Manchester Psych Fest 2026. 5th September 2026
- 15 minutes ago
- 6 min read
Let’s get the tiny bit of negativity out of the way. Manchester Psych Fest is very spread out this year. My first stop is a delightful little pub venue called The Abbey, but it is quite a trek and the venues in general are spread far and wide. Even with my careful planning, it will reduce the amount of bands I’ll see and that is a shame. I’ve given up on the idea of some venues altogether. On the plus side, the line up is insanely good and there’s tons of bands I’d normally jump at seeing, bdrmm, The Beta Band, Adult DVD, to name three, but I’ll try to mix it up a bit and see some new bands. So, that’s off my chest, why have I walked to the outskirts of Hulme on Manchester Science Park. Well, for Lily Rae Grant. This really is a lovely little venue with a nice room that I’m gonna guess holds about 80 and it’s pretty much full as Grant and band rip through a set of sexy southern rock and or roll. The rhythm section is pretty awesome, flitting from lazy dust bowl to soulful funk, the organ is beautiful too, but the reason it’s Lily’s name on the bill is likely her voice, it’s powerful and she’s easily the focus. Although the lad on keys is giving her a run for her money, he’s not tinkling as much as melodically attacking them and it sounds wonderful. It’s all quite tight and controlled, but when they unleash, crikey it’s spine tingling. Worth the walk for sure. Ty Segall is doing a solo set in here next, but I’m going to head over to the Apollo (on a bike, screw walking). I’ll hopefully catch Ty for his main set later.
Speed is of the essence at this point to get to the Apollo. The much hyped (as in insanely) Angine de Poitrine are next on my list and the demand to get in, is the highest by far for any band I’ve seen at Psych Fest, ever! A 5 minute pedal across town though and an airport style queue later and I’m in. Yes the hype is nuts, but I’ll admit I’m excited. It’s a bit baffling as to just why they’ve caught fans admiration to this extent. Is it the batshit costumes, the double necked guitar, or are there just a lot of sheep in here. I’m really not convinced there’s such a mass market for polyrhythmic math rock, but here we are. On they come, blurt something incomprehensible in an alien language, make the pyramid hand symbol and rip into a blustering hour of tub-thumping, ridiculously complex psychedelic prog rock. It’s wonderfully indulgent as layers build up and the place… barely moves. Granted this isn’t dance music, but there’s a ferocious bounce in the rhythm alone. Just watch the drummer, who’s dildo-like nose is swinging about like crazy. My assumption is that most of the crowd are in here, so they can say they were in here. They sound great on record and it’s great live, but the hype is too much. They are genuinely great though and worth seeing live (if you can get a ticket), but I won’t lie, after an hour it does become a bit of an endurance test. The crowd finally wake up for ‘Fabienk’ and this helps immensely, we even get some crowd surfers. It’s hot as hell in here though, so I’m quite thankful to get outside and breathe some fresh Manchester air.
A short walk up the road and I remain outside in Projekts Skate Park for Ghostwoman. I’m pretty sure the first time I saw them was a Psych Fest, but I’ve seen them again since and this time out they still sound as solid, even as the sun goes down and casts rays across the halfpipes. Lily Rae Grant had a tinge of the dust bowl, but this duo roll in it. The effortlessly cool dirgey riffs, the metronomic drums that just make you want to loosen your neck and the sun-drenched vocal just tops it off. I wasn’t sure they’d make sense at this still early hour, but it’s beautiful.
A quick bike ride (electric this time) up to the Academy and I’m beginning to see a pattern. The Allah-Las’s too have that loungey sound. This lot are from LA though, so the cap fits. It’s a very cool smooth sound, 60s pysch with sharp guitars that cut deliciously through harmonised vocals and blissed out bass. They’re not gonna change your life, but this is exactly what I’m looking for as they make us all gently drift and sway. They swap instruments and vocal duties, it’s all very chilled.
I’m going to be back and forth to the Academy for this next bit, so needlessly to say there’s a lot more bikes, the next one taking me to The Deaf Institute for The Dharma Chain. I do love this venue, it’s a shame that a lot of bands I want to see no longer seem to play it. The Dharma Chain set instantly seems like it might steel set of the day. I’ve had a listen to all the bands I’ve not seen before, but there’s nothing like being surprised with a set like this. It’s dark and ethereal, but mesmerically driven. They’re the perfect band to usher in the night, asking for the lights to be turned down so we can’t see their faces. They’re a good looking bunch too, perhaps even more so bathed in ominous red. Definitely need to listen to more.
There’s another massive queue to get back in the Academy for Ty Segall, not quite Antoine de Poitrine levels but it takes a while, due to some stringent security. Can’t be too careful I guess. With someone as prolific as Segall, you can never quite be sure what sort of set you’ll get. Other than a great one. Tonight he goes hard, grungey garage rock guitars squall with a wall of harmonic noise and pulverising vocals. There’s a visceral energy to everything, there’s only two guitars up there, but it sounds like more. It sounds great, so free, so natural, probably the best I’ve seen him live. Powerful stuff and certainly the heaviest set of my day.
Next up, a total change in The Bread Shed for electro duo The KVB. Think menacingly haunting synths washing over a drum machine whilst moody vocals go toe to toe with some sparse guitar and you’re on the right track. They’ve pulled a good crowd in this slot against some heavy hitters and they’re loving it. I was worried about the sound, I’ve seen countless guitar bands in here that sounded pretty shite. It’s either new speakers, a better sound guy or just that The KVB’s cleaner sound suits the room, whatever it is, its sounds bloody good. They’re not exactly a bright and breezy band, but tonight they sound darker than ever, the perfect soundtrack to a bleak dystopian future that we seem likely heading for.
You’d think that maybe I’d be looking for something lighter to follow, but that’s not the way this goes. Back in the Academy for the last time, the late start predictably thinning the crowd, but Working Men’s Club are back! There’s vans outside with video screens teasing their return. As uncompromising as ever they start with a cinematically bleak lament with a distinct dystopian drone, before hitting the bpm and ushering in a venomous volley of aggressive rave juggernauts. For the casual listener it is not. There’s a lot of new stuff, but it holds together as a set, mixing New Order and 808 State, with Adamski and well, WMC. Theres nothing else around that quite sounds anything like them. I know they’re divisive. it’s not for everyone, but I fucking love it and it’s perfect as we breach midnight. It’s hard and chaotic, confrontational and unnerving, very WMC. Great to have them back.
The final stop is at a very hot and sweaty Gorilla for the aptly named Nightbus. Last time I saw them the crowd was small, tonight (now technically morning), the place is rammed for some gothy shoegaze. Watching a band is much like watching a film, you bring your own baggage and it reflects on the experience. I’m admittedly tired, so this feels somewhere between an echo of my mind winding down, whilst stubbornly clinging on for a last euphoric high. Whatever it is, it works. They’re plagued with tech issues, but you’d barely know it as they wallow and soar, keeping everyone’s heads bouncing. A great way to wrap things up.
Nine bands, four of them new, in eleven hours, seven venues and six bikes. Manchester Psych Fest, awesome as ever. Now to find a taxi, I’m not cycling home.
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