Back for its 4th iteration and 2nd time in Manchester’s own O2 Victoria Warehouse, Radar Festival has returned to provide a wide array of progressive rock and metal performances for the masses again. With no clashes between either of the 2 stages, this gave audiences the ability to see all of the acts on the bill.

Friday:

The festival opened to raucous cheers from the long queue that stretched across the width of the entrance to the O2 Victoria Warehouse, anxious to see the sights and hear the sounds of the more varied and eclectic days on the Radar Fest lineup. The organisers made great efforts to utilise the area of the venue, allowing for multiple bars, an arcade room, as well as a whole music & games market on the 2nd floor as well as allowing for the 2 stages, ideally located that neither sound bled too badly into the other’s areas.

UK progressive rock band, Giant Walker took to the Sneak Stage to open the festivals, performing from their latest album, All In Good Time. Opening their set with moody ambient atmospherics, Giant Walker wasted no time in making an impact on the crowd, bursting suddenly into life. Steff Fish’s soaring vocals, perfectly complimenting the frenetic guitar riffs went down a storm with audiences. Opening the Archetype stage the other side of the venue were the progressive act The Intersphere who whilst not occupying the same edge that Giant Walker displayed earlier, made more than up for it with their own brand of infectious progressive pop sounds. Tracks like “Wanderer” performed effortlessly lit up the room making an ideal start for the festival.

Not only playing host to a range of new acts, but also welcoming in acts made up of some bands previously split. Unpeople, have had a busy Summer of festivals having also performed at 2000 Trees a few weeks previously and even have Bloodstock booked later in the Summer. Made up of a number of bands, the quartet sure showed that they hadn’t lost their spark at all, playing one of the highlight performances of the weekend. The band played so in sync with each other, you’d think they had been a band for years. Their mix of Punk, Rock and post-Hardcore sounds, combined with some huge choruses, had the hall for the Sneak stage almost full, bobbing away to the music, even garnering one of the first circle pits at the festival. Similarly, Vower, made up of ex-members of bands like Black Peaks and Palm Reader equally made a mark on the audiences, especially with Josh McKeown’s iconic vocals partnering perfectly with the crushing guitars from Black Peaks’ Joe Gosney. The crowd gathered for these bands so early in their own careers, both with only a single EP under their belts, says it all regarding the quality of the bands as well as where they can easily go, if they keep up this momentum.

 

Friday equally had a stunning array of instrumental bands to enjoy. Even with technical difficulties that meant that guest vocals didn’t come through for the perfect show, Earthside persevered and put on a phenomenal display of instrumental mastery. Creating incredible moods and soundscapes through their ethereal sounds. Equally, Ichika Nito put on a phenomenal show that anyone walking by would think a full band was in action. However, with only a minimal stage setup and a single guitar, Nito managed to astound all that entered the main stage hall to see him perform a set full of beautiful harmonies. Returning to perform from 2022’s performance, Plini rounded out the day of instrumental bands. Drawing from all of their previous works, opening with “The Red Fox”, the band showed an awesome feat of guitar prowess, with the audience unable to do anything, but gaze upon in awe. The chill ambient vibes of their music provided the perfect atmosphere of calm before the final headliners of the day went on their stages. 

With the crowd having been warmed up by heavy, hard-hitters, Thrown, Caskets entered the Sneak Stage to headline. Performing a phenomenal mix of their latest album, Lost Souls and previous release Reflections. Caskets were able to get the audience jumping about, and singing along to their massive melodic metalcore hooks. Vocalist Matt Flood made the most of the intimate setting and got right up to the crowd to rupturous applause. If there was one thing to take from this 2nd stage headline slot, it’s that Caskets are a band to look out for on the up & up.

Closing the event for the day was a bit of a leftfield choice, especially going by the rest of the bands playing that day. None other than the synth-pop act The Midnight, and despite the band not necessarily matching the rest of the lineup sonically, the band’s performance went without a hitch! Performing a 19-track setlist, the band went through hit after hit, ensuring the entirety of the hall was dancing away to their infectious Pop groove. The dual vocalist partnership at the front of the band performed in sync to a tee. Once the saxophone came into play, the crowd went crazy. This fusion of 80s synth and pop was enough to win over any naysayer. 

