As the autumn equinox approaches, Salford is set to transform into a vibrant hub of experimental art and music with the return of Fat Out Fest.
From September 20 to 22, the event offers a weekend of boundary-pushing performances, workshops and afterparties that will captivate the senses and challenge the norm. Keep reading for a preview of what to expect, highlighting 10 standout artists and events that you won’t want to miss.
Fatty Acid After Party
Co-curated with Manchester-based party series and collective Fatty Acid, Friday night’s afterparty promises a celebration of creativity and weirdness, with performances, DJ sets and spontaneous artistic collaborations – a space where artists and freaks can come together to celebrate the spirit of this festival. Featuring a lineup of the north’s finest – including Kim Lana, as well as Berlin based Japanese producer and DJ s/h/u/y/a – Fatty Acid is the perfect way to start the weekend. Just make sure you save enough energy for the rest of the festival!
Nuha Ruby Ra
Known for her raw and electrifying performances, Nuha Ruby Ra brings avant-punk energy and a blend of electronic and experimental sounds to Fat Out Fest. Her show is a visceral experience, combining gritty guitar riffs with pulsating beats in a way that is both chaotic and captivating. A personal favourite, her song ‘6 In The Morning’ is a sardonic, searing observation of house parties where everyone is trying to be a bit too cool. Expect a set that is as unpredictable as it is unforgettable, with Ra’s powerful vocals and intense stage presence leading the charge.
Workshop: British class struggle
In light of the recent far-right uprisings, how do we talk about working class struggle in the UK, and how it has sometimes had a complex relationship with resistance movements in places like Palestine and the global south? The workshop will explore how our understandings of what it means to be “working class” in the UK are still informed by British imperialism and empire. It’s a great opportunity for those attending who want to understand how class is talked about today, and how the far-right uses it to prevent international solidarity with other movements around the world.
Electroni Kongo
In Electroni Kongo’s set, you should expect a vibrant mix of pulsating beats, intricate rhythms and melodic guitar solos that pay homage to the band’s roots while pushing the boundaries of contemporary electronic music. Their sets remind us that techno is in fact rooted in African drum traditions, something often forgotten by those who associate it only with Berlin. Electroni Kongo also expand the genre with Afrofuturistic sounds, creating an infectious energy that will get you moving as the autumn cold sets in.
Third Kulture
Hailing from Manchester, Third Kulture are a hybrid rock-rap trio who have taken the Northern alternative music scene by storm with their high energy shows that blend genres and defy expectations. Their music, characterised by powerful lyrics and heavy riffs, tackles themes of identity, belonging and resistance. Expect a performance that is both thought-provoking and crucial for our current times. It’s Black rock from the north, so get ready for the pit!
LYZZA
Brazilian DJ, producer and vocalist LYZZA has undergone a rapid ascent with her avant-garde pop and experimental club music. Starting her career in Amsterdam’s ballroom scene with a genre-blending style, she quickly gained recognition across Europe, performing at major festivals like Sónar and Primavera Sound. Her debut mixtape, Mosquito, showed her versatility, featuring collaborations with artists like La Zowi and Backxwash. LYZZA’s innovative approach and dynamic performances are shaping the future of club music.
Angeline Morrison
Angeline Morrison’s music is both enchanting and deeply moving. Her storytelling through song captures the essence of human experience, with melodies that linger long after the performance is over. Her album The Sorrow Songs: Folk Songs Of Black British Experience can only be described as a historic moment for artists of colour making English folk music, carrying the torch first lit by legends such as Davey Graham and Dorris Henderson. This will be a special moment for the festival that falls on the pagan holiday of Mabon, and will serve as a captivating journey into the heart of folk music.
Calliope
Calliope is a project comprised of Bianca Wilson (Island Girl) and Femi Oriogun-Williams. They’re both incredibly talented multi-instrumentalists (expect banjos, accordion, mandolin and bodhran), and their set will be an exploration of diasporic futures and lost pasts as an act of reclamation through sound, storytelling and enchantment. Both leaders in diversifying the British folk scene, Calliope are at the forefront of redefining folk music for a new Albion. They will be rounding off the equinox celebrations co-curated by broadcaster, writer and DJ Zakia Sewell.
Eve Frances
Alongside this year’s incredible lineup, winner of the Fat Out x The Fat Zine open call Eve Frances will be exhibiting a series of works exploring themes of Justice and Fat Liberation which will be on display during the festival, with a free preview open to people on September 19. Frances has previously shared a number of successful solo exhibitions — including Under The Sun (2023) and Apple Seed (2024) — and taken part in numerous group shows. This work is stunning in its use of textiles that touch upon the intersections of craft and activist movements, a longstanding tradition in feminist art-making that brings to mind the likes of Louise Bourgeois and Dindga McCannon.
Fat Out Fest will take place from September 20 to 22, 2024. Find more information here.
