Music / Previews
Metal & Prog Picks: August 2024
Hurrah! It’s ArcTanGent – the one Bristol festival that caters for those of us who prefer our music heavy and proggy (and therefore gets ignored by the local media). And they’re pushing the boat out for their tenth anniversary, with a headlining show by the superb Meshuggah (pictured above). Plenty of great new additions to the coming soon list for later this year and 2025 too.
Fleece, Aug 1
is needed now More than ever
. . . or Love Without Arthur Lee, if you want to be pedantic. But given that Arthur died back in 2006, his absence is excusable. Guitarist Echols is the sole remaining original member of the influential sixties psychedelicists. He’s been keeping the music alive in one form or another since 2009 and even played one of those ‘farewell’ tours, which reached the Fleece back in 2019. On what’s now becoming an annual summer visit to Bristol, his incarnation of Love are promising to play deep cuts and highlights from all four Love albums.
Froglord/Mutilated State/Urzah
Old England, Aug 7
One of those gigs that had to be relocated after the sudden closure of Crofters Rights, this three-band bill of locally based heaviness is headlined by Froglord, who trade in ‘amphibious doom’ and are warming up for their show on the New Blood stage at Bloodstock. Mutilated State promise true Bristol hardcore ciderpunkery and are the odd band out here. But the most intriguing act are Urzah – impressive prog-metallers who formed during the pandemic and recently released their debut album, The Scorching Gaze.
Fernhill Farm, Aug 14-17
The friendliest local festival with by far the best music, ArcTanGent celebrates its tenth anniversary with a typically diverse bill of magnificent heaviness. If you had to choose a best day, then Friday is the one to go for. Swedish headliners Meshuggah bring their polyrhythms to the main stage supported by stunning instrumentalists Animals As Leaders (last seen locally at SWX five years ago), Japanese veterans Sigh and the mighty Ihsahn – the founder of Norwegian black metal pioneers Emperor, who has navigated his way to prog through a series of terrific solo albums. Other appointment performances over the four days include Baroness, Red Fang, Hexvessel and Bossk, though one of the joys of ArcTangGent is stumbling across great new bands you’d never heard of before. All this plus covetable merch, well-stocked bars and plentiful vegan grub. It’s like a little piece of heaven on the outskirts of Bristol.
Bath Forum, Aug 16
There are dark rumours about the demise of Hawkwind, so catch ’em while you can. Dave Brock’s original space rockers have certainly recovered their mojo on record after those dodgy ravey-davey detours in the 1990s. Indeed, their 36th studio album, Stories from Time and Space, is a universally acclaimed cracker (” . . . a deeply cosmic record that might be out there with their very best” – Prog magazine).
COMING SOON
Here’s our essential diary of upcoming gigs that should be of interest to anyone of a rockin’ disposition.
Soulfly, Marble Factory, Sept 1
Nile, Fleece, Sept 5
The Dead Daisies, O2 Academy, Sept 20
Cannibal Corpse/Municipal Waste/Immolation/Schizophrenia, Bristol Beacon, Sept 25
Battlesnake, Exchange, Sept 26
Heriot, Exchange, Sept 27
Battle Beast, Marble Factory, Oct 3
Steve Hackett, Bristol Beacon, Oct 5
Visions of Atlantis, Exchange, Oct 7
Redd Kross, Exchange, Oct 8
Orange Goblin/Conan, Fleece, Oct 10
Eivør/Sylvaine, Thekla, Oct 12
Blues Pills, Thekla, Oct 15
Starset, O2 Academy, Oct 17
Fu Manchu, Marble Factory, Oct 22
Lacuna Coil, O2 Academy, Oct 26
Cradle of Filth, O2 Academy, Oct 27
Uada/Ghost Bath/Cloak, Fleece, Oct 30
Gatecreeper, Fleece, Oct 31
Focus, Fleece, Nov 13
Therapy?, O2 Academy, Nov 15
Baroness/Graveyard/Pallbearer, Marble Factory, Nov 21
Delain, SWX, Nov 22
Massive Wagons, SWX, Nov 23
VOLA/Charlotte Wessels, SWX, Nov 26
Pitchshifter, Thekla, Nov 26
The Sheepdogs, Strange Brew, Nov 30
Dying Fetus, Marble Factory, Dec 2
Pure Reason Revolution, Thekla, Dec 4
Gun, SWX, Dec 7
Jethro Tull, Bristol Cathedral, Dec 11
Endeavour, Exchange, Dec 13
The Rick Wakeman Yuletide Christmas Show, Bath Forum, Dec 18
Eyehategod/Goatwhore, Marble Factory, Dec 19
The Halo Effect/Pain, Fleece, Jan 21
Queensryche, Marble Factory, Feb 14
Fish, Bristol Beacon, Feb 26
Wardruna, Bristol Beacon, March 21
Dewolff, Fleece, April 16
Steven Wilson, Bristol Beacon, May 10
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