(((O))) : Hidden Currents – ArcTanGent Festival

With 2000trees having made itself THE festival for underground British music over the last few years it was perhaps inevitable that a sister event would have to spring up at some point, if only to make sure all the great bands had somewhere to play. Co-founder of both events, Simon Maltas, spoke to us about the festival's forthcoming debut this August. 

(((o))): Tell us a bit about yourselves - what's your background in festival planning and how did ArcTanGent come about? 

Well we started out in 2006 or 2007 simply as festival goers.  We all had full time jobs but we were sick of going to and getting ripped off at some of the bigger festivals.  It sounds like a cliché, or like I'm making it up, but the six of us were just sat around in our campsite at one of those massive festivals one night & we simply decided to start our own.

A week or so later, slightly more sober, we decided we'd give it a bash and 2000trees was born! It was a very DIY process in the early days. We had to learn everything from scratch all the way from getting alcohol licenses, to event management and we even trained up as security guards!  It was a massively steep learning curve, but it's been a great ride so far. Six years on, we're ready to launch the next event on the world!  Now two of us (James and I) do this full time!

(((o))): On a similar note, given that you already run 2000 Trees and Gocstock, what on earth possessed you to start another festival?! 

Well ArcTanGent came about because we still passionately believe that smaller festivals are way better and 2000trees is (in our mind) about the perfect size at 5,000 people.  So rather than grow 2000trees and potentially lose some of the things that make it special (like its small and friendly atmosphere), we'd start another one and spread the love to Bristol! Bristol has an amazing music scene already.  Loads of great 1 day, city-centre based events, but not an abundance of 3 day camping based festivals out in the surrounding countryside.  Except Glasto obviously.

We also wanted to do something slightly different musically.  It won't surprise you to learn that we're massive music fans at heart, especially James who books all our bands. Band wise 2000trees has a little bit of something for everyone and prides itself on finding new underground British music. ArcTanGent, on the other hand, is the first UK festival to book a line up focussed primarily on post-rock, math-rock and the weirder elements of our musical tastes.  We joked originally that it was the sort of music you could watch while stroking your beard.  If you don't have a beard, then ask someone else if you can stroke theirs 🙂

(((o))): None of the bands on your line-up would be particularly out of place at 2000 Trees; is your aim to create something a bit more "niche", or will this also mark a change in musical direction for 2000 Trees - are you trying to separate out the styles a bit?

Definitely the first one, we've kicked the niche vibe around between us a lot, so it's great that you've picked up on that! Because there is a dedicated fanbase out there for this type of music that we felt wasn't really being catered for, we figured ArcTanGent could definitely fill that void. You will see some of these bands at other festivals but ArcTanGent is the only one where they are all in one place.  For instance a couple of these bands would work well on The Cave stage (our heavier stage) at 2000trees, but it's obviously important for both festivals to retain a separate identity.  2000trees as I said above is a little bit of something awesome for everyone.  ArcTanGent is aiming to be all awesome, all the time.... just as long as you're into that type of music!

(((o))): For the debut year of a festival, the line-up is absolutely stellar! How have you managed that? Is it through contacts you've built up, favours you've pulled in or is it just that bands were really keen to play? 

Well that's all down to James, who books all our bands at both festivals.  He has obviously made a load of contacts after 7 years at 2000trees, but really it all boils down to the fact that he knew who he wanted to book, and he just picked up the phone. He spends a hell of a lot of his time planning on who to book, and he's already drawing up some amazing bands for next year... including some from overseas!  Next year is going to be even better!

I also think once he floated the concept of the festival and the line up to all the bands/ agents it soon became clear that the bands themselves are big fans of the rest of the line up, so were all pretty up for playing.  We're still getting loads of bands banging on our door asking to be added to the bill!

(((o))): A number of the bands on your line-up are getting quite a lot of buzz at the moment (Tall Ships, ASIWYFA, TTNG to name but a few) but ArcTanGent is the first festival really to pull all these bands together in the same place - in some ways it's surprising it hasn't happened already. Was that one of the reasons you decided to put this festival together?

