Music > Live Reviews
Norwich Psych Fest
Norwich Arts Centre
29/08/21
Psych Fest? In Norwich? Blessed be my ears! Born out of the desperate need to breathe some life back into the Norwich post-lockdown music scene. Norwich Psych Fest aimed to match big names alongside local talent and stood to make a real difference to the local scene.
At first glances at the line-up seemed to have a nice lack psych-snobbery allowing for alternative, noise rock, neo-psychedelic, math rock and bands from many more sub-genres to exist on the roster. The three-day long trip pitched up in Norwich Arts Centre, a former church which when paired with a glitched otherworldly light show from local wizard duo IXIAN Optical and a good few IPAs gave a solid motive to slide over that mid-week slump.
My Wednesday evening kicked off with a brain mashing from Ryan Jordan. Their set felt like being chucked through a plane engine and I was left with that weird comfort and disassociation you get when something is both highly visceral and overwhelming. Next up…Red Mar. It had been a little while since I’d last seen these Norwich-based experimental rock outfit and with a newly garnered five members they’ve definitely matured leaps and bounds sonically. I was thoroughly absorbed by the aptitude across heavier sections and calmer ride outs as well as the endless waves of interesting instruments, personas and outfits. A pure artistic performance to behold.
Local heavy math rockers, Eat Your Own Head killed it as per always. They were swiftly followed by caustic headliners, The Wytches who added that heavy and scratching rawness which lifted the energy in the room to breaking point. The encore ‘Burn Out the Bruise’ got me all riled up and I decided to throw down in the pit. At this point my nose and mouth exploded maybe it was owing to a swift elbow to the face or maybe it was my brain haemorrhaging at the fact Annabel Dream Reader, the album that got me into the band, was released a casual seven years ago.
Thursday highlights included Kyanos who opened by sending a sprawl of twinkling keys and a mix of experimental jazzy vibes cascading around the space. You can definitely hear the nods the HOMESHAKE and other such contemporaries through and through. Sunda Arc were hugely expansive, energic and added a welcomed additional of experimental electronica. I felt like I was falling down the hole at the end of sci-fi horror ‘Annihilation’ at times and also like I was playing Terraria stoned in my room at 4am at times. 10/10 would recommend.
On Friday I was sad to see the last-minute change of Bug Teeth, who emanates an ephemeral and soft energy, this washowever, only matched by my excitement for Birds of Hell to join the ranks in their place. Watching them spin their beautifully and sometimes estranged dry wit is always a pleasure. The Wolf Number and Psychic Lemon detached from the mothership and drifted out for one final explore at the outer rims of the psychedelic atmosphere. End of trip.
Overall, the music was great. The turnout was good too. A young and diverse audience meant not too many hairy old beer farts in the air, which can be a psych fest worry. Despite this the crowd was slightly under lively, I do believe it sold out so this might be due to current restrictions on capacity in the venue. Nonetheless I have craved a proper packed-out venue and a full-on writhe around with a load of fellow psych-heads more than I knew.
I’ve always been jealous of Manchester having such a solid grasp on the psych fest format and Norwich Psych Fest has definitely satisfied that hunger on some level. Big ups to the respective gangs at Cinecide Promotions and Drongo Records. And here’s to many more!