Anna Hatfield
Freelance photographer, videographer, and journalist. Specialising in all things music and will most likely be found in a photo pit somewhere muttering about lighting conditions
Bristol’s ArcTanGent Festival returns from 19th-22nd August with a stacked alternative lineup – here are some of our picks
ArcTanGent Festival is set to return to Bristol this August with a lineup packed with some of the best alternative music around. With headliners including Chelsea Wolfe, Primus and Cult Of Luna & Julie Christmas, it’s set to be a huge weekend, but make sure not to miss some of the smaller acts too. Here are some of our picks.
ArcTanGent Festival is from 19th-22nd August 2026. Tickets are available here.
MARUJA
Having first seen Maruja around 2 years ago, I’m excited to see this band after their steady rise to fame in that time. These guys have such a unique sound that it would be a massive mistake to miss them, regardless of your music taste. The sax alone brings the listener on an emotional journey through their discography which is a just as much a joy to listen to as it is to watch in person. Fusing complex jazz with post-punk vocals, this band deserves all the hype they have right now and I would highly recommend catching some of their set on Thursday.
PERTURBATOR
One of the headliners I’m most interested to see is Perturbator. This moody nu-metal artist leans heavily on electronic dance music to give them a perfect genre balance for a festival headliner. I’m intrigued to see the kind of crowd they attract at a festival like ArcTanGent and would recommend being part of it when the time comes.
RONKER
Hailing from Belgium, this high-octane speed rock band has slotted right into the niche that seems to be all the rage in the alt music scene right now. FFO IDLES, Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs, and Gallows, this is not a sound that is dying out anytime soon and I can only imagine what this band will do with their creative direction. These guys clearly throw themselves into every element of their performance and I can’t wait to see how it translates live.
SVAVLBARD
If you’re one of the keen campers at ArcTanGent then make sure you catch Svalbard on the Wednesday. With heavy mathy riffs with elements of shoegaze and a heavy lean towards traditional metal, this band will get you well and truly warmed up for the days ahead.
TOWN PORTAL
If the loud vocals have got a bit too much for you, then head on over to Town Portal to get some melodic math-jazz-fused post- hardcore instrumentals. This band have really nailed their own unique take on noise rock, infusing it with complex melodic ideas and, quite frankly, incredibly fun riffs.
ArcTanGent Festival is from 19th-22nd August 2026. Tickets are available here.
Discover more from Clunk Magazine
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
You must be logged in to post a comment.