Yeah definitely. Personally speaking, this type of music is what I spend most of my time listening to at the moment... There's so much good stuff out there!  So we simply figured there must be loads of other music fans who would love to see a whole weekend of these types of bands.  It's been great, thanks to James and a lot of our partners; (Musical Mathematics, DIY, Fear of Fiction to name just a few), I've discovered so many new amazing bands in the last 6 months that I probably wouldn't have found on my own. So even for me it's expanded my musical horizons... something which is an awesome perk of the job!

(((o))): I think everyone agrees that the UK festival scene is absolutely saturated at the moment. What, for you, makes a festival really stand out from the crowd? What plans do you have to make ArcTanGent different? 

Well, first and foremost as you've probably gathered number one is the bands, but as cheesy as it sounds, we honestly just want to make the best weekend possible for the punters.  It kills me every year, that the one festival I'd love to attend as a punter would be 2000trees - but as it's still very DIY, we're too busy to sit on the grass with a cider and watch bands at our own festival.

As I am the licensee and bar/ food traders manager I would also say a massive part of what makes a festival great is properly decent bars and food traders.  I spend so much of my time sourcing the best food traders possible from all the street food markets... you won't find any old festival food at ArcTanGent or 2000trees.  We have our own onsite smokery for goodness sake!  My favourite bit is obviously the bars though... what can I say?  All local, all reasonably priced and all amazing tasting!  No giant brewery/ mediocre pints in sight.  This year we'll have Cotswold Lager, Bath Ales and some extra special local cider & perry options.  Perfect for sipping in the sunshine and watching your favourite bands.

(((o))): What are the best and worst parts of festival planning? Will you actually get to see any of the event itself, or will you spend the entire weekend running around problem solving? 

Ha - yeah unfortunately the latter.  Especially in year one!  Having said that we know what we're doing now.  In year 1 of 2000trees I think we had about 3 hours sleep a night.  I reckon this year we'll be able to catch a few bands (even if it's just for a couple of songs).

Best part... probably stood in front of the stage, or on the main stage looking out at 5,000 smiling people having an awesome weekend.... or afterwards seeing and hearing all the stories people post on facebook.

Worst part... hmm i guess just the amount of planning that goes into one weekend!  It takes up nearly 12 months our our year to properly nail it... a lot of my mates still think I sit in a hammock for most of the year!  Having said that, if you were to ask me if we'd known then, what we know now, would we still have done it?  Hell yeah!  Beats being an accountant (no offence to accountants).

(((o))): Are there any ArcTanGent surprises you have yet to pull out of the bag? 

Yeah, there's a few for sure!  The main stage is literally going to blow everyone's mind!  I won't say too much more for now, but we think we're the only festival in the UK to have this stage as our main stage... it looks truly epic!

(((o))): Who would be your absolute dream act to book for ArcTanGent? Who on the bill are you most looking forward to? 

Jeez, such a tough question! James would say Mars Volta for sure... (Maybe one day if they reform).

I would say some of the ace math rock bands from Japan, Toe or LITE just because I love a lot of the stuff coming out of Japan.... or this relatively unknown band from France called Pneu.  They're pretty obscure, but I really rate them because they just seem fairly mental.  Then there's bands like Mogwai, Explosions in the Sky, Battles... I can't pick just one! Arrrggh!

Who am I most looking forward to?  Again so tough!  They are all brilliant... but probably Bo Ningen, Maybeshewill, Blacklisters, Arcane Roots, & The St Pierre Snake Invasion.  Oh and a band we saw in London the other week, who we've yet to announce.  They will seriously blow your mind!!! 🙂

(((o))): Finally, if there's one reason our readers should get up & buy an ArcTanGent ticket, what would it be?

Because you won't get such an amazing line up, and altogether awesome weekend for that price (£59) anywhere else in the known universe... and if you don't we'll have to go and get a proper job, and no one wants that 🙂

See you at the bar!

Si

ArcTanGent takes place at Fernhill Farm, Compton Martin, near Bristol. Tickets are available now from £59. Bargain - see you all there! We can't wait.