ArcTanGent has really pulled out all the stops for its 10th edition. Started back in 2013 when the brilliant but relatively underground 65daysofstatic and Fuck Buttons topped the bill, it’s always had the aim of drawing the biggest and best acts in post-rock and experimental music, while evolving to encompass a hefty chunk of metal and other esoterica over the intervening decade. But the fact that it’s become an indisputable destination for true alt. outsiders is a point to loudly applaud.
Organiser James Scarlett has spoken about breaking the bank to finally book Glaswegian kingpins Mogwai to headline ATG10, while the returning Meshuggah and Explosions In The Sky can both claim to be the biggest bands in their respective niches. Yet it’s the sheer depth of the bill that’s truly astounding. Bringing in the likes of Dorset doomsters Electric Wizard, Los Angeles djent-lords Animals As Leaders and Rugby space-rock legends Spiritualized to stack the immediate undercard is one thing. Dig a little deeper, though, and there are a galaxy of stars on show, from returning Nottingham alt. metallers earthtone9 (after whose 2000 masterpiece Arc'tan'gent the festival was named) to the comeback show from renowned UK instrumentalists Brontide and, perhaps most tantalisingly, Curse These Metal Hands, with their famous ‘I can’t believe it’s not Baroness’ shirts, playing on the same bill as the actual real life Baroness. It is a ridiculously loaded line-up.
Seeking out the weird and wonderful is a big part of ArcTanGent’s appeal, with many dedicated punters looking to the festival to uncover new favourites or underrated veterans who mightn’t get the spotlight elsewhere. And with its impeccably curated booking – we’ve not even touched on the likes of Amenra and Red Fang, KEN Mode and Imperial Triumphant, Sigh and Show Me The Body – it’d be nigh-on impossible to shout out everyone worthy of your time. But here we present 10 of the finest you shouldn’t let slip under your radar at one of the best UK festivals of the year...