Raw Power, the festival put together by promoters Baba Yaga’s Hut, returns to Tufnell Park’s The Dome this weekend with an ever-strong line-up in tow, taking in the likes of Godflesh, Circle, Thee Hypnotics, Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs, Locean and more.
Ahead of the festival this weekend, we decided to catch up with those behind the scenes involved in pulling together the line-up and making sure the event runs smoothly to share some of their expected highlights from this year’s bill.
Their picks can all be found below, accompanied by a choice track from each. If you want to grab a ticket for this year’s festival, which runs from May 25-27, you can do so by heading here where you can also find the full line-up.
Gracie O’Bryne, Festival Coordinator, picks Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs
Choosing one band over the others from this year’s Raw Power line-up is like choosing which of my children I like most. But as someone told me, I’d be lying to myself and to the readers of this article if I didn’t choose Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs. I’ve seen them countless times and they never disappoint in anything but Health and Safety standards. I’m willing to forgive the bare feet and water-soaked electricals for the stellar riffs and a topless man declaring ‘I love you mummy’. I’ll be putting down my clipboard and neglecting all responsibility for their set on Saturday night, most probably with a bottle of Buckfast in hand.
Rachel Hiley, Artist Liaison, picks Slowcoaches
In 2013, my dear friend Laurie Foster (of Ex-Vöid) gave me a mix CD featuring Slowcoaches for my birthday – I’ve been hooked ever since. Slowcoaches are unforgiving and brutally sincere. Live, Slowcoaches give the V’s to everything that’s been bothering you that week; they make your boss, your landlord, the jerks in your life take a backseat to their unrelenting, cataclysmic punk sound that’ll make you double take to remember there’s only three people onstage. Slowcoaches are a joyous release from everything that weighs us down. Bassist Heather Perkins has the most charismatic sneer in the game, giving the male gaze a hard slap across the face that has me living every single time.
Archie Duncan, Merchandise, picks Circle
I’m really excited to see Circle again. They headlined the Sunday of the first Raw Power I worked on, and it was great fun. After not being able to work on the festival for a while, it’s fitting that I get to see them again on my first year back. You could say it’s come full circle!
Anthony Chalmers, Promoter / Booker, picks Godflesh
Just finished listening to an incredible hour-long podcast with Justin Broadrick on Resident Advisor and it has made me incredibly excited to have an extreme music legend headlining Raw Power this year.
Claire, Box Office, picks Girl Sweat Pleasure Temple Ritual Band
I like live music to be entertaining, immersive, loud and to have really known I’ve experienced something; maybe we all look for a collective ritual when we’re part of a Raw Power crowd? I’m hoping that Girl Sweat Pleasure Temple Ritual Band will induct me with their rites and that I emerge afterward changed somehow – not too much to ask, surely?
I intend to feel the music IN MY SOUL – or at least somewhere deep inside my body!
I’m gonna be outside the box office a bit this year so come say hi!
Amos Memon, The Dome Stage Manager, picks Madonnatron
I’m looking forward to Madonnatron on Sunday. Incendary, energetic and chaotic!
Steve Martin, Boston Music Room – Stage Manager, picks Snapped Ankles
Snapped Ankles are a party band: they will make you want to dance. Firstly they will strike you with their appearance, reminiscent of characters from Where The Wild Things are ‘on acid’. I use that tired trope without hesitation here as their sound takes heavily from the psychedelic, with elements of krautrock, trance and disco all blended seamlessly together to make something heavy, catchy and ultimately danceable. Aside from this, if you’ve never seen a tree being played as a synth before, now is your chance.
