Adebisi Shank
It’s hard to envision ArcTanGent without Adebisi Shank’s input; quite the feat, given how the Irish trio have never played the festival before. But such is the importance of this band. Playing the festival off the back of a 10-year hiatus, whilst next week will the first time Adebisi Shank will visit Fernhill Farm, their spirit has long haunted ArcTanGent. Countless bands have channelled their energetic, upbeat, free-spirited and irrefutably fun take on math rock over the years. With this in mind, their time on stage is set to be host of a homecoming for a band who help found the genre of a festival without ever previously setting foot on it previously. DH.
Where? When? – Yokhai: Saturday, 16:50
Heave Blood And Die
Despite sounding like a vicious black metal act, Heave Blood And Die’s only crossover to bands like Mayhem and Emperor is their shared Norwegian heritage. With boundary pushing, fuzzed out post-punk riffs, stomping percussion and barked vocals delivered with a uniquely urgent yet laid back energy, the five piece has become one of the European underground’s most exciting names to watch. While their name may conjure images of burning churches and screeching corpse paint clad men taking themselves too seriously, Heave Blood And Die are the perfect addition to ArcTanGent’s line up for those who enjoyed festival alumni such as Maruja and The Guru Guru. TB
Where? When? – Bixler: Friday, 14:00
Coilguns
Arguably one of the most exciting prospects of the festival is watching the chaos of Swiss post-hardcore outfit Coilguns. After a collaboration with well regarded Birds In Row and then the release of last year’s Odd Love, this energetic lot have raised many an eyebrow and turned many a head. If their performance of the last record in full at Roadburn this is anything to go by, this is an unmissable set. Expect movement, emotion, riffs and much more movement. They demand the attention of anyone that enters earshot. AV
Where? When? – Bixler: Friday, 15:20
EYES
Like Coilguns it almost seems criminal that Danish hardcore gang EYES have not been booked for ArcTanGent before. And yes, before the obvious is pointed out there are members of LLNN in this band, but that’s not why they should be recommended, this is a different beast all together. Raw, in your face, thought-provoking hardcore, but not like most bands that enjoy a spin kick or a beatdown. EYES are weirder, noisier and excitingly this is only their second ever UK show after 2000 Trees last month. Their back catalogue is stellar, particularly the last two records, Congratulations and this year’s Spinner. Get listening and come prepared for what will be one of the sets of the weekend. AV
Where? When? – PX3: Friday, 14:35
Sans Froid
It takes a lot to open a festival. Even more so when the festival in question is one of the biggest events in the world of experimental music. Still, it shouldn’t a problem at all for Sans Froid. Returning after absolutely packing out the Elephant stage last year, whilst the Bristolian’s piano led take on cerebral art-prog is inherently weird, it’s definitely most wonderful and even perhaps more immersive. Sounding akin to Kate Bush covering CLT DRP after a week of binging Radiohead’s more inaccessible works, Sans Froid probe the outer reaches of prog. However, with their palatable chemistry, phenomenal approach to melodicism and the arresting vocals of Aisling Whiting, this band manage to be possessive as they are innovative. Do make sure to arrive early to catch them. DH.
Where? When? – Yokhai: Wednesday, 13:00
Maybeshewill
Maybeshewill aren’t exactly new faces at Fernhill Farm. Rather, after playing ArcTanGent five times previously – including twice in its very first year – the Leicester group could be seen as event staples now. However, this year isn’t going to like previous years for the bona fide post rock legends. In celebration of their 20th anniversary as a band, this year will see Maybeshewill sharing the stage with an ensemble of special guest musicians to perform material from all across their back catalogue. With rarely performed material being promised and with the aforementioned guest ensemble featuring A.A Williams amongst others, their set is shaping up to be the quintessential Maybeshewill experience. DH.
Where? When? – Yokhai: Friday, 20:40
Ithaca
Regardless of certain circumstances, Ithaca would still feature in this list; they’re one of the best names in UK heavy music. However, following next week, such a sentiment will need to be said in past tense. The band’s final ever show is set to be less of a funeral and more of a celebration of their career and their success in elevating metalcore from the mire of mundane convention. It’s going to be a visceral set, one host to passion in all its forms aplenty, but one that be remembered as the end of a band that genuinely deserved the world. DH.
Where? When? – Arc: Friday, 12:10
TAYNE
London based industrial noise-pop outfit TAYNE are on the rise. Releasing their superb record LOVE at the turn of the year, playing 2000 Trees for the first time last month, amongst countless shows alongside the likes of Pupil Slicer and many more, the band have been busy the last few months. Their intense live shows of beats, riffs, haunting vocals and a tonne of head swinging from vocalist/bassist Matt Sutton make them a sight to behold live. Get away from post-metal that and atmospheric post-rock this and give your ear drums a pummelling in a different way. AV.
