PREVIEW: Portals Festival 2024
This weekend, London’s vibrant alternative music scene converges at the EartH in Hackney for the highly anticipated Portals Festival. Known for its eclectic mix of post-rock, math-rock, and experimental sounds, Portals Festival 2024 promises to be an unforgettable experience for music enthusiasts. Held on 25-26 May, the festival boasts a stellar lineup of 35 bands across three stages, headlined by the legendary US post-rockers This Will Destroy You and If These Trees Could Talk.
Festival Director Asher Kenton expressed excitement about the lineup, highlighting the influence of bands like This Will Destroy You on the genre:
"We’re stunned to have secured This Will Destroy You as headliners for Portals Festival 2024. They’re a band who have shaped both the post-rock genre and our personal music tastes. So many bands on the lineup would cite them as major influences, so to be able to bring together legends of the genre with incredible new up-and-coming artists is an absolute joy."
The festival also features an impressive array of international artists, including Danish dark shoegaze band MØL, French post-metal giants Year of No Light, and LA-based math-rock duo standards. For those seeking sonic diversity, Portals Festival offers performances from Japanese instrumental-rock pioneers LITE, Taiwanese math-rockers Elephant Gym, and many more. The festival also welcomes the return of Irish math/post-rock band Enemies and introduces exciting acts like Overhead, Albatross, Orchards, and Hidden Mothers.
Set in the stunning venue of EartH, with its large HALL space, breathtaking THEATRE, and intimate BAR stage, the festival provides an ideal setting for immersive musical experiences. Easily accessible by public transport and featuring a range of amenities, Portals Festival ensures a seamless and enjoyable experience for all attendees.
Among the must-see acts are our top picks include: This Will Destroy You, Slow Crush, If These Trees Could Talk, Din of Celestial Birds, Lost In Kiev, Wang Wen, Orchards, Elephant Gym, Year of No Light, itoldyouiwouldeatyou, and Lawi Anywar. With such a diverse and dynamic lineup, Portals Festival 2024 is set to be a landmark event in London’s music calendar.
Saturday
Brighton’s Orchards can be found on the THEATRE stage on Friday
This year’s Portals Festival hits the ground running with an incredible lineup. Starting the day on the HALL stage are Sheffield’s Hidden Mothers, who will kick things off with their manic blend of screamo-infused post-hardcore. Also on the HALL stage, don’t miss Brighton’s Orchards, bringing their unique indie/math-rock sound, Japanese instrumentalists LITE, and the headliners, American post-rock heavyweights This Will Destroy You, performing an exclusive fan-voted set.
Over on the THEATRE stage, make sure to check out Leeds-based instrumental post-rockers Din Of Celestial Birds, Danish math-rock mavericks Town Portal, and Belgium’s premier shoegaze purveyors Slow Crush, who captivate with their mesmerizing sound.
At the BAR stage, catch For Breakfast, who fuse elements of dream pop, post-rock, jazz, and noise rock to create an intoxicating sound. Also on this stage are the hypnotic Atsuko Chiba and experimentalist Luo, ensuring a diverse and engaging musical experience.
Sunday
Lawi Anywar can be found on the BAR on Sunday
The lineup on the HALL stage on Sunday is completely stacked, featuring a back-to-back-to-back trio of legendary acts. First, the iconic French post-metal group Year of No Light, followed by the breathtaking Taiwanese math-rock group Elephant Gym. Then, making their first-ever appearance on UK soil and performing a UK festival exclusive, the renowned American instrumental post-rock band If These Trees Could Talk.
Start your day early with the absolutely awesome Midwest emo-infused DIY indie-punk of itoldyouiwouldeatyou. Their 2018 debut album Oh Dearism was one of the year's best releases, making them a must-watch band on any bill. Don't miss French post-rockers Lost In Kiev and the legendary Chinese post-rock band Wang Wen, one of the hardest-working groups on the scene.
Down at the BAR stage, we implore you to check out Bristol-based Lawi Anywar. Not only does Lawi create some of the most captivating and diverse sounds out there right now, but he is also one of the nicest people in the scene. Also on the BAR stage, be sure to catch the post-rock-tinged post-hardcore of Manchester’s Pleiades and the complete madness that is Bristol’s My Octopus Mind.
