Overall, this was a seriously good night, with Conjurer and Gaerea both delivering sets that were heavy, emotional and hugely engaging in very different but complementary ways.
Taking place on Saturday the 5th of September in the heart of Nottingham city centre, Mangata Festival 2026 saw an incredible lineup of bands take over five stages all within throwing distance of each other.
Taking place on Saturday August 29th at the iconic Leo’s Red Lion in Gravesend, Beastfest returned for its 4th, and possibly final stand-alone, iteration. Featuring an array of stellar bands across the metal and rock spectrum, if this was it for the all-dayer, it went out with a bang.
I came away thoroughly satisfied by my first RADAR experience. More festivals need to treat the weekend like an event, and not just a place to host bands, and that is what RADAR does so well.
It sure was a hot and sweaty one, but that’s not really a surprise now, is it? After all, Desert Storm are on fire at the moment.
…and just like that, another Slam Dunk is in the bag. Five years in row at Hatfield now, and once again, a very fun and satisfying time was had overall. So, what did we love, what did we hate, and what did we turn our noses up to? It’s The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of Slam Dunk 2026 – South!
It doesn’t get more intimate than Blondies in Hackney, London, which for a band with the kind of personality of Cork, Ireland’s The Last Vinci, is pretty much perfect.
It’s Sunday night in London as we head to Brixton for An Evening With Machine Head for the final night of their EU/UK tour.