Where? When? – PX3: Thursday, 19:30
Thank
Even by ArcTanGent’s standards, this year’s Wednesday line up is proper bonkers. A mashup of mostly returning names from last year, the day is a breathless pinball run of electronica, nordic folk, doom, post metal and everything in between. It’s the perfect place for the rock band Thank from Leeds. A unique proposition that more or less exist to spite genre convention, Thank are a disco-beat post-punk band as much as they are an abrasive noise-rock unit. To even try to explain this band via tags would result in a paragraph length wall of text composed of contrasting genres, but essentially, if you enjoy the sound of danceable sludgy noise rock that’s humorous as it is misanthropic, then Thank are a must-see. DH.
Where? When? – PX3: Wednesday, 13:35
Colossal Squid
With all the extreme metal and math rock blasting from packed stages, ArcTanGent seems like the last place you’d find a danceable EDM sound like that of Colossal Squid, of course there’s a strange and unique twist to keep things weird enough for ATG. Best known as the percussionist for experimental rock legends Three Trapped Tigers, Adam Betts creates electronic music as Colossal Squid using only his drum kit hooked up to a series of synthesisers, delivering wild, off-kilter beats and rich, varied synth textures. Colossal Squid has to be seen to be believed, Betts puts on a mesmerising performance, summoning an entire band’s worth of sounds sat behind a normal looking drum kit. TB.
Where? When? – PX3: Wednesday, 17:35
Arab Strap
Acts like Arab Strap could easily never be booked for ArcTanGent and no one would bat an eyelid, but when these Scots were announced, it made so much sense. A now legendary musical partnership between core members Aidan Moffat and Malcom Middleton, they continue to make weird and wonderful(?) music. But if you are late to the party they have put out two notable records in As Days Get Dark and I’m Totally Fine With It Don’t Give A Fuck Anymore in the last few years. To try and distil their sound in a few words would be unfair to their craft, but raw, bone hitting lyrics delivered in an encapsulating Scottish tone, somehow working perfectly over noisey but groove laden electronic music. AV.
Where? When? – Yokhai: Thursday, 20:25
Meth.
Experimental metal band Meth. is a unique brand of heaviness. Continuing to push their boundaries with last year’s record SHAME they are not one for the weak hearted. Their unconventional and feverish delivery on stage is a sight to behold and will surely devour the hills of Fernhill Farm. Put art and pain in a blender, and you might create Meth.’s sound. AV.
Where? When? – PX3: Friday, 17:35
GOST
From the darkest depths of Texas comes a shadowy sound unlike any other blending danceable synthwave beats and unrelenting goth and black metal aesthetics. Multi-instrumentalist James Lollar has been creating ominous electronic music under the Gost moniker for over a decade, collaborating with Arctangent alumni like Perturbator and Blanket as well as contributing to the scores from video games The Textorcist and Ghostrunner 2. If by the end of ArcTanGent’s Friday night you’ve had your fill of math and post rock and desire something a little dancer but with a harsh and sinister edge, then Gost’s gothic synthwave may be exactly what you’re looking for. TB.
Where? When? – PX3: Friday, 21:40
MEW
Sad news for fans of the legendary Danish space pop band Mew, after close to thirty years together the Copenhagen trio have decided to call it quits, the good news is that we’ll all have one last chance to see them on the main stage at ArcTanGent. For those new to their world, Mew bring together the stadium pop and alternative indie sounds of bands like Coldplay and Radiohead together with dense and complex shoegaze and psychedelic rock inspired by My Bloody Valentine and Dinosaur Jr into an accessible yet progressive package. For both those familiar with their hits and newcomers, Mew’s final festival appearance is one that can’t be missed.
Where? When? – Arc: Friday, 19:40
Waldo’s Gift
The new kids on the math rock block, Bristol instrumental trio Waldo’s Gift made quite the splash with their debut album Malcolm’s Law at the beginning of the year. Smashing together intense jazz and prog chops with live-looping experimentation and an easygoing hip-hop swagger, Waldo’s Gift have effortlessly established themselves as one of the UK experimental scene’s most exciting new acts. While retaining the lightning fast guitar led acrobatics of similarly impressive bands like Standards and Adebisi Shank, Waldo’s Gift set themselves apart with a unique swagger and focus on crafting tight, listenable beats, expect to be astonished by how much fun an instrumental math rock trio can be.
Where? When? – PX3: Saturday, 16:10