Having grown in stature in recent years, this year’s Outbreak Fest was the biggest yet. Returning to Bowlers Exhibition Centre in Manchester, organisers utilised the venue by moving the main stage outside, with varying but mostly positive results. While Friday’s reduced bill leaned into the festival’s hip-hop arm, Outbreak promised to serve up some of the finest hardcore punk and influential emo across two days. We witnessed a memorable weekend full of breakdowns, stage dives, and singalongs. Here’s a recap…
Saturday
Missing Link
There’s considerably no better way to kick start Outbreak Fest with a dose of pummelling thrashy hardcore courtesy of Missing Link. The New York outfit is on a wave of momentum following the release of ‘Watch Me Bleed’. Here they drill down on Outbreak’s origins; pure intense hardcore delivered in its most rugged form.
Higher Power
The first venture outside to the main stage sees OB Fest regulars, Higher Power, serve up a satisfying set of melodic hardcore. Having embraced an expansive, Britpop-esque influence in recent years, the Leeds-based group showcase a mix of old and new material. While tracks such as ‘Seamless’ and ‘Absolute Bloom’ are upbeat with soaring melodies, older cuts like ‘Reflect’ and ‘Can’t Relate’ prove Higher Power can still easily pull off hardcore bangers. A great way to kick off Outbreak‘s main stage.
Nothing
Philadelphia’s Nothing was one of the acts to deliver album-specific sets as they mark 10 years of ‘Guilty of Everything’. With such an ethereal and atmospheric sound, their set were hit by bass-heavy sound issues early on, yet these eased out a few songs in. Their brand of shoegaze and grunge has a helpless hypnotic tone that can be either compelling or monotonous. Thankfully, it’s the former as Nothing‘s musical poise is highlighted during the album’s title track. This made for an appreciative set, despite the grey skies above.
Sweet Pill
With Balance & Composure suffering travel issues, their anticipated set was moved to Sunday. It allowed Sweet Pill the opportunity to play two sets across the weekend. The Philadelphia group took the chance by the horns delivering an impressive set. Vocalist Zayna Youssef is energetic and is backed by a band that embraces elements of math-rock and pop-punk amongst their emo sound.
Poison The Well
Next up, Poison The Well deliver a crushing return as the reinvigorated hardcore metallers come back to the UK after 15 years away. Opening with ‘Botcha’, there is instantly a barrage of bodies throwing themselves off the stage, despite the rain. It’s clear the Floridians’ return is met with open arms, and frontman Jeff Moreira is equally in an upbeat mood, encouraging the pit to get in his face. The rowdy crowd obliged, leading to a momentary pause due to overcrowding/tech issues. Nevertheless, as they close with ‘Nerdy’, it’s clear the return of Poison The Well has been a success.
Touché Amoré
Two years removed from headlining, Touché Amoré aren’t unfazed by being third from top. With a set picking out favourites from their discography, a new song ‘Nobody’s’, seamlessly fits in alongside ‘Come Heroine’, ‘Just Exist’, and ‘New Halloween’. Frontman Jeremy Bolm is as visceral as ever, leading the charge as Touché deliver a set that is cathartic and chaotic in equal measure. Constantly a joy to watch.
Have Heart
Preluded by Sinead O’Connor’s spoken word rendition of Bob Marley’s ‘War’, Have Heart arrived for their co-headline set with intent and substance. Patrick Flynn shouts “ceasefire” before opening with ‘The Machinist’. With the name of Palestinian doctor and peace activist Izzeldin Abuelaish ablaze across the video wall, he’s soon joined by throws of bodies eager to deliver the same energy created by Have Heart‘s time playing in VFHs and basements. Although this is accomplished, the needed intimacy is clearly absent. Despite this, it’s still a celebration of the influence that Have Heart has had.
Chat Pile
Back at the indoor second stage, Chat Pile deliver a compelling set as they showcase their sludge-infused brand of noise rock. Throughout, Raygun Busch’s vocals are distressed, clashing with the steely and heavy sound of his bandmates. In between songs, Busch goes off on tangents about films about or made in Manchester. It’s quirky and intriguing but makes sense to Chat Pile‘s expeditious style. Songs such as ‘Why?’ and ‘Garbage Man’ are captivating and perfectly destructive.
Basement
It’s clear Basement are Outbreak legends. Their 17-song set is paced well with ‘Earl Grey’s delicate tone segueing into a rapturous blast, opening things up. From there, the quintet pick out highlights from their back catalogue with a hat-trick of singalongs (‘Pine,’ ‘Promise Everything’ and ‘Covet’) to close the night. There’s probably no other festival on these shores Basement could headline, yet at Outbreak are right at home and ultimately thrives here.
Sunday
Balance and Composure
Later than planned, thanks to American Airlines and British Airways, Balance and Composure ease us into the day with their brand of serene emo rock. It’s something frontman Jon Simmons agrees with, telling the large crowd “It’s so hard to rock at 11:50am!”. Nevertheless, the pensive new cut, ‘cross to bear’, shows signs of a band rejuvenated and by the time ‘Tiny Raindrops’ is slotted in mid-set, the subdued crowd stir up a response. Closing with ‘Back of Your Head’ and ‘Reflection’, Balance and Composure have firmly shaken off their collective cobwebs, as well as fans’ morning slumber.
Spite House
Back inside, Montreal trio Spite House bring a set of straight-up emo/post-hardcore. With a style reminiscent of Jawbreaker with hints of Title Fight, they fit right into Outbreak‘s heavy side yet it’s intertwined by soaring hooks. Throughout vocalist/guitarist Maxime Lajoie showcases his wide vocal range. They pull a decent but appreciative crowd. Like many bands further down the bill, Outbreak is a great opportunity for Spite House to be heard by the ideal. While the impact of their set might not be long-lasting, they have certainly won some new fans today.
