Five Acts To Watch At Mutations

Thought festival season was over? Think again…this weekend see the ninth edition of Brighton’s Mutations Festival. Created in 2015 by FORM, this urban festival has seen previous headliners such as Baxter Dury, Warmduscher and SQUID, but this year's offering may just be the biggest and best in the festival's short history.

The Staves, Public Service Broadcasting, Fat White Family and Django Django occupy the key slots for what guarantees to be four incredible days of live music. Sticking to the tried and tested format of urban festivals, the music’s spread across nine different venues, all within a stone's throw of one another. To get you, and ourselves in the mood, we’ve chosen five acts that aren’t to be missed.

Public Service Broadcasting

Never one to fit the mould, Public Service Broadcasting have spent the last decade defining themselves as one of the great innovators in sonic experimentation, transforming this effortlessly into the live space, and in the process, creating an experience you simply have to see to believe. 2015’s landmark record ‘The Race for Space’ still holds a special place in fans’ hearts with its use of archival samples. After a string of UK festival appearances throughout the summer, this will be the last chance to catch the Londoners on home soil this year.

Pearl & The Oysters 

Making waves across the pond, Pearl & The Oysters are the latest group to be unearthed from California’s coolest independent label, Stones Throw Records. Juliet Pearl Davis & Jochim Polack stormed onto the scene with the summer hit ‘Pacific Ave’, which is followed by the release of their breakout album ‘Coast 2 Coast’ later this year. We know that whatever the weather this weekend, Pearl & The Oysters will certainly be bringing the laid-back summer vibes to The Hope and Ruin.

deathcrash

If you’re looking for an immersive slowcore experience to burst your eardrums on Saturday night, then Dust will certainly be the place for you. London four-piece deathcrash will be rounding off a very busy year in style, with what all but guarantees to be another rapturous live performance. This follows the release of their latest record ‘Less’ and subsequent UK tour.

Chartreuse 

Few bands on this weekend's line up exert more autumnal warmth than Chartreuse. Formed in 2013 by Michael Wagstaff and Harriet Wilson, the folk music that influenced their early sound remains in the ambient dark-pop that the band is known and loved for today; helped along the way by the introduction of bass player Perry and drummer Rory. Playing one of the first slots on Thursday, it is without doubt that Chartreuse will be setting the tone for the rest of the weekend as they open the Chalk stage. 

The Lounge Society 

One of the penultimate bands to play on the Chalk stage, The Lounge Society will keep the tired legs of the Mutations faithful moving on Sunday night with their unique blend of no-nonsense lyricism and art-punk grooves. Further cementing Speedy Wunderground as a hot-pot of the country’s best up-and-coming music, their debut album caught the attention of many for its honest, mature take on life as an adolescent in an increasingly bleak United Kingdom.