So, three times before the dawn (of autumn) I won’t deny Czechia. The last of my trilogy of trips to my second home is the smallest of the bunch but maybe the best for it. We had come over to play this DIY punk and hardcore festival with Emissaries of Syn and Spam Javelin two years back, had a marvellous time, and I thought it would be a treat to go back as a punter and support our friend Peta’s event.
See, 24 years ago even I was (relatively) young. But in the last ten years of frenzied festival going this monster on the far horizon, the biggest in Central Europe, has been clashing with Bloodstock weekend, or has featured bands on the Euro circuit which I would catch elsewhere, or I’ve needed weeks to recover from Obscene Extreme…. Enough with the excuses! Another phenomenal line-up for the eclectic heavy tastes that it always seems to have, a gathered group of fellow adventurers and we’re in for the second of my Czech trips of the summer.
Supersonic Festival 2019 @ Various venues, Birmingham
19-21/7/19
I have had some amazing times at Supersonic previously, but my three prior visits were limited to single days as opposed to the weekend. I also hadn’t been since 2012 as for me it had drifted to the lighter/weirder end of the experimental spectrum from the previous mix of the celebration of noise that had appealed to me. However this year they dropped a bomb of a line-up for their 15th anniversary, and with friends from UK and Europe also descending I was signed up for the full experience early doors, before it eventually sold out
13-14/7/19
Too early for Halloween you say? This is nothing to do with autumnal veg but a determined effort by the squash based Manchseter punk record label to re-establish at least a flavour of the Dirty Weekend/Common Ground festivals they were involved in and that have sadly run out of available destinations in recent times. So while there’s no camping involved the excellent community club in Levenshulme does at least have some outside green space to rig up a marquee to complement the indoor stage. Invite a similar range of alternative styles of band to what was mixed up on those previous festival fields and the ingredients are looking good for a feast. Oh don’t forget to add Buckfast as a condiment.
Obscene Extreme Festival 2019
3-6/7/19
To think, for a bit, I considered not going. With other festivals to check out and compare and contrast, and after the major milestone/mess of its 20th anniversary party last year, maybe this could take a break. But then they announce the line-up including a top selection of American hardcore that you don’t get to see a lot and what do you know, all arrangements are made a we’re rushing back to the heart of the chaos.