Music: Jeff Hemmings

Mutations – Two-day alt-music festival in the heart of Brighton

Following last years’s one-off Drill:Brighton event of December last year, co-curated with the band Wire, local promoters One Inch Badge have decided to try their hand at a similar event. A little more compact and spread over two days, Mutations is similar to Drill in its alternative indie folk, electronic and punk spirit, but perhaps with a more underground feel. There are no ‘big’ acts, instead Mutations offers up a plethora of cult names from around the globe. Highlights include: the super loud and aggressive noise duo Lightning Bolt, that feature just bass and drums; Canadian three piece noise rockers Metz, who have released two albums on the legendary Sub Pop label; the alternative disco-house producer John Talabot; Josh T Pearson, who has only released one album so far, but has developed almost deified status ever since he was part of the short-lived Lift to Experience band at the turn of the millennium; American stoner/doom psych-arabic-metal merchants Om (which refers to the natural vibration of the universe, fact fans); American artist Chelsea Wolfe, whose music has ben described as drone-metal-art-folk; experimental pop rockers Tourist; Christopher Owens, former frontman of Girls; regular vocalist with The New Pornographers and solo artist in her own right, Neko Case; British electronic duo Blanck Mass, Canadian alt-indie band Ought, and Manchester based psyche-folk artist Jane Weaver.

The two days have been structured so that the venues on the Saturday are predominately in Hove and on Sunday, in Brighton. Each day starts at 1pm, with minimal clashes, particularly between the bigger acts.
In addition there will be a pop up indie record store, a poster fair and a secret stage.
28 & 29 Nov, various venues, £55 weekend ticket, £28.50 day tickets. www.mutationsfestival.com