.facebook.com/43percentshows // @himynameiscalum
Festival Highlight: With The Dillinger Escape Plan headlining on the Friday night. They were the highlight of my weekend, sorting out my brutal hangover!
Summary: ArcTanGent is one of the stand out festivals throughout the year for me. Fernhill Farm is an incredible setting and the line up always delivers. This year was no exception. My only complaint about the weekend, the absence of the Pieminister stall! #bringbackpieminister
Top Pick of the Bands: A few other bands I particularly enjoyed over the weekend were Mutiny on the Bounty, Body Hound and Axes.
www.facebook.com/EmilioLargoBand // @emiliolargoband
www.facebook.com/43percentshows // @himynameiscalum
Dan Beesley - Cleft
Festival Highlight: Definitely would have to say sharing a stage with our idiot riffy chums Alpha Male Tea Party. I'd been planning that little arrangement since March, and it couldn't have gone better. Originally, it was supposed to have Axes up there with us too, giving us a full complement of 4 guitar players, 3 drummers and 2 bassists. I'm sure the engineers would have loved us!
Summary: I think Arctangent festival is my favourite place on earth. I wish I could be there all the time, although perhaps that would make it less special. It's just incredible wandering round the site, the amount of friends you bump into from all over the country (and world actually!). It just gives me the warmest feeling being there. The only issue is the ATG come down on re-entry to the real world! Grim.
Top Pick of the Bands: Bodyhound were amazing. Definitely the best I've seen them, and we've played with them a good few times. Really hope they start to get the recognition they deserve, they're one of the most original bands around! Speaking of original, Deerhoof blew my testicles clean off! That's the third time I've seen them, but by far the best. ArcTanGent just seems to bring the absolute best out of bands, they played an absolute stormer of a set. I got to have a chat with John their guitar player at the Pad Thai stall afterwards, which was really special as I'm a big fan of his playing style. He gets some incredible sounds out of his instrument. Lastly, I'd have to say Vennart was another highlight. Again, I'd already seen them several times prior to the festival, but unsurprisingly, that was the best performance so far. The lighting show was a stroke of genius and the atmosphere was just perfect. It's just so great to see 3 members of Oceansize back on a stage together. They're probably one of the biggest reasons I ended up continuing to want to play guitar in a band, so I'm delighted to be going on tour with them in November. I'm going to be a sodding bag of nerves!
Festival Highlight: Definitely would have to say sharing a stage with our idiot riffy chums Alpha Male Tea Party. I'd been planning that little arrangement since March, and it couldn't have gone better. Originally, it was supposed to have Axes up there with us too, giving us a full complement of 4 guitar players, 3 drummers and 2 bassists. I'm sure the engineers would have loved us!
Summary: I think Arctangent festival is my favourite place on earth. I wish I could be there all the time, although perhaps that would make it less special. It's just incredible wandering round the site, the amount of friends you bump into from all over the country (and world actually!). It just gives me the warmest feeling being there. The only issue is the ATG come down on re-entry to the real world! Grim.
Top Pick of the Bands: Bodyhound were amazing. Definitely the best I've seen them, and we've played with them a good few times. Really hope they start to get the recognition they deserve, they're one of the most original bands around! Speaking of original, Deerhoof blew my testicles clean off! That's the third time I've seen them, but by far the best. ArcTanGent just seems to bring the absolute best out of bands, they played an absolute stormer of a set. I got to have a chat with John their guitar player at the Pad Thai stall afterwards, which was really special as I'm a big fan of his playing style. He gets some incredible sounds out of his instrument. Lastly, I'd have to say Vennart was another highlight. Again, I'd already seen them several times prior to the festival, but unsurprisingly, that was the best performance so far. The lighting show was a stroke of genius and the atmosphere was just perfect. It's just so great to see 3 members of Oceansize back on a stage together. They're probably one of the biggest reasons I ended up continuing to want to play guitar in a band, so I'm delighted to be going on tour with them in November. I'm going to be a sodding bag of nerves!
John Simm - Cleft
Festival Highlight: Making new friends and seeing loads of old ones all in the space of a couple of small fields. As well as getting to play at the festival twice this year.
Summary: James, Goc and Si have managed to create a very special community of people and music that you just don't find together anywhere else. Long may it continue.
Top Pick of the Bands: Helms Alee were my discovery this time round. Really enjoyed their flagrant disregard for melody at times, and the crushingly heavy rhythms they smashed out. The usual offenders of Body Hound, Axes, Black Peaks, Polymath and Vasa were superb, with a special mention to IEPI who were at their most excitingly confusing jazz-math-punk best on the Saturday.
www.facebook.com/cleftband // @CleftBand
Festival Highlight: Making new friends and seeing loads of old ones all in the space of a couple of small fields. As well as getting to play at the festival twice this year.
