Circle supported by Trojan HorseRebellion, Manchester, 25.05.2018 Photos by Ed Sprake Please do not use the photos without the photographer’s permission.

Trojan Horse play Fukushima Surfer Boys Live, supported by Cassie, Pfaff and MinnoFairfield Social Club, Manchester, 13.01.2018 Photos by Ed Sprake Please do not use the photos without the photographer’s permission.

The whole becomes a mutated beast of wonderful music, the kind that makes you realise that there are still bands out there who are unafraid to take chances and willing to progress in every sense of the word. It wouldn’t be too far wrong to suggest that this may be one of the essential albums of the year, both in the progressive community and outside.

Amps for Equality is a non-profit collective of musicians working on charity projects to support LGBT+ and gender equality worldwide, founded in the wake of the recent wave of anti-LGBT violence in Chechnya. Ed Sprake caught up with founding member Javier Wallis to dig into the motivations behind this project and the support shown throughout the wider musical community.

You Slut!, Alpha Male Tea Party, Trojan Horse, Piles of Clothes The Star and Garter, Manchester, 20.04.2016 Photos by Ed Sprake

Mutoid Man gave a masterclass in how a three piece metal band should be; fast, loud, technically excellent and loving it. Awesome. By Jody Dunstan

Mutoid Man, Palm Reader, Trojan Horse The Deaf Institute, Manchester, 21.10.2015 Photos by Ed Sprake

ArcTanGent 2015: Trojan Horse 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

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

This weekend (31st Jan) sees the first Riffest at the fantastic Ruby Lounge in Manchester as part of Independent Venue Week. We thought it would be fun to get Riffest organiser Nike Duke and Ruby Lounge head honcho Jay Taylor together to ask each other a few questions.

Echoes and Dust Christmas Party with Trojan Horse, obe and in violet The Victoria, Dalston, London, 6.12.2014 Photos by Magda Wrzeszcz

Trojan Horse – World Turned Upside Down Launch Party with Flesh, Cleft and Alpha Male Tea Party Kraak Gallery Manchester, 13.12.2014 Photos by Ed Sprake