The return of the legendary festival, ArcTanGent are going all out for their big 10th birthday bash. But of course, you already know that. By now you’ve probably already got a rough schedule for the weekend in place. We don’t need to tell you to go and see the big names atop the lineup. Once again, the lineup for ArcTanGent is absolutely god tier, and you all know it.
But beneath the big names and scene favourites lies an utter treasure trove of new and fresh artists playing across the weekend. And with that in mind, here’s our top picks for the artists you would be utterly foolish to miss this weekend.
Torpor
For those to harbour inevitable sore heads come Saturday morning, Torpor will either fix you or just completely kill you off. Playing 11am on the final day of the festival and peddling in the kind of sludge that’s genuinely horrific, painful and existentialist in nature, Torpor present hideous music for hideous times; there’s nowt joy to be found here, nor barely any optimism. But such is the grim joy of this fantastic albeit totally bastard miserable band. By populating textural sludge soundscapes with motifs of doom, post-metal and ambient industrialism with delicate finesse, Torpor present authentically overwhelming music that sounds akin to a post-apocalyptic soundtrack for a pre-downfall world. If you want to either experience the worst hangover of your life or hear some of the best sludge music in the UK with your morning coffee, then look no further. – Dan Hillier
When, Where? – Saturday, 11:00, PX3 Stage
Unpeople
Tastemakers take note, now is your time to start listening to alternative rock four-piece Unpeople. Rising from the ashes of 2000 Trees favourites Press To MECO with dual vocalists and guitarists Luke Caley and Jake Crawford enlisting bassist Meg Mash and drummer Richard Rayner to form an insanely tight quartet delivering lush vocal harmonies with a post-hardcore and alt-metal edge. Despite having only released a single five track EP, Unpeople have been taking the underground by storm performing live dates supporting hardcore supergroup Better Lovers, ArcTanGent favourites Conjurer and even opening for Metallica in Austria. For fans of festival alumni like Arcane Roots, Jamie Lenman and Palm Reader, Unpeople’s set should be considered a must see, if nothing else you’ll get to brag in a few years that you saw them before they were big. – Tom Bruce
When, Where? – Thursday, 12:45, Bixler Stage
Modern Technology
Not long after the Noizze Podcast leaves the stage on Friday morning, will you have time to grab a coffee and a breakfast burrito before heading over to the Bixler stage to catch our favourite noisey duo Modern Technology. Off the back of supporting other ArcTanGent adjacent favourites Chat Pile and releasing their gritty second LP Conditions of Worth Chris (Bass/Vocals) and Owen (Drums) are ready to drill down into your soul. Like disgusting stanky bass that you need to peel off your shoe? Love beats that fill your chest with dread? You’ll be in the right place watching these two. – Adam Vallely
When, Where? – Friday, 11:35, Bixler Stage
itoldyouiwouldeatyou
The world has changed a lot since itoldyouiwouldeatyou last appeared at ArcTanGent back in 2017. A lot has also stayed the same. A rot of bigotry remains deeply embedded within our cultural foundation, wars still rage across the world and we as a populace still remain confused, sad and angry. Thankfully itoldyouiwouldeatyou still remain an illuminating fixture whilst drawing attention to such ills in only a way they can. Returning to the festival off the back of their first single in five years with ‘Moscow Is Silent’, the band’s amalgamation of math-rock, emo, power-pop and post-hardcore is the type of mercurial musical mix that’s just as cathartic as it is heady and poignant. As those loyal to the UK’s emo and math scene shall know, this band are simply one of those rare bands that are authentic in every form and itoldyouiwouldeatyou’s Arc Stage set this year is set to be a long awaited return for these scene heroes. – Dan Hillier
When, Where? – Thursday, 11:00, Arc Stage
Hidden Mothers
