ArcTangent Festival Review By Ben Baljak & Maria Owen
Day 1: Wednesday 16.08.23
Ben - The days leading up to the festival had been unusually busy. It’s because of this that the majority of the day revolved around “getting one’s shit together”. Almost all camping essentials were in check and a quick supply run was in order. The usuals stuff, but most importantly some tuna. As one can not deal with the disapproving glare of their cats after leaving them for four days. With all that done, we were betrayed by a late postal delivery. Missing bands such as Five The Herophant, Hippotraktor, Pupil Slicer and not having the time to make Conjurer (all bands I’d recommend by the way).
Ben - The days leading up to the festival had been unusually busy. It’s because of this that the majority of the day revolved around “getting one’s shit together”. Almost all camping essentials were in check and a quick supply run was in order. The usuals stuff, but most importantly some tuna. As one can not deal with the disapproving glare of their cats after leaving them for four days. With all that done, we were betrayed by a late postal delivery. Missing bands such as Five The Herophant, Hippotraktor, Pupil Slicer and not having the time to make Conjurer (all bands I’d recommend by the way).
Day one had been missed, in order to simulate the festival experience a can of cider was placed on the hob and set to morning after festival tent temperature ( just above body temperature about 38-40 degrees centigrade). ArcTanGent’s official playlist on bad phone speakers, warm beer and a key of ammonia to simulate that rich musky portaloo smell, I’d tricked my brain into thinking that tonight wasn’t a complete failure and headed to bed. Perhaps this story isn’t entirely true, It’s certainly not that interesting. Coverage of the actual festival starts at day two.
Day 2: Thursday 17.08.23
ArcTanGent is deep in the countryside and the satnav cuts out during the more scenic areas approaching the location. Luckily, charmingly English road names such as Ewe street , Ubley Drove, Hemingways Mordor and Quimford on the Wibble are an entertaining distraction from being lost (two of these may be fibs).
The site itself is much more relaxed than previous experiences with festivals and the crew are extremely friendly and helpful. With the modern wonders of pop up tents big enough to fit a double mattress + room for extras It’s time to take a look at the main attractions.
5 stages are surrounded by a wide array of food and supply vendors, taps for free water, an adequate amount of toilets, bars, merch stands and a team of dedicated litter handlers that manage to keep the site the cleanest festival I have been to. But it’s not just the team responsible that keep ArcTanGent looking good. The regular ArcTanGent punter has an eclectic taste and perhaps this is a trait of maturity. As festival goers seem free from drama and make use of the many “General Waste” bins in the area.
Day 2: Thursday 17.08.23
ArcTanGent is deep in the countryside and the satnav cuts out during the more scenic areas approaching the location. Luckily, charmingly English road names such as Ewe street , Ubley Drove, Hemingways Mordor and Quimford on the Wibble are an entertaining distraction from being lost (two of these may be fibs).
The site itself is much more relaxed than previous experiences with festivals and the crew are extremely friendly and helpful. With the modern wonders of pop up tents big enough to fit a double mattress + room for extras It’s time to take a look at the main attractions.
5 stages are surrounded by a wide array of food and supply vendors, taps for free water, an adequate amount of toilets, bars, merch stands and a team of dedicated litter handlers that manage to keep the site the cleanest festival I have been to. But it’s not just the team responsible that keep ArcTanGent looking good. The regular ArcTanGent punter has an eclectic taste and perhaps this is a trait of maturity. As festival goers seem free from drama and make use of the many “General Waste” bins in the area.
Perhaps they are allured to the General Waste signs as it could easily be the name of one of the many artists playing over the weekend. Either way, the immediate feel and look is impressive. I’d like to add that I mean maturity in the best possible way here. These people are still having fun. And over the course of the experience, we ran into many interesting and eccentric characters; including, a man dressed in gold with a cane giving out gold biscuits, someone dressed as a crow giving out magical coins, two people in competition over who could create the most interesting shaman stick (wine glass penis stick, my vote goes to you whoever you are) and a crowd surfing sonic the hedgehog who flew over my head a number of times and who I heard also gave out chaos emeralds among hundreds of other happy and colourful (although still mainly dressed in black) nerds, pagans and music lovers.