The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die
The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die maintain the emo love in with a short, admirable set. As a collective, they’re musically impressive, executing various shades of post-rock-inspired emo. Like Have Heart yesterday, you can’t but feel The World Is… would be better suited for an intimate venue as this outing felt like it was missing something. Nevertheless, penultimate song, ‘January 10th, 2014’, stirs up the biggest response before a quick fire and hectic cover of Ceremony’s ‘Kersed’.
Photo Credit: Anna Swiechowska
Angel Du$t
Like many familiar Outbreak names, Angel Du$t are clearly beloved. Frontman Justice Tripp is charismatic, urging the mass crowd to join him as they blast through 13 songs in 30 quickfire minutes. The shared love of hardcore between the band and the dedicated crowd feeds off one another, creating a chaotic, fun energy. Whereas Sweet Pill’s second (and scheduled) set of the weekend proves to be as infectious as the first. Considerably solidifying them as one of the breakout bands of the weekend.
Fiddlehead
Less than 24 hours removed from co-headlining, members of Basement and Have Heart step up to the mains stage for Fiddlehead‘s return to Outbreak. Much like last night, Patrick Flynn thrives amongst the dedicated crowd, bringing a rawness to their melodic hardcore sound. With a set dominated by cuts from the ever-brilliant Between the Richness’ and last year’s ‘Death Is Nothing to Us’, Flynn and company give it their all with radiant singalongs and stage divers aplenty.
Mannequin Pussy
Having made their way from Glastonbury, Mannequin Pussy feel right at home at Outbreak. Led by the sultry Marisa ‘Missy’ Dabice, the Philadelphia punks are defiant and outspoken, questioning the UK media’s decision to label the band as “Mannequin P”, resulting in Dabice urging the crowd to shout “Pussy”. Latest album, ‘I Got Heaven’ is showcased strongly, highlighting their growing flexibility. Yet it’s their scrappy punk that the quartet thrive from. Dabice swaps roles with bassist Bear Regisford for closing number, ‘Pigs Is Pigs’, providing one final frantic blast.
The Hotelier
There’s a feeling of expectation in the air as The Hotelier tune-up for a rare UK outing. As the mournful organ of ‘An Introduction To The Album’ swirls away, that expectation grows with a sense that is going to be something special. For the next forty minutes, the Massachusetts group charged through ‘Home, Like Noplace Is There’ with the same raw emotion that it contained upon its release 10 years ago.
Movements
Having loved their first time at Outbreak, it’s clear Movements want to recreate the same vibe. Thankfully, those in attendance want to as well. Delivering a spirited set filled with soaring hooks and a plethora of bodies doing all they can to join Patrick Miranda on stage. Longtime favourite, ‘Daylily’, provides one final energetic singalong from the So Cal post-hardcore group, being one of the biggest on the weekend.
Hot Mulligan
Even though England’s men’s football team were playing Slovakia, the Outbreak masses don’t care as Hot Mulligan are on board to bring some vibrant emo pop-punk to the evening. Nathan “Tades” Sanville’s yelping vocals can be polarising, yet the Michigan band can conjurer up an array of sugary and bouncy cuts with ease. Unsurprisingly, this leads to a party-like atmosphere that is easy to be swept up in.
Harms Way
Chicago heavyweights Harms Way provide one final blast of hard-hitting hardcore. Their sound is as muscular as frontman James Pligge, fitting perfectly into the chaotic second stage hall. It’s a full-frontal beatdown of hardcore in its heaviest form.
Thursday
With a set consisting of tracks just from ‘War All The Time’ and ‘Full Collapse,’ Thursday‘s OB debut is executed with a sense of nostalgia. Yet there are no signs of rust as Geoff Rickly and company thrive off the welcomed celebration offered by the frenzied crowd. Touché Amoré’s Jeremy Bolm stops by for a guest spot on ‘Paris In Flames’, merely elevating the feel-good chaos produced. By the time they close with ‘War All The Time,’ Rickly is swamped by a crowd who have longed to see Thursday again. A triumphant outing that leaves us wanting more.
American Football
For a festival that is known as much for stage diving as it is hardcore, the choice of American Football is a curious one yet it quickly pays off. Celebrating 25 years of their first self-titled album, the Midwest emo icons utilise the main stage setting by elevating the melodic richness of ‘You Know I Should Be Leaving Soon’ and ‘But the Regrets Are Killing Me’. Although not entirely engaging with the crowd, AF‘s laid back style provides a fitting soundtrack as Outbreak winded down for another. The sensible choice to move ‘Never Meant’ to the end of their set pays off with one final stage invasion of the weekend, considerably an unlikely feat when American Football was announced.
Conclusion
While some festival bookers say they’re no new rock bands, it’s clear that the underground scene and the counterculture of the mainstream are undoubtedly thriving. Outbreak has a strong, diverse community at its spine. Walking around Manchester’s Bowlers Exhibition Centre, you hear voices and see people from a variety of nationalities, backgrounds, sexual orientations, and genders. Outbreak Festival has created a welcoming place for those considered “alternative” to be themselves, and its soundtrack has become vital in showcasing a range of the best of the past, present, and future of hardcore, punk, hip-hop, and everything in between. It’s importance and influence in the UK and European festival scene is sure to continue to grow.
4/5/5
Words by Sêan Reid. Photos by Anna Swiechowska (@callxmexkiller) and Nat Wood (@wondergirlphoto) and supplied by Outbreak Fest and Revenant Earth.
