Core Festival: In Review
Photo: Lucy Cheyne
Glasgow’s very own Core festival returns to the city’s West End for its second year to celebrate a weekend of noise. With a bill stacked with a wide verity of local and well know names, it was set to be a weekend filled with chaos and of course, noise. The festival is housed within two venues that see’s them take over the Woodside Community Halls, a place that gives off very strong school hall vibes and the smaller vegan paradise that is The Hug & Pint basement, with the change of venue from last years debut, it was interesting to see the differences. The high up stage at the Community Halls allows bands the chance to watch over some of the inevitable madness that would unfold in front of them as well as no barrier in any room – a sign that usually means there’s serious activity coming and that was set to be the case throughout the weekend.
After missing Fridays run, the Saturday would involve a lot of room hopping to ensure every band was ticked off. In your face hardcore band Ochre get things going and within seconds of entering the stage the chaos is instant as the sunlight beams through the skylight of the upstairs room of the Woodside Halls adding some extra sweltering heat to what was already a hot start.
Down stairs the heat isn’t any easier and noise rockers Part Chimp made sure things weren’t going to be any more chilled. The group have refined their gift for perfectly primitive riffage to a true art and the crowd were zoned in to every move the band had. After the reform in 2016, it’s great to see such an iconic name in a venue like this – their set is filled with nothing but serious riffs and feeling the groove, there are fewer bands that can produce this with such intensity and conviction.
Another venture back up stairs to brave the heat of the second stage as Mancunians Witch Fever bring the action to Glasgow as their electrifying and confrontational sound sparks the room into movement. Singer Amy Walpole wasted no time in trying to rally the crowd into a frenzy – ferociously staring down the biggest crowd in the room seemed to help things as the first pit gets going despite temperatures reaching close to unbearable levels. A few visits into the crowd and Amy had the room exactly where she wanted it ensuring the set was the most active of the day so far.
Up next sees a welcome return to Glasgow for Employed to Serve, having tore the Cathouse apart just under a year ago, the Woking band continue to demonstrate their brilliance. The title of the festival is a celebration of noise, however this was a celebration of the 2021 release of ‘Conquering’ and the cohesion between all members for these tracks is made even more impressive when considering that three members of the band have changed since the album’s recording. Easily one of the crowning aspects of this set, and undeniably one of the finest staples of ETS’s sound, are the vocals of Justine Jones – her cries ascended into the highest echelons, whilst also digging into the most diabolically thrilling guttural trenches. It’s an awe-inspiring blend, one that manages to garner the best of both worlds whilst always sounding clear and weighty, together paired with backing vocals from guitarist Sammy Urwin provide a compelling mix. While lacking in numbers in the crowd, the energy was projected from the stage to the floor bringing out the best in the fans who came for ETS – screaming vocals and active pits added to what was a loud atmosphere.
The Sunday brings another stacked day filled with more noise as a highly anticipated slot see’s the iconic The Fall of Troy bring their super charming, twiddly guitar and silky groovy sound to the West End. The room is as busy as I’ve seen all weekend filled with fans eager to catch these guys live. From the moment they took to the stage, they wasted no time getting to the shredding. No need for introductions, just three guys coming out onstage, and getting right down to business. They powered through the first handful of songs on Doppelganger without stopping to take a breath. Erak’s guitar playing is as face-melting as any fan would come to expect.
Photos: Lucy Cheyne
It was now time for a healthy dose of some black metal curtesy of Underdark. The Nottingham band unleash a wave of frightening riffs and shaking screams while shifting gears between quiet introspection and out and out fury, which would be the central theme throughout the gig. Singer Abi Vasquez was utterly commanding on stage and had the crowd eating out of the palm of her hand with a vocal range seemingly capable of channelling something primal and at times monstrous. Their stage presence and delivery is a perfect mix of fragility and dominatrix. Overall, there is something really rather unique about the way they effortlessly balance black metal’s nihilism and fatalism. The ferocious screams and growls from Abi mixed with Stephen and Dom on bass and drums made the perfect foundation to show why these guys are one of the best underground bands right now.
Photos: Lucy Cheyne
Carrying on with the black metal theme, it was a short walk to the dark and tight space of the Hug & Pint for Glaswegian death trashing black metal band Tyrannus. Combining the best qualities of the sub-genre’s well-established foundations, with a sprinkling of death metal and psychedelia added for good measure. The confined space of this venue adds to what this band brings to the stage and their sound pierces right through you.
Photos: Lucy Cheyne
This weekend’s closer see’s the final show for now for the iconic power band that is Empire State Bastard – made up of Biffy Clyro’s Simon Neil & Oceansize’s Mike Vennart with Dave Lombardo on drums & Bitch Falcon’s Naomi Macleod on bass, it really has all the ingredients for the perfect setup. Having announced this would be the last time fans get to see the band until at least 2026, it added an extra special feel to close off the weekend. An ambush of songs that fans have come to love mixed in with the added surprises of what will be record number 2, this set had a lot happening – the sound of the bass rippling so much you could feel the vibration tremble through your body, the powerful vocals of Simon giving the very early memories of back in the day Biffy and well, Dave being Dave, it was an explosive combination that challenged every muscle in your neck to keep banging for the entire set.
Photos: Lucy Cheyne
The overall performance sounded very complete and the addition of new songs giving fans the excitement of what will be coming when the band return from their break, new material sounds bigger and more fierce taking the bands already high intensity sound to a whole new level. Stepping away from his usual animated movements on stage, Neil plays more verticality, constantly writhing on the spot and contorting himself into strange shapes and scrunching himself as small as possible when delivering his harsh vocals.
Photos: Lucy Cheyne
Each set across the weekend lived up to the expectations set prior to the opening of the events doors. Every band brought their own unique style to a very iconic and diverse festival celebration everything that is right and noisy within the music scene right now. From new names to musical royalty, Core gave Glasgow something special and a place to feel at one with attendees and celebrate noise.
Words by Craig McInnes
Photos by Lucy Cheyne