One of the main benefits of such a niche experimental line up compared to a more mainstream festival is that you’re never in danger of having your ears invaded by overplayed nausea or anything heavily derivative of popular tosh. I had also noticed that the unique roster attracts solo visitors from all over the world. Imagine coming to Bristol from Mexico City because you heard that Brutus, PETBRICK, Pupil Slicer and General Waste would be in the same place at once. It’s just a bloody beautiful thing.
Maria - Parachute For Gordo (8) starts with a Cocteau Twins style riffs into Minus The Bear kick in. Explosions style tremolo picking as it builds quickly creating a happy yet dissonant mid alt 80s style track which is fucking gorgeous. Minimalist breakdowns with grooving syncopated off beats and tight bass and drums. Stunning dreamlike changes into a groovy up beat build up and a great sound from the desk. As the dreamscape guitar takes over for a reverb heavy outro Laura Lee cleverly takes the opportunity to tune the guitar without infringing on the flow. John Harvey (Bass/vocals) cheerfully informs us that Dr Lee has PHD in post rock. My stomach tumbles as if I was on a beautiful rollercoaster at points. Oof! And it goes there! Heavier Mogwai type builds and parts reminiscent of Red Sparrows. I’m a fan!
One of the main benefits of such a niche experimental line up compared to a more mainstream festival is that you’re never in danger of having your ears invaded by overplayed nausea or anything heavily derivative of popular tosh. I had also noticed that the unique roster attracts solo visitors from all over the world. Imagine coming to Bristol from Mexico City because you heard that Brutus, PETBRICK, Pupil Slicer and General Waste would be in the same place at once. It’s just a bloody beautiful thing.
Maria - Parachute For Gordo (8) starts with a Cocteau Twins style riffs into Minus The Bear kick in. Explosions style tremolo picking as it builds quickly creating a happy yet dissonant mid alt 80s style track which is fucking gorgeous. Minimalist breakdowns with grooving syncopated off beats and tight bass and drums. Stunning dreamlike changes into a groovy up beat build up and a great sound from the desk. As the dreamscape guitar takes over for a reverb heavy outro Laura Lee cleverly takes the opportunity to tune the guitar without infringing on the flow. John Harvey (Bass/vocals) cheerfully informs us that Dr Lee has PHD in post rock. My stomach tumbles as if I was on a beautiful rollercoaster at points. Oof! And it goes there! Heavier Mogwai type builds and parts reminiscent of Red Sparrows. I’m a fan!
The band love that they’re here and the appreciation extends from group to audience. The tones are driven constantly by colourful drums and stunningly pronounced bass. Wonky craziness takes over into resolutions of droney release. Lots of dynamic and even when unpredictable, dirty knee butting heavy noise takes over it’s still articulate in every way. Guitar tones are on point. The energy emanates from this band who started humbly and unassuming take on almost Sonic Youth energy build ups. The progressions are magnificently emotive with driven grooves positive all the way yet with melancholy undertones. How this sound can come from three people is incredible. Backing tracks have become commonplace in modern performances but I can’t be sure. I’m not keen on the “sha la la” moment but maybe I missed the point. The irony serves well here if intended.
The last song is a bittersweet farewell after a gorgeous journey. The drummer is so colourful and the bassist so inventive and great at taking the lead with conversation at points. But the guitar . Oh the guitar ! So intricate! All amazing. If you guys read this you have the heart of a new fan . I’d also like to do a shout out to the sound engineers! The clarity was spot on! Absolutely nailed it! James from Peak Hire Rickie on lights and Jack on Monitors. Dream team.