Sheffield’s premiere blackened screamo outfit have (finally) announced their debut album and are making a hero’s return to ArcTanGent’s Wednesday afternoon after packing out the tent for their set last year. With a heady balance of post metal too, reminiscent of the much-missed Oathbreaker, they’ve already cemented themselves as ones to watch in the UK scene. 2020’s self-titled EP was promising, and new single ‘Defanged’ has evolved their emotionally scorching sound even further. Get down early, get on the barrier and have a good cry. – Will Marshall
When, Where? – Wednesday, 13:55, Yohkai Stage
Vower
Just one stellar EP into a new era and Vower are already emanating a rumble of support, which they are sure to amplify further with just their fourth live performance. As long in the tooth as the members of this powerful post-hardcore band are via previous projects (Black Peaks, Palm Reader, Toska) the quintet sound fresh and invigorated. Expect beautiful guitar layers, hard hitting drums and one of the best vocalists in the scene. This can all be previewed in an almost perfect four track package with their debut apricity – Adam Vallely
When, Where? – Saturday, 14:00, Yohkai Stage
Every Hell
Also rising from the ashes of the widely missed Black Peaks are Brighton/Bristol based quartet Every Hell. Original Black Peaks bassist Andrew Gosden and Vocalist Will Gardner are joined by guitarist Toby Stewart (also of Skin Failure and Memory of Elephants) and producer Mark Roberts completing the line up behind the drumkit. Another band overflowing with well proven talent, so much so that Will is showing off his jazzier side with Saxamaphone in hand here. Three varied singles released so far showing a range you might not expect from these four. From grooves to moody rock and the occasional signature guttural scream from Will they are sure to get butts out of camping chairs. – Adam Vallely
When, Where? – Friday, 14:40, PX3 Stage
Blood Command
Want the sonic equivalent of the party at the end of the world? Norway’s Blood Command have more than got you covered. Their self-described “death pop” pulls from punk, a little black ‘n’ roll and a hellacious, boisterous live performance that’ll leave grins plastered across faces. Last year’s World Domination was as grand in scope as it is ambition. Make sure you don’t miss their antics, particularly livewire vocalist Nikki Brumen who joined them all the way from Australia a few years ago and be prepared for the party. – Will Marshall
When, Where? – Friday, 19:40, PX3 Stage
PEACH
To a degree, ArcTanGent is in the very DNA of PEACH. Not only did the band play their debut set at the ATG / 2000 Trees organised 80Trees all-dayer during the pandemic, but the band are a relative supergroup formed of members from the South West scene that both aforementioned festivals champion. It’s easy to see why Fernhill Farm is something of a homestead for the band dispute them only appearing at the festival once before. But regardless of this, with the band marring sandblasted desert-rock with contemporary musical ideologies in the vein of PJ Harvey whilst maintaining a strong focus on keeping everything as raw as physically possible, PEACH are an entity that live the left-field spirit of this festival regardless of their inception. Should ever want to know what the Palm Desert Scene would sound like if poured into a grotty Bristolian basement, then PEACH will undoubtedly quell such an interest. – Dan Hillier
When, Where? – Saturday, 15:25, Elephant Stage
MSPAINT
Even though Arctangent is the poster child for unexpected heavy music, wacky Mississippi post-hardcore quartet MSPAINT are extremely left field. Clashing together anthemic hardcore vocals from mononymous frontman Deedee and lush synth textures the guitarless quartet throw the high-brow, intellectual side of Arctangent’s lineup into a blender with a heavy pour of spin-kicking hardcore punk fun. Riding the waves of their masterful debut album Post-American released last year MSPAINT have wasted no momentum, touring relentlessly to make a name for themselves as a name to watch in the experimental punk scene, fans of GEL, Zulu and the band’s frequent collaborators Militarie Gun are bound to already have MSPAINT firmly on their radar. Don’t be put off by the clash with Saturday headliners Mogwai, if you’ve had a bit too much post-rock after a weekend of droning ambience then MSPAINT may be the perfect end to your Arctangent weekend. – Tom Bruce
When, Where? – Saturday, 21:30, PX3 Stage