If an eclectic weekend of rock – as experimental as it is international – sounds like your thing then get along to EartH in Hackney this Bank Holiday for the sixth edition of Portals Festival. I went along last year for the first time, in the same venue, and discovered so many new bands that are now firmly tracked on my radar. We’re talking guitar music of all stripes: post-, alt-, math-, prog-, psych-, shoegaze, blackgaze, metal-adjacent, all along the spectrum up to metal. And there’s plenty of others who achieve similar effects with no need for guitars at all, like Japanese folk/jazz artist Yama Warashi, who simply has to be heard to be appreciated.
But, perhaps more importantly, the festival had a great atmosphere. I felt that one could have fun and enjoy the music, without worrying about which bands you did or did not know, what you were wearing, or how you were dancing. I have privilege as a cis, white male, but I am confident that my experience would attested to by the inclusive, progressive values of the venue and the organizers, and the good folks I spoke to along the way.
The EartH venue boasts three stages. The 1,200 capacity Hall at the bottom; the seated 680 capacity Theatre, in all its shabby-chic Art Deco glory; and the 300 capacity Bar in-between. You’re guaranteed to see every band on the Hall stage, with the only clashes happening in the Theatre and Bar. So immerse yourself in the Hall’s powerful sound system, hang out on the roof terrace, recline on the tiered wooden decks of the Theatre, and grab and beer and a t-shirt from the Bar. The food in the Bar, provided by Feed the Village, is ethically-sourced and 100% plant-based so there’s no need to miss a band finding chips down the high street.
Anyway, back to the music. There is always plenty of post-rock at Portals, for those who like to get immersed in waves of emotive sound. We’re talking This Will Destroy You, Din of Celestial Birds, If These Trees Could Talk, and Lost In Kiev. For those who left their math(s) homework until the weekend we have LITE from Japan, Enemies from Ireland, Elephant Gym from Taiwan, and more. If they say you are a dreamer, you can get lost in Slow Crush; or if you like your dreams tipping into nightmare, you’ll like Danish black-gazers MØL whose huge sound will envelop the Theatre late on Saturday. For those in thrall to the power of The Riff, Portals does metal too: Jaguar Throne bring their hulking melodies to the Hall, going off like Mastodon or Gojira at their most progressive; and you’ll want to see French band Year of No Light for their melancholic yet atmospheric trudging sound, or Hammok from Norway who bring hardcore to Portals. There will be plenty of bands who mix much of the above, of course, like Town Portal from Denmark, alt-rockers Outcries or Dystopian Future Moves, both based in the UK.
Many of the above are new to me, but there are a few bands that I’m especially pumped for. If you like the sound of The Cure’s gloomy hooks set to the quirky desert vibes of QOTSA, but tinged with a heathy dose of abrasive noise, you’ll love the wonderfully eccentric Norwegian rockers Årabrot. They were on very fine form indeed at their recent live shows, as Echoes & Dust can attest to. If you don’t know them, look out for tall hats, sharp white outfits, and a massive neon cross. You will definitely find me at the front of the Hall, singing my little socks off. The Canadian three-piece Big | Brave are another favourite of mine. Vocalist Robin Wattie has a vocal style like few other artists: with an unusual, impressionistic delivery, often fluctuating between delicate bird song and harsh shrieks. Big | Brave will certainly appeal to fans of drone metal like Sunn O))) or Bong for their guitar sound: huge, deep and warm, but also minimalistic. Yet somehow it makes sense that they started off playing acoustic folk. Quite unclassifiable; uniquely powerful.
Portals 2024 is set to be the biggest and best year yet for this incredible underground, DIY festival. I really hope to meet some of our readers there!