Ben - Empire State Bastard (8) The Immediate feeling is that of a colossal Minotaur stampede with the screaming vocals of a heavily injured boar … in heat. Power! Power as fuck! Those drums! those screams! And then they amp up the groove. This is what Satan’s hernia sounds like. When they’re fast, I’d like you to imagine what radioactive wasps would do with distortion. When they’re slow, take a hit of the forbidden time altering bong. Hardcore, post death, grind doom could be a description, although the band simply list themselves as metal. Quite a distance from the singer’s other band “Big imagination for feeling young ‘cos life yearns real optimism” otherwise known as Biffy Clyro. I have a jumping spider on my leg and it appears to be loving it. Either that or the small arachnid is being involuntarily thrown around by the vibrations of the bass… which is certainly a possibility.
Maria - Brutus (10) The Belgian rock trio from Leuven stand out with their Bjork like soaring vocals and are just passionate as fuck! Genuinely spine tingling. The tent is impossible to get into. All musicians are on point with tremolo picking and the music is emotionally devastating . The star of the show is obviously singer/ drummer Stefanie Mannaerts. The music is delivered with 10/10 enthusiasm to an equally enthusiastic crowd. Their sound is heartbreaking and they should have been a MainStage act .Energy and songwriting delivery is heightened. These are going to be the next big thing surly! The crowd and I are equally in love. Driving beats. magic! outstanding! Phenomenal! And captivated everyone.
Ben - Empire State Bastard (8) The Immediate feeling is that of a colossal Minotaur stampede with the screaming vocals of a heavily injured boar … in heat. Power! Power as fuck! Those drums! those screams! And then they amp up the groove. This is what Satan’s hernia sounds like. When they’re fast, I’d like you to imagine what radioactive wasps would do with distortion. When they’re slow, take a hit of the forbidden time altering bong. Hardcore, post death, grind doom could be a description, although the band simply list themselves as metal. Quite a distance from the singer’s other band “Big imagination for feeling young ‘cos life yearns real optimism” otherwise known as Biffy Clyro. I have a jumping spider on my leg and it appears to be loving it. Either that or the small arachnid is being involuntarily thrown around by the vibrations of the bass… which is certainly a possibility.
Maria - Brutus (10) The Belgian rock trio from Leuven stand out with their Bjork like soaring vocals and are just passionate as fuck! Genuinely spine tingling. The tent is impossible to get into. All musicians are on point with tremolo picking and the music is emotionally devastating . The star of the show is obviously singer/ drummer Stefanie Mannaerts. The music is delivered with 10/10 enthusiasm to an equally enthusiastic crowd. Their sound is heartbreaking and they should have been a MainStage act .Energy and songwriting delivery is heightened. These are going to be the next big thing surly! The crowd and I are equally in love. Driving beats. magic! outstanding! Phenomenal! And captivated everyone.
Simple yet effective breakdowns and structures facilitate the haunting voice.You feel you’re hanging off a cliff edge and everything is on the line. Urgency, almost apocalyptic. Emotional implosion. Dreamy/ sustain / compression on guitar and reverb create atmosphere with sprinklings of chime tree. Fast paced urgency interluded by intimate slow ethereal settings created by the music.Voice and instrumental interruptions snap you violently with a raw quality from soothing intervals. Samples set a somatic scene before It is gutterally sliced through with burgeoning heaviness. Guitarist Stijn Vanhoegaerden loves a guitar change ( this is the third in what seems like one song) and now he’s playing a distorted twelve string.
Brutus defiantly shout don’t fucking mess with the delicacy, It will bite like a kitten bearing its stomach, An invitation to get bitten. Screams are akin to those of the furies in the inferno. Sincere in their deliverance. This band does not contrive its own brilliance. Mind-blowing! I gave up writing half-way through as I just want to watch and listen. The crowd are enraptured, as am I. It is so fucking real. No posturing, just delivering it with pure authenticity. You’d have to be dead inside not to feel and respond to a call like this. No guitar solos. She is the centre of it all and perfectly placed.
Ben - Russian Circles (9) Their set starts like a dream. The stage fills with smoke as the crowd starts to chant . An ethereal intro is met by a loud celebration as the band steps to the stage. 1,2,3 chug! This is a band that knows how to build and build and build … fake out and then build some more. Their popularity makes it no surprise that this is a masterclass in post rock intros. In a more standard structure singing may have started decades ago. But this is premium instrumental heaviness. Drums drive with subtle winks from the strings before the bass kicks in with utter filth! Not aggressive filth though. Dissonant and desolate filth like the life of a past successful genius passing before his eyes as he lays dying in a piss soaked graffitied alleyway with a needle in his arm .
