Support The Quietus
Our journalism is funded by our readers. Become a subscriber today to help champion our writing, plus enjoy bonus essays, podcasts, playlists and music downloads.
From pubs to festivals to arenas, out and about with tQ
In the face of a wave of high-profile cancelations, at this year's OFF Festival Julian Marszalek finds a unique spirit of resilience indicative of the Polish spirit, victory snatched from the gaping maw of defeat by eclecticism and South Korean post-rock. (Photographs by Honorata Karapuda)
As the annual Amsterdam-based festival faces increasing popularity year on year, Christian Eede considers how Dekmantel is pushing against becoming just another dance music festival, and fits in a trip to new club De School along the way. Photos courtesy of Bart Heemskerk and Desiré van den Berg
Do you want to run an amazing cross-genre, challenging festival? No problem. All you need is giant chickens, a swimming pool and fearless programming. Mat Colegate and John Doran reap the hairy caged whirlwind and report back with their findings
At the monolithic Roskilde festival in Denmark, Lottie Brazier finds a far more than cursory exploration of contemporary non-Western music pointing — despite seemingly having no overt political agenda — to a rising tide of inclusivity and anti-nationalist sentiment in an increasingly conservative climate
Braving the mud for the festival's tenth anniversary — and with performances from PJ Harvey, Holly Herndon, Skepta and Fat White Family — Luke Turner, Lottie Brazier, William Doyle, Laurie Tuffrey, Emily Mackay, Glen Mcleod, Christian Eede and Julian Marszalek get stuck in to one of the UK's most varied and exciting festival bills. (Photographs by Valerio Berdini)
As Belle and Sebastian perform their first two albums at the Royal Albert Hall, Fergal Kinney examines indie’s long standing infatuation with all things adolescent, taking covering C86, twee, Orange Juice and the Smiths
With Bloc retiring from hosting annual weekenders at Butlins, Christian Eede visits the last ever edition for a weekend packed with one-of-a-kind experiences. It's just a shame that co-founder George Hull doesn't seem to feel the same way. All photos courtesy of Jake Davis
Last month in Berlin, the annual CTM Festival threw together artists from across the world in a programme that reinforced the fact that the old boundaries between east, west, developed and developing countries are being overthrown at a thrilling and fast rate. Luke Turner reports.
Since its beginnings in 2013, Dekmantel has gone on to be hailed as one of the best house and techno festivals in the world, drawing in discerning ravers from all over to its forest location just outside Amsterdam. With the festival in its third year, Christian Eede throws himself into the madness in full force