STRUGGLEFEST AT AUDIO, 01.10.16

Strugglefest has, for the last few years now, held a very special place in both my calendar and my heart.

Bringing together punk, emo, and hardcore bands the world over, the annual all-dayer put together by Steven Hill of Struggletown Records is an incredible feat – 11 bands in 8 hours with only 10 minutes changeover time each. It’s a testament to the feeling of comradery and dedication within the scene that everything runs so smoothly: having left London later than expected, Sad Blood race north just in time for doors and still manage to play an electrifying set; Anna’s Anchor frontman Marty Ryan recounts a 6-hour journey from Leeds to Edinburgh, jokingly comparing it to touring the US; local acts who aren’t even on the bill can be seen offering help and supporting the night from word go.

And of course not a single act graces the stage without stopping to emphatically thank Hill himself.

Opening the festival with an acoustic set, Lovers Turn To Monsters consists of one man and one alone. Kyle Wood is (although I use this word far too often) the very epitome of charming. Filling in the empty space on the stage with self-deprecating humour and an unnervingly funny story about a visit to a hospice, his introspective lyrics remind me of a young Scottish Ben Marwood. Which is by no means a bad thing.

In their own words, Get It Together are the ‘sore thumb’ in the middle of the line-up. Considerably heavier than just about any other act on show they are rapid, tearing through their set with very little room to breathe. Vocalist Mark (whose surname eludes me - what an incredible journalist) spends the latter half of the set on the floor in typical hardcore fashion, darting from one side of the room to the other like a caged animal. It’s a performance that in all honesty deserved at least a little pit. But it provides a welcome burst of energy nonetheless.

Due to a small hiccup in stage times I come very close to missing two of the bands I’m most looking forward to catching. Flakes have been on my radar ever since their first release way back in 2013. With their setlist written on a paper plate and enough fog to make your chain-smoking nan cough, I feel pretty vindicated in my interest. Raw, atmospheric and helluva powerful - America watch out. Scotland can do that emo thing an aw.

And the aforementioned Sad Blood are a cracking watch too. Even after a speedy journey across the country their soaring Into It. Over It-eqsue indie rock is the perfect pick-me-up; guitarist and vocalist George Phillips appears almost possessed as he whips around the mic, springing up and down and crooning through a veil of wild hair. With only a few EP’s to their name their debut is one to be keeping an eye out for.  

Chicago pair Ratboys and Dowsing take the closing slots. A quick nosy around their social media reveals that the former have almost literally just lost one of their members – bassist Will Lange, accused of sexual abuse, and sent back to the States – leaving Mike P of Dowsing to fill in for the first time. This type of news seems to rear its ugly head every other week these days and whilst it’s a positive sign of victims feeling more comfortable speaking out, acts don’t always (or even mostly) respond in the best way. The statement from Ratboys is a breath of fresh air however. I don’t want to take away the focus from their impressive set, but it seems important to draw attention to good practice – and to the fact that their performance hasn’t suffered for it.

Each starting with a solo section that leaves vocalists Julia Steiner and Erik Hunter Czaja exposed on the dark stage, before ripping into a full band finish, the sets play out in perfect parallel. From soft twanging guitars to punchy riffs, lilting voices to gruff yells, the two go hand in hand and send the festival out on a discordant harmony that compliments the vibe of the day perfectly.    

For a full list of all the bands from the day check out the Strugglefest event page here, and if any of it take your fancy make sure to stop by the Struggletown page proper. Special thanks to Steven for putting on the event and to Butler from Audio for the exceptional light and sound.