Ben - Russian Circles (9) Their set starts like a dream. The stage fills with smoke as the crowd starts to chant . An ethereal intro is met by a loud celebration as the band steps to the stage. 1,2,3 chug! This is a band that knows how to build and build and build … fake out and then build some more. Their popularity makes it no surprise that this is a masterclass in post rock intros. In a more standard structure singing may have started decades ago. But this is premium instrumental heaviness. Drums drive with subtle winks from the strings before the bass kicks in with utter filth! Not aggressive filth though. Dissonant and desolate filth like the life of a past successful genius passing before his eyes as he lays dying in a piss soaked graffitied alleyway with a needle in his arm .
Obviously there are a lot more positive images this could have invoked, but I’m still sore. I got here later than anticipated and am now on can 5. Showcasing the importance of clever guitar tones and full control of sound , pulses and waves move like a paint brush with special attention to colours, stroke and contrast. To be this heavy, beautiful and saddening is a thing few achieve. Paradoxically it could be said that its genius lies within its simplicity. Turning tone into texture with ease , drums are prominent in the mix to an almost tribal degree. Another shout out to the sound guys. An impressive and exciting first live viewing for myself.
Did I mention how tasteful the drumming was? Gestures fingers. Bueno! Crescendo for days bruv! As they slow down for another psychedelic pummelling a man hiccuping and gazing into the ether illustrate how this music would probably be listened to.
Maria - PIGS X7 (7) Brutal, unapologetic energy blasting from the outset. An insane performance. Dirty , dirty, dirty! Can’t get near the tent due to the band’s apparent popularity. Slow, durgy, heavy! The front man moves as if he’s from another dimension. His enthusiasm is shared by all band members and audience alike. FAT AS 7 PIGS!
Ben - Converge (9) The thrashier and showier of today’s entries. During the opening track the guitarist almost threw his axe through the top of the tent and vocalist Jacob Bannon swings his microphone around like bigfoot doing the windmill. Intense and classic enough to appease your general metalhead and inventive/ experimental enough to headline at ArcTanGent. Neck breaking breakdowns and a drummer with a fill setting of 96%. This band produce something absolutely stinking, a fitting description considering bass player Nate Newton almost manages to hit the brown note of myth and legend, displacing the audience’s internal organs with a violent impact of sludge. If you’re into no holds barred heavy then go see Converge.
Maria - PIGS X7 (7) Brutal, unapologetic energy blasting from the outset. An insane performance. Dirty , dirty, dirty! Can’t get near the tent due to the band’s apparent popularity. Slow, durgy, heavy! The front man moves as if he’s from another dimension. His enthusiasm is shared by all band members and audience alike. FAT AS 7 PIGS!
Ben - Converge (9) The thrashier and showier of today’s entries. During the opening track the guitarist almost threw his axe through the top of the tent and vocalist Jacob Bannon swings his microphone around like bigfoot doing the windmill. Intense and classic enough to appease your general metalhead and inventive/ experimental enough to headline at ArcTanGent. Neck breaking breakdowns and a drummer with a fill setting of 96%. This band produce something absolutely stinking, a fitting description considering bass player Nate Newton almost manages to hit the brown note of myth and legend, displacing the audience’s internal organs with a violent impact of sludge. If you’re into no holds barred heavy then go see Converge.
Heavier than Godzilla’s left testicle and tighter than Prince Andrew’s sweat glands, Converge are built to shatter and impress. There’s a possibility that some of the animal tranquillisers from the farm have seeped into the drinking water here as this band would be perfect for a wall of death or circle pit. Arctangent appears to be a more mellow beast in crowd interaction, yet hosts some of the heaviest bands music has to offer. The experimental noisecore/ post-hardcore takes a break for some earth shattering bassy doom accompanied by paradiddle percussion that should be studied by any drummer looking to try a similar style.