Mangata Festival – The 9 Artists You Can Not Miss

Nottingham's Mangata Festival returns for a fifth year. Over the years they have hosted some Noizze favourites such as Hidden Mothers, Boss Keloid, Cage Fight & more. But who are the 9 bands we think you should see this weekend? Words by Pete Wall.

The Grey – Eyesore Merch Stage 20:00

The Grey deal in tension, atmosphere, and the sort of heaviness that could level buildings. Restrained passages give way to bursts of outright force, and the contrast makes the heavier moments land that much harder. In the close confines of Mangata, expect them to deliver one of the most absorbing, pummeling, and cathartic sets of the day.

Giant Walker – Eyesore Merch Stage 21:50

Giant Walker have spent the past few years gradually becoming one of the UK’s more interesting progressive heavy bands. 2024’s Silhouettes balanced hefty riffs with atmospheric detours and enough melody to stop things disappearing down a technical rabbit hole. Mangata offers up the perfect chance to catch a band whose live set has already dazzled the discerning crowd at Arctangent this summer.

A-Tota-So – Eyesore Merch Stage 15:50

A-Tota-So don’t make things easy for themselves, which is probably why they’re so much fun. Their mix of math rock, grunge, post-hardcore, and noise is all sharp turns and unexpected left turns but never feels like complexity for complexity’s sake. With the new album I Told You So dropping on the eve of the festival, expect one of the weekend’s more unpredictable and unforgettable sets.

Hidden Mothers – Black Iris Brewery Stage 17:50

Hidden Mothers’ sensational debut Erosion / Avulsion found the band braiding together screamo, post-hardcore, black metal, and shoegaze with a confidence that belied their position in the foothills of their career. The Sheffield four-piece are at their best when unvarnished emotion and delicate beauty collide, and the dovetailing vocals from Liam Knowles and Luke Scrivens will have you in a vice grip. A packed room is an absolute must for this one.
Edit: We found out soon after publishing this that this will be one of Liam’s last performances with the band so highly recommend getting along to their set.

Sergeant Thunderhoof – Twisted Tavern Spirits Stage 19:10

Sometimes you just need to get your fill of really big riffs, and Sergeant Thunderhoof has plenty of them. The Somerset five-piece have spent over a decade honing their blend of stoner rock, doom, and psychedelia, most recently on The Ghost of Badon Hill. Get yourself down to the front and experience the ideal conditions for getting thoroughly battered by some fuzzed-out guitars and swept away in the majesty of it all.

Tayne – Eyesore Merch Stage 18:30

On the off chance that Mangata starts feeling a little too comfortable for you, Tayne should sort that out. The London trio’s blend of industrial noise, electronics, heavy guitars, and warped pop melodies is abrasive, unsettling, and occasionally catchy in ways that feel faintly wrong. Their record LOVE made a convincing case for the band as one of the more interesting propositions in the UK’s heavy underground, and in a packed-out, dimly lit room, you’ll know why they’re so highly touted.

Overhead, The Albatross – Black Iris Brewery Stage 19:10

Eight years separated Overhead, The Albatross’s first two albums, but 2024’s I Leave You This was well worth the wait. Their post-rock foundations have expanded to include electronics, strings, spoken word, and real emotional heft. This year’s tour with scene luminaries We Lost The Sea provided further proof that this band is the real deal. Miss them and you’ll miss out on something very special indeed.

Nordic Giants – Black Iris Brewery Stage 20:50

Nordic Giants are the kind of band that will pull you in from minute one. The masked post-rock duo pair their instrumental compositions with projected films, turning their live show into something closer to an audiovisual experience than a standard festival slot. Mangata’s indoor setting should suit their carefully constructed presentation perfectly, so get in early and give it your full attention.

Alpha Male Tea Party – Twisted Tavern Spirits Stage 20:50

Alpha Male Tea Party make complicated music without any sense of pretension. The Liverpool trio’s mix of math rock, prog, and hefty riffs is technically impressive, obviously, but never short on personality or straightforward fun. Their recent Reptilian Brain is further proof that you can play in odd time signatures without disappearing up your own arse. Expect controlled chaos

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September 3, 2026| Noizze |FEATURES