Summary: James, Goc and Si have managed to create a very special community of people and music that you just don't find together anywhere else. Long may it continue.
Top Pick of the Bands: Helms Alee were my discovery this time round. Really enjoyed their flagrant disregard for melody at times, and the crushingly heavy rhythms they smashed out. The usual offenders of Body Hound, Axes, Black Peaks, Polymath and Vasa were superb, with a special mention to IEPI who were at their most excitingly confusing jazz-math-punk best on the Saturday.
www.facebook.com/cleftband // @CleftBand
Chantal Brown - Vodun, Do Me Bad Things
Festival Highlight: I think it's the most fun we've had performing this year since our new guitarist 'MARASSA' joined... he also enjoyed walking around in the mud and the rain barefoot. It was incredible. Thanks ATG! Long may you live
Summary: Yeah Buddy! Ain't ArcTanGent just great! It's like a little hub, a community if you will, that embraces the fantastic offerings of solid Math/Alt/Heavy Rock bands. Love it
Top Pick of the Bands: Although we didn't see many of our various mates who attended and performed, we did catch Axes when we got there, who were just great. Our drummer used to work with Paul, so she was quite pleased to see them doing so well. Deerhoof were my favourite though. I haven't seen them in about 8 years and they've gotten so much more fun to watch. The lesson is in counting bars in Math-Rock at the end was especially great.
www.facebook.com/VODUNBAND // @VodunBand
www.facebook.com/DoMeBadThings // @DoMeBadThings
Festival Highlight: I think it's the most fun we've had performing this year since our new guitarist 'MARASSA' joined... he also enjoyed walking around in the mud and the rain barefoot. It was incredible. Thanks ATG! Long may you live
Summary: Yeah Buddy! Ain't ArcTanGent just great! It's like a little hub, a community if you will, that embraces the fantastic offerings of solid Math/Alt/Heavy Rock bands. Love it
Top Pick of the Bands: Although we didn't see many of our various mates who attended and performed, we did catch Axes when we got there, who were just great. Our drummer used to work with Paul, so she was quite pleased to see them doing so well. Deerhoof were my favourite though. I haven't seen them in about 8 years and they've gotten so much more fun to watch. The lesson is in counting bars in Math-Rock at the end was especially great.
www.facebook.com/VODUNBAND // @VodunBand
www.facebook.com/DoMeBadThings // @DoMeBadThings
Sam Jones - Monster Sound Blog, (Atlas)...and about 10 other things...
Festival Highlight: I'm gonna probably have to go with the Alpha Male Cleft Party. Having known the bands for years now and having seen them so many times it was absolutely wonderful to have all five of them playing together smashing out an AMTP favourite as well as a ridiculous medley. It was a brilliant way to open the festival! That said, so many moments stuck with me that it's hard to really pick a favourite. I suppose another personal highlight for me was being able to meet and interview some of my biggest idols in my capacity as press. Still can't quite believe it!
Summary: This year's ATG was probably the favourite festival I've ever been to, full stop. There wasn't a single band I felt like I could walk past through the site - the bar has been raised ridiculously high, to say the least - it felt like Christmas had come early! What struck me more than ever this year was how wonderful a community there is in the Post/Math-Rock scene across the country. I couldn't walk more than a few metres before running into someone who I've met before, played on the same bill as, or put a show on with. I made a ton of new friends too! Everyone is there for the same reason, and it's wonderful that you can just pretty much talk with everyone at any time - I can't think of literally anywhere else in the world you could do that. It was just an inspiring place to be, particularly as a musician who lives for this sort of music.
Top Pick of the Bands: This is tricky. Obviously. In no particular order: - Pocket Apocalypse - Because they're some of my closest friends in the world and I was so proud of them to see them up on that stage, where they rightfully belonged. They fucking nailed it, too. - The Dillinger Escape Plan - one of my all time favourite bands, and they fucking nailed it. - Axes - I finally got to see them, and I had the most enormous smile on my face the entire time they played - Quadrepede - Woah. Erm... yeah. Woah. - The Fall of Troy - I love their music, but I wasn't expecting it to be so fucking amazing live. - Vasa - I fucking loved their set and am quivering in my loins for the new album. ALL BANDS NEED A 6-STRING BASS.
www.facebook.com/monstersoundcollective // @MonsterLiv
www.facebook.com/atlasliverpool // @AtlasLiverpool
Festival Highlight: I'm gonna probably have to go with the Alpha Male Cleft Party. Having known the bands for years now and having seen them so many times it was absolutely wonderful to have all five of them playing together smashing out an AMTP favourite as well as a ridiculous medley. It was a brilliant way to open the festival! That said, so many moments stuck with me that it's hard to really pick a favourite. I suppose another personal highlight for me was being able to meet and interview some of my biggest idols in my capacity as press. Still can't quite believe it!
