Manchester Psych Fest has become a true staple of the city’s music scene, marking the end of the summer months and serving as the perfect end to the festival season. This year’s iteration is no different. The day begins on the main stage at Albert Hall with singer-songwriter Marika Hackman. A rare sighting of Manchester sunshine pours in through the stained glass windows, bathing the former chapel in a warm glow. Her voice soars around the former chapel, angelic vocals dripping with not-so-angelic innuendos as she rifles through her boisterous third album, Any Human Friend, kicking the day off with high energy.
Heading up to Manchester Met’s Student Union to catch the hotly anticipated alt-act Divorce, we find a packed Wide Awake stage. The Nottingham-based four-piece triumph with their fun brand of indie, pairing pitch-perfect vocals with a rock-and-roll swagger the Gallaghers would be proud of.
A quick stroll over to the Lodge of Deaf Institute brings us to Duvet. While the sun continues to shine outside, a crowd of 50 or so are crammed into a hot and sticky middle hall – the perfect setting for a Duvet show. The Manchester five-piece deliver their own brand of post-punk, reminiscent of fellow punk-rockers Viagra Boys. Front-woman Grace Walkden growls on stage with a steel intensity, and the band finish with their latest single and the rather fitting, ‘Sweaty Dog.’
Back at the Albert Hall, South London’s Goat Girl showcase their latest offering, Below the Waste. They burst into impressive lead single ‘Ride Around’, which sees the band take a grungier route, reminiscent of post-punk pioneers Slint and their own self-titled debut album. Crunchy riffs echo around the hall before making way for synth-pop banger ‘Sad Cowboy’ and other softer moments from their latest release.
It takes a sprint to the O2 Ritz’s Basement for Man/Woman/Chainsaw, who play to a sweaty, crammed room, with the stage just an inch above the crowd. Technical prowess shines through as they shred violins and share vocals. While intricate, their sound is light and fun, as if fellow London group Black Country, New Road and the now Mercury-nominated English Teacher formed a supergroup and were all 19 again. At such a young age, the world is truly at their feet.
Another venue to cross off the list is Projekts Skatepark, a skatepark-turned-stage. The crowd gathers in the slope of a half-pipe, crammed to the barriers, which only means one thing… Fat Dog are on. It’s a raucous set in celebration of their upcoming album, WOOF. Pits explode, beers are thrown, Kermit the Frog is sighted boogie-ing along; an average set for this band.
The night finishes with Geordie Greep, the debut solo project of the beloved former Black Midi member. Despite having only one released single, Gorilla is packed. Greep and his band glide through genres, prog-rock infused with country infused with jazz – and that’s just one song. At one point, cellist Felix Stephens takes the vocals for a sprawling country song.
Manchester Psych Fest proves yet again it’s truly the place to find new music; the convenient locations stretched across Oxford Road mean you can dip into as many sets as you like. Surprises like the secret sets at Bundobust also help keep things fresh. With Psych Fest you get all the fun of a festival, but without the camping and the rain. Sounds perfect to me!
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