As Portals announce the full line up for their third ‘mini festival’, we thought it would be a good time to catch up with Asher Kenton, one of the organisers, to find out a bit more about what they’re up to. By Dan Salter

ArcTanGent 2015: Saturday – PX3 highlights: Alright The Captain, VASA, IEPI, Vodun, Eschar, Steve Strong ArcTanGent Festival 2015 Photos by Ed Sprake and Magda Wrzeszcz

According to the sign at the gate there are no drugs at ArcTanGent. That being said, I am about to disclose a whirlwind of ineffably spectacular and ebullient events the likes of which will entice you to said festival with a narcotic fervour. I came to ArcTanGent as the blank canvas of this writing body and left a part of a greater work. Here I met the team of some of the most delightful misfits you will ever come across, here I found a place where I felt comfortable in my own skin. By Chad Murray

I think it’s fair to say that we love the ArcTanGent line-up with wild abandon, every single year. But given completely free reign over the booking process (as unlikely as that is to ever happen!) which bands would be absolutely must-haves?

“THERES JUST SOOOOO MUCH OF IT. Its hard to specifically point out who will be the most exciting to see as there’s literally a metric fuck tonne of good stuff on hand to check out. Cleft, The Fierce and the Dead, Body Hound, AMTP, Vodun, Vasa, OHHMS, Vennart, Dillinger, Deerhoof, aaaaargh TOO MUCH. I reckon there’s going to be a lot of running between stages this year. Knowing more people who are attending this year and getting to hang out with them all more. Last year was a bit of a getting to know you thing, this year we’ll be jumping straight in to the good times.” – Nick, Trojan Horse

As ever, ArcTanGent are spoiling us with silent discos curated by an astounding array of awesome bands, this year featuring You Slut!, Rolo Tomassi & Brontide, Maybeshewill, Talons, Artscare DJs and Delta Sleep & Axes. But what would the bands we spoke to play if they got their hands on the controls?

Polymath – Do you have a back up plan if everything breaks whilst you’re playing? Vasa – Don’t say that. The fear will be there all festival.

We ask band members for their tips on how to make your ArcTanGent experience an awesome one. “DO: Make new friends. The amount of sound people I met there last year, from bands, fans, and various other weirdos last year. Its nice to share the good times with new people!” – Polymath “Don’t: forget to be respectful and thankful to the people who are helping run the event, they’re working so you can have the time of your life.” – Trojan Horse

Dear ATG genie, I would like the following wishes to be granted and your next convenience: – Battles to headline (with their original line up) – Showers for everyone (we’re playing Wyrd out festival on Sunday in London after the festival this year and we are going to stink the place up!) – Steve Vai to join us on stage to rip a guitar solo, but promptly gets bottled off stage before he even gets a chance to switch his soloing fan on. Yours, Cleft

“They let us reprobates play this year…..seems like a valid enough reason to us.” As part of today’s ongoing ArcTanGent takeover, we asked some of our favourite bands to name the five things they love most about this wonderful festival.

If ArcTangent feels like a gathering of the clans for this rapidly coalescing community then Strangeforms is surely the premier precursor event now. Great people in a fantastic place and extraordinary music. I don’t really look for much more than that in life. By Dan Salter

An album that should delight old fans and win plenty of new ones. By Maarten Van Der Woude

A top-drawer quality night of music, a receptive, if small, crowd in a small, friendly environment. A few bands tonight will for sure have gained a few new fans. By Jody Dunstan & Gavin Davison

In Photos: Riffest Sunday with The Fierce And The Dead, Cyril Snear, Cleft, Alright The Captain and Under Riffest, The Ruby Lounge, Manchester, 1.02.2015 Photos by Ed Sprake

“It’s what we love and as long as we’re aren’t losing loads of money we’ll just keep on going.” Marty from Alright The Captain talks life on the road in a DIY band. By Dan Salter

Alright The Captain ‘Contact Fix’ Album Launch with Bear Makes Ninja, Cheap Jazz and KNIFECUTTER JT Soar, Nottingham, 30.01.2015 Photos by Sylwia Jarzynka

Yamadori truly has seen the band uproot themselves and spread their wings. – By Gilbert Potts

So, that was ArcTangent then? For the last 2 weeks or so I’ve been trying to put pen to paper to in some way describe what the festival was like and I’ve been coming up blank, but deadlines are looming so I’m just going to throw some words down & see what sticks. Unbelievable. Incredible. Exhilarating. Joyous. Celebratory. Life changing. By Dan Salter

Long-time readers of the site will know we’ve been champions of these boys for a long time now, so it is with no little pride and great satisfaction to see that they have added such an outstanding work to their recorded cannon. By Dan Salter

Ashley West-Mullen is something of a musical Jekyll & Hyde. By night he is a beast of a drummer, the powerhouse that drives the incredible math rock of Alright The Captain. By day however, Ash’s more introspective side comes out in the form of Mender. …

Based in Nottingham but hailing from all over the bloody place, this eclectic mix of geography is in line with the schizophrenic energy that is central nervous system of ‘SNIB’ from Alright The Captain. ‘SNIB’ is the kind of album that invites the rath …