If it’s August it must be ArcTanGent, and this year’s iteration, with an astounding line-up of one-offs and headliner coups, is perhaps more brilliant and bewildering than ever. So with two weeks to go to the opening Wednesday, what could be more timely than a preview of the best of each day. Jody Dunstan and Nick Dunn are your guides, with a raft of personal picks to cut a path through the long grass and the inevitable stage clashes. Just be sure, given the infamous mobile dead-spot that is Fernhill Farm, to save it to your phone before you get there!
Jody writes:
So, it’s that time of year again – the annual ArcTanGent festival is nearly upon us. One of the more interesting tidbits to come out of the pre-festival chatter is that this will be the last time the festival is held at the Fernhill Farm site. Since 2012, the festival has taken place near the usually sleepy hamlet of Compton Martin, nestled in the Mendip Hills. The site has expanded and been reorganized slightly over the years but has stayed broadly similar. One of the best things about ArcTanGent is its size – the walk from the campsite is manageable, and you can nip from one stage to another without missing too much. An extra half day and a small stage have been added over the years, the VIP camping has got a bit more boujee, and the somewhat rustic barn that used to house the artists and press has been demoted, but the charm remains the same. As of writing, the 2027 venue hasn’t been announced, but we’re promised “better, not bigger”. A lot of people will no doubt miss the old farm – though maybe not the inevitable rain, lack of mobile signal, and the difficulty of getting there and back without a car.
Another standout of the festival is its promoters: James Scarlett and Gavin McInally have a knack for giving exposure to bands who might not normally grace a festival stage, securing exclusives and “special” sets. This year, Cult of Luna & Julie Christmas celebrate the 10th anniversary of Mariner, alongside UK exclusives from Eivør, Igorrr, Alcest, Perturbator, Oathbreaker, and Jo Quail and the Crossbones Ensemble. Agent Fresco and Arcane Roots both return after a seven-year absence, Heck reform for the 10th anniversary of Instructions, Humanfly reunite for their first show in 13 years, and there’ll be a sad goodbye to Svalbard.
I posted on the – actually very friendly and knowledgeable – ArcTanGent Facebook group asking for bands to keep an eye out for and got quite a long list back. Standouts included London-based riffy post-rock outfit Ian, Rotherham-based sludge metal band Swamp Coffin (whose bass tone could rearrange dentistry), sludge/doom two-piece Pleb, and Leeds-based instrumental band Din of Celestial Birds.
Wednesday afternoon, opening proceedings are the aforementioned Swamp Coffin, followed a little later by Irish post-rock band Overhead, The Albatross. It’ll be a different experience to the last time I saw them, in the tiny, front-room-sized 33 Oldham Street in Manchester – but their expansive, emotionally-tinged sound should translate well to the bigger stage. Straight after, French post-metal band Lost in Kyiv take over; they’ve recently added a new drummer, changed the spelling of their name, and adopted a new, heavier sound.
Thursday looks set to be a busy afternoon. Icelandic band Agent Fresco have been quiet since 2015’s Destrier, so it’s good to see them back playing live, before a quick dash over to catch Alcest on the Arc stage – a stunning live band, and I expect something dark and moody. Igorrr, also on the Arc stage, will be a real experience: an unholy mix of black metal and opera, absolutely nuts and enormous fun – it’s a rare occurrence to see people dancing with one another, ballroom-style, in the pit! Local (well, to me) Manchester band Maruja are a tricky one to pigeon-hole – alternative rock with a sax player, ranging from gentle and melodic to fist-in-the-air euphoria.
Friday is likely to be a day for wandering and finding new and interesting bands, but the amazing and chaotic Heck are making a return – things will likely get broken, and one or more of the band will probably end up in the pit, along with who knows what else. A little more sedate: another returning band, Arcane Roots. Melancholia Hymns is one of my all-time favourite albums, one of those records that never seems to age. I remember being genuinely gutted when the band announced their hiatus, especially after a great interview with Andrew that we decided not to publish at the time – though I won’t hold that against them now. Last up on Friday are Primus – I don’t need to introduce Primus.
Saturday: if past experience is anything to go by, most people are feeling a little jaded by Saturday morning – but Pleb should blow the cobwebs out, and if that doesn’t work, fellow Manchester hardcore band Leeched certainly will! Over on the Arc stage, another welcome return: Oathbreaker. My first experience of this band was at the tiny Star & Garter in Manchester, a brutally heavy, stunningly beautiful, and very memorable gig. The album Rheia is a must-listen for any fan of heavy music. After recovering from that, Oklahoma’s noisy four-piece Chat Pile take over – bleak, a soundtrack for a world falling apart. Later, back on the Yokhai stage, California veterans High on Fire play; a band I probably should have seen by now but haven’t, so I’ll take the opportunity.
Nick writes:
I thoroughly enjoyed my ArcTanGent debut last year, and I’m excited to go again. I’m sad, however, that this will be the last ATG at Fernhill Farm. The farm makes for an intimate festival venue – small enough that you can shift from one stage to another inside a minute, with no lengthy treks from tent to stage. As this is only my second visit, I don’t have the longstanding love for Fernhill Farm that veteran attendees do, but I very much hope the new venue maintains that level of intimacy.
Kicking things off on Wednesday are Swamp Coffin – I hope I’ve arranged my travel in good time to get set up before the world’s slowest wall of death descends on the farm! It’s then a sad farewell to Svalbard, who will grace the Yokhai stage with their music before splitting up. Hopefully it won’t be forever – plenty of bands say farewell and then return for touring purposes – but if it is, ATG is the best place to say goodbye.
Thursday’s lineup includes a clash of the weird, with Igorrr and Shearling going head to head. Shearling are a new band, formed from the ashes of experimental prodigies Sprain, and their 95-minute set will allow for a full playthrough of last year’s debut album Motherfucker, I am Both: “Amen” and “Hallelujah” – in the running for best album name of all time. Over on the Main stage, French weirdos Igorrr, who need no introduction at this stage, will be baffling a delighted crowd with their manic energy. Once that’s done, it’s straight into Maruja – clashing with MØL, who I saw earlier this year, so in the spirit of the festival, it’s better to try something new.
On Saturday evening, I’ll be going from Pupil Slicer to Eivør – another clash, but this one takes me from aggressive grindcore to chilled-out Viking darkwave. Sometimes you just need music that makes you feel like your brain is being sandblasted, and Pupil Slicer are an excellent source of that. So, after said sandblasting, what better way to chill out than with the bewitching Faroese artist Eivør?
Elsewhere, in competition for best band name of the festival, I’ll be experiencing emo music live for the first time with Michael Cera Palin. With a name like that, how can I not check them out? But if I start liking emo music as a result, please, someone shoot me.
Having caught her set at Desertfest 2018, I’m also very much looking forward to another captivating performance from Darkher. Her dark folk is mesmerising, and I cannot wait to experience it live once more.
Bringing the weekend to a close are Cult of Luna & Julie Christmas, playing Mariner in full for its 10th anniversary. I’ve still not managed to fully listen to this album, so maybe experiencing it live will be enough to convert me to this particular cult. Or, if it gets too overwhelming, Master Boot Record are also playing.