 

Lighting the room in fluorescent colours, the crowd erupted into a cheer for the band’s biggest hit of the night, “Jason.” It was impossible to see a single person in the audience without the largest smile on their faces as they danced to one of the best synth pop hits in years. Without a doubt, one of the best choices to close the first festival day on, providing all the excitement, adrenaline, and joy to come across the remainder of the weekend.

 

Saturday:

Nursing hangovers and tired feet from the events of the previous day, people returned to the Victoria Warehouse for the 2nd day of the festival. Featuring a more traditional lineup of metalcore and adjacent bands. Tribe of Ghosts was the newcomer opening the day. Conjuring up spooky metal vibes with their haunting synths with bone-crushing guitar sections. The true stand-out from the band were the contrasting dual vocals, Beccy Blaker flowing with effervescent grandeur, the range of which were stunning. On the other side of the vocal scope, Adam Sedgewick, whose animalistic screams brought the band to a whole new level live. 

Bringing back the vibes of the previous night from The Midnight were the synth pop-rock outfit KYROS who brought showmanship and performance to another level with their brightly adorned outfits and in-sync dance moves. Performing primarily off their new album, Mannequin. The band succeeded in having one of the most fun sets of the day.

Straight from the fun synthy action of KYROS, into a party haven, returning act, Seething Akira hosted one of the biggest rave-rap-rock sets of the festival. The co-vocalists, Kit Conrad and Charlie Bowes are in their element, getting the entire audience in a flux, never standing still for more than a few seconds at a time. Their high-octane combination of grime-meets-metal was destined to make waves amongst the crowds on the Sneak Stage. 

From there, the festival went down a heavier path. Ithaca and Heart of a Coward showing some of the best of the UK metalcore scene on the festival’s main stage. With ferocious screams and choruses that had the entire crowds shouting along. The bands made the perfect partnership following on from each other on the stage. Djamila Boden Azzouz of Ithaca, was the true highlight of the set, her contrasting vocal styles of screams and soaring cleans are on prime display for all to witness

The Kent-based Nu-Metalcore act Graphic Nature follow on from the trend set from the previous acts, with a blistering set combined of their two albums to date. There is not a moment when the crowd is motionless. The fuzzy distortion laid upon from the guitars and the blinding flashing lights from the band are on a whole new level. Graphic Nature will not be at this level for long before they’re swept up.

America made its impact on the Sneak stage with none other than Hail The Sun and The Fall Of Troy. On first was Hail The Sun, who performed a set unmistakable from their studio recorded music. Performances from last year’s release Divine Inner Tension go off with aplomb, the guitar work captivating to watch. The crowds packed out to see the Guitar Hero alumni in The Fall of Troy, who equally played a staggering set, guitars and drums in an organised frenzy. Fast, frenetic guitar work combined with Thomas Erak’s unique and iconic vocal style was a display to watch. The moment everyone waited for came at the end, bringing on Donovan Melero of Hail The Sun, for the band’s biggest hit “F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X.” Which truly felt like one of those moments that you’ll go back and remember for years to come.

 

The Rugby sludge metallers Conjurer, returned to Radar to headline the Sneak stage this time, and the result is massive. Conjurer sounds huge, their heavy guitar tones causing chaos at Victoria Warehouse. Pits upon pits upon pits, the band just know how to this slab of metal so well. Conjurer are the perfect band to set up the crowds for Saturday’s headliner.

Bringing the second day to a close, are the progressive metal giants in Tesseract, bringing with them a whole choir, including co-Radar performer Cestra for what is the biggest production of the weekend. Bright red lights shining out into the audience, hard to believe the set is only 12 songs long as the band make the entire performance feel like it lasts aeons. Daniel Tompkins was in fine form, orchestrating the audience with ease as his voice soars over the technical metal melodies. 

 

The new tracks from War of Being fit alongside the old effortlessly, the band able to transition from one to the other effortlessly. “Of Mind – Nocturne” is a highlight of the set, Tompkin’s powerful vocals sound majestic as the thudding bass hits the audience. It is clear from this set that the band are making this a special performance for War of Being, debuting the track “Tender” live, to a rapturous audience. The overall set design and production value of Tesseracts show ascend the band to a whole new level, and it’s clear from this single set that the band are ready to go further than academies, and if there’s any justice to the world, this will happen soon. 

 

Part 2 coming soon

Tickets to Radar festival are on sale now:
www.radarfestival.co.uk/tickets.

WORDS BY CHARLIE HILL