Beyond The Headliners: 5 Unmissable Acts You Need To Catch At Outbreak London
From its humble hardcore roots, Outbreak Fest returns to London for a second year with a lineup that speaks for itself. Bringing together the best of punk, shoegaze, metal and alternative artists, the festival’s stacked bill reflects not only its consistently high calibre, but also the ever-growing appetite for heavier, boundary-pushing sounds. Alternative music is not just alive, but it is thriving, and shows no signs of slowing down.
Heavyweight headliners certainly grab your attention, but the quality trickles down throughout the entire lineup. We have picked out a few acts you don’t want to miss this year!
Deafheaven
Looking to transcend? Deafheaven will make it happen. Blending the harshness of black metal with dreamy, atmospheric soundscapes, the five-piece American collective bring a necessary dose of blackgaze to the bill. If you have never heard of blackgaze before, just know it gives you permission to stand still and catch your breath without losing the momentum of the day. The hair-raising, bloodcurdling screams of George Clark will certainly grab your attention. Against a polar opposite sonic palette, it is confusing, because it just works. If nothing else, you will leave curious.
Tooth
For those looking for their indie/emo fix, look no further than Tooth. Contrasting gentle moments with explosive choruses and diaristic lyrics, they create a recipe for reminiscing about your first heartbreak. Unpolished and relatable, the four-piece Londoners convey a depth beyond their years. Their debut single ‘The Age of Innocence’, released earlier this year, echoes the peak of the 2010s indie era, and the whiplash of nostalgia is very real for those of us who lived through this soundscape the first time around. If you weren’t there and want to know what that felt like, go see these guys.
Clarion
Shoegaze and indie? Clarion have got you covered. The LA-based trio weave haunting, fuzzy vocals with propulsive, textured sonics to invoke ethereal carnage. You can thank their post-punk and hardcore influences for the intense undertone that drives their body of work. For those who indulged in the grunge scene back in the early 2000s, ‘Hello Juliette’ will sucker punch you with nostalgia as it sits firmly in the grungegaze camp. Abrasive distortion, buzzing overlays and hook-laden choruses make it impossible not to immerse yourself in a spiral of joyous chaos. If you end up watching their show, don't be surprised if their songs linger in your head afterward.
Villanelle
If grunge with a flair of rock ’n’ roll is what you’re looking for, Villanelle is here to deliver. Paving the way for a new wave of grunge revivalism, their abrasive, visceral impact is welcomed by both old hands and newcomers to the genre. Embracing a variety of acoustic and thrashing riffs, the UK-based trio provide moody, brooding sonics that carry you away. Acoustic-led single ‘Opportunity Arising’ will scratch that grunge itch, while ‘Hinge’ captures the grunge-rock hybrid Villanelle has become known for and will certainly get heads banging. Brace yourself for some pit action if you’re planning to catch their set.
Mannequin Pussy
For your quintessential punk needs, catch Mannequin Pussy. Vocalist Marisa ‘Missy’ Dabice is a force to be reckoned with. Her soft, whispering vocals draw you in with poetic storytelling before sending you flying into bursts of raw, shouted choruses. Every note across their discography feels deeply considered and moves with intention, creating an almost meditative state before melting into hoarse cries and crashing cymbals. If you ever caught the cult series Skins in the 2010s, the Philadelphia four-piece would fit right in, with tracks ranging from driving anthems to reflective moments. Expect a combination of buzzing chaos and cathartic release during their set.