Summary: This year's ATG was probably the favourite festival I've ever been to, full stop. There wasn't a single band I felt like I could walk past through the site - the bar has been raised ridiculously high, to say the least - it felt like Christmas had come early! What struck me more than ever this year was how wonderful a community there is in the Post/Math-Rock scene across the country. I couldn't walk more than a few metres before running into someone who I've met before, played on the same bill as, or put a show on with. I made a ton of new friends too! Everyone is there for the same reason, and it's wonderful that you can just pretty much talk with everyone at any time - I can't think of literally anywhere else in the world you could do that. It was just an inspiring place to be, particularly as a musician who lives for this sort of music.
Top Pick of the Bands: This is tricky. Obviously. In no particular order: - Pocket Apocalypse - Because they're some of my closest friends in the world and I was so proud of them to see them up on that stage, where they rightfully belonged. They fucking nailed it, too. - The Dillinger Escape Plan - one of my all time favourite bands, and they fucking nailed it. - Axes - I finally got to see them, and I had the most enormous smile on my face the entire time they played - Quadrepede - Woah. Erm... yeah. Woah. - The Fall of Troy - I love their music, but I wasn't expecting it to be so fucking amazing live. - Vasa - I fucking loved their set and am quivering in my loins for the new album. ALL BANDS NEED A 6-STRING BASS.
www.facebook.com/monstersoundcollective // @MonsterLiv
www.facebook.com/atlasliverpool // @AtlasLiverpool
Peter Lloyd - Kid Kin
Festival Highlight: Highlight of the festival for me was seeing Vennart. It felt like an age since Oceansize split up and this show really seemed like it had been a long time in the making, and it didn't disappoint. Really impressive set of material from his album 'The Demon Joke' and a couple a Oceansize tracks thrown in. I was surrounded by some fellow Oceansize fans who totally lost their shit (me included) when Vennart played 'Music for a Nurse', that was great moment.
Summary: This was my second ATG having been last year and it totally lived up to my experience of 2014 - a simply thoroughly enjoyable small festival; a superb line-up filling an important corner of the music scene, married with great food, great drinks, and an almost sickeningly friendly atmosphere. You lose count of how many times you see band members out and about mingling with punters.
Top Pick of the Bands: Vessels, Vennart, CHON, Deafheaven, Maybeshewill, Her Name is Calla, LITE, AK/DK Also, of bands I was seeing and hearing for the first time, I was extremely impressed with Bodyhound and Quadrupède. They're all I've been listening to since!
www.facebook.com/KidKinMusic // @Kid_Kin
Festival Highlight: Highlight of the festival for me was seeing Vennart. It felt like an age since Oceansize split up and this show really seemed like it had been a long time in the making, and it didn't disappoint. Really impressive set of material from his album 'The Demon Joke' and a couple a Oceansize tracks thrown in. I was surrounded by some fellow Oceansize fans who totally lost their shit (me included) when Vennart played 'Music for a Nurse', that was great moment.
Summary: This was my second ATG having been last year and it totally lived up to my experience of 2014 - a simply thoroughly enjoyable small festival; a superb line-up filling an important corner of the music scene, married with great food, great drinks, and an almost sickeningly friendly atmosphere. You lose count of how many times you see band members out and about mingling with punters.
Top Pick of the Bands: Vessels, Vennart, CHON, Deafheaven, Maybeshewill, Her Name is Calla, LITE, AK/DK Also, of bands I was seeing and hearing for the first time, I was extremely impressed with Bodyhound and Quadrupède. They're all I've been listening to since!
www.facebook.com/KidKinMusic // @Kid_Kin
Adele Hudson - my wife and trusty companion
Festival Highlight: Lying, sulking in my tent having been denied access to the exclusive press area, Delta Sleep cheered me up no end from the Bixler which we smartly camped next to. I owe them a bagel for sure.
Summary: THE friendliest music event I have ever been to! Loved the chilled out atmosphere. The sets were very well organised, there were hammocks right near the stages (I heart hammocks) and the camping area was clean. What more could you ask for!?
Top Pick of the Bands: Oxygen Thief- especially the band member who was obsessed with cheese.
Festival Highlight: Lying, sulking in my tent having been denied access to the exclusive press area, Delta Sleep cheered me up no end from the Bixler which we smartly camped next to. I owe them a bagel for sure.
Summary: THE friendliest music event I have ever been to! Loved the chilled out atmosphere. The sets were very well organised, there were hammocks right near the stages (I heart hammocks) and the camping area was clean. What more could you ask for!?
Top Pick of the Bands: Oxygen Thief- especially the band member who was obsessed with cheese.