Real Life Missives - August ‘26
After a very quiet July, August is generally the month of the year I get out to see the most bands and this year was no exception. I made it to a couple of really excellent shows early in the month, first up was a.P.A.t.T. at Archive, who were as chaotic yet singularly focussed as ever, playing some really excellent new material too. I’ve seen a.P.A.t.T. many times over the years and their current line up is really strong, I’m really looking forward to a new record by them!
They were supported by The DSM IV, who I’ve meant to check out for a while, and they were brilliant too. Fronted by ex- Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster frontman Guy McKnight, their super atmospheric post-punk/goth tinged performance could’ve been a headline set in itself.
I managed to catch No Peeling at Outpost a few days later, who I adored. Just the right balance of clattery skronk and propulsive groove with super deadpan and funny, clever lyrics, both of their 7” EPs came home with me. Any fans of quintessential Nottingham/Leeds DIY indie should absolutely get on this band asap. Another great Wrong Speed Records signing.
August also brings ArcTanGent Festival, so I packed my tent and headed down to Somerset for four days of watching bands and eating tacos. I really love ArcTanGent as a festival, it’s the perfect size to feel big enough to be a ‘big’ festival, but small enough to be easily manageable and see everything you want see. Their commitment to making it all focussed on the music is admirable (there’s pretty much nothing else to do other than watch bands, which to me is absolutely perfect), and as a result I saw some outstanding sets from both artists I already loved and ones who were completely new to me.
It was a thrill to see Alpha Male Tea Party, Sans Froid and No Violet, all of whom I’d mastered their latest albums, turn in belting performances in front of massive crowds, as well as a whole bunch of favourites like Cardiacs, Napalm Death, Zu, Katheryn Joseph and Chat Pile. It’s also wonderful to discover some truly mind-blowing artists that I’d never come across before, like Otay:Onii, Shearling and Believe in Nothing, all of whom were brilliant and inspiring, as well as being completely disparate in style.
It’s obviously great to see the big headliners (that Cult of Luna & Julie Christmas set is a performance I won’t forget in a hurry…), but the thing that strikes me most about the festival is no matter how ‘small’ a lot of the bands lower on the bill are, the tents always seem to be packed (shout out to Worn Out for getting a circle pit going at 11:02am), and every band who I’ve seen play before seems to play the best sets I’ve ever seen them do. Everyone just shows up and rises to the occasion, which is both a testament to the quality of the booking and the passion for somewhat ‘outsider’ music that ArcTanGent seems to attract. And of course it was fantastic to catch up with a whole bunch of great people who I don’t get to see very often.
And as if that wasn’t enough, to round off the month I popped along to the legendary, and unfortunately not long for this world, White Hotel in Manchester to see Part Chimp and the always beautiful Sly & The Family Drone, on the day of their latest album release, no less. I was proud to have been asked to master ‘With Love’, and to get to see them play on its release day was a total pleasure.
August was soundtracked by: Metallica, Furii, Get The Blessing, Enablers