“The pain goes on and on, and on and on and on.”
An unlikely location for an emo day-fest, Stoke-on-Trent was shocked when the inaugural Engelfest lineup was announced late last year. Promising to bring in names from across the country, spanning a vast array of subgenres, our hopes were high. Now having come to fruition, there’s only one thing left on our minds – who will play next year?
Words by Jack Walker, photography by Sophie Robinson – contact Sophie prior to any image use.
Sativa
Sativa opened the event, kicking things off with their own blend of fast-paced, riff-heavy emo that felt urgent and restless. Hailing from just down the road in Crewe, they were instrumentally tight but happily unpredictable, the kind of band that’s all over the place in a way that keeps you locked in. Locals will have likely seen this band already, but for those who made the journey to Stoke (of which there was an awful lot), this was an eye-opening set. Most importantly, though, it was ridiculously danceable and got the crowd moving from the get-go. A fantastic sign of things to come.
Small World followed with a shift in mood, leaning into a more indie-tinged sound. Their dual vocals, shared between their guitarist and vocalist, gave their set a dynamic edge, and their upbeat, almost sunny energy stood out against a bill stacked with heavier acts. A standout act for their unique sound amongst the rest of the lineup, their set was certainly memorable, and we’ll absolutely be checking them out again in the not-so-distant future!
Monroe.
Monroe. took over next, proving themselves as one of the best up-and-coming post-hardcore acts of today. One of our Ones-to-Watch picks for 2026, they put on a showcase that perfectly encapsulated what made us choose them. Huge choruses, ridiculous screams, and fun, catchy riffage combined into something much more than the sum of their parts. Bringing out Demeanour‘s Izabel Lavin for her vocal feature only added to the weight of it all, and the screams were genuinely unhinged in the best way. They sounded huge, looked confident, and showed exactly what they’re capable of.
voteforpedro
voteforpedro then made their SoT debut, and what a set it was. Scramz done right, their raw and intense sound melded perfectly with their tongue-in-cheek style to form something totally jaw-dropping. This set is an easy contender for the highlight of the day, with the room being packed front-to-back. What was particularly impressive was their vocal prowess, which jumped between piercing highs and feral lows with little to no warning. Utter chaos in the very best way, voteforpedro were a very welcome surprise, and with new music on the horizon, we’re very excited to see what they’re up to!
Southwalk were up next, a group of local lads who’ve been consistently great since their return in 2025. Bringing their own style of emotional hardcore to The Underground once more, there’s a clear growth in their sound and performance. Despite a handful of technical issues, notably ear-piercing feedback, the band was nothing short of captivating. Another local name on the rise, Southwalk hold an awful lot of promise, and if they play their cards right, you can expect to see them playing in cities near you very soon.
Dear Diary
A band who needs no introductions now, Leeds own Dear Diary pulled out all of the stops, throwing things back to the good old days of 2006 MySpace deathcore in the most entertaining of ways. Reminiscent of the EP era Bring Me The Horizon, they bring a fun, DIY energy which is often overlooked nowadays in deathcore. Whilst deathcore “revival” has seen a huge uptick in the US, it feels as though it has missed the UK almost entirely, with Dear Diary being one of its few proponents. A fantastic set fraught with side-to-sides and plenty of scary dancing, this was yet another feather in their ever-growing hat.
allmylifeneededwasasenseofsomeplacetogo
allmylifeneeded… continued the onslaught, taking things from carnage and turning it into full-blown mayhem. From openly dedicating songs to “being gay and shagging” to ripping into a Paramore cover, and reminding everyone there is no such thing as apolitical hardcore, their set felt loud in every sense, sonically and politically. Debuting plenty of new material, their performance was nothing short of feral, with the crowd reciprocating the energy tenfold with mic grabs and stage dives for the entirety.
I’m Sorry Emil
I’m Sorry Emil thrust us back into a similar energy to that of Vote For Pedro, with erratic vocals pairing with midwest emo-tinged instrumentals. Whilst their energy was somewhat similar, their approach was dramatically different. Offering many more sing-along sections and keeping things a bit more serious in tone (for the most part), the emphasis here was much more on the music itself, and it paid off. Emo through and through, it’s no wonder that so many travelled to see this set. If you’ve not caught them already, you absolutely need to!
My Rushmore
Glasgow emos in My Rushmore then made their debut, making the long journey down to the rainy streets of Stoke, bringing their much more traditional emo styling with them. Twinkly riffs, light but catchy drumwork, and half-spoken-half-sung vocals combine to form the core of this project, with the occasional screamed vocal thrown in for good measure. It’s not very often we get bands in the UK making music like this, and especially not to this standard, and that is where My Rushmore truly stands out. Catchy yet awkward clean vocals and relatable lyrics are the core of this genre, and they’ve perfected it. One of the only “traditional” emo acts of the day, their inclusion so late on the line up was equally refreshing and exciting, and their set was something to remember.
300skullsandcounting
Digital hardcore is something which has yet to find a real foothold in the UK, but 300skullsandcounting may be one of the strongest examples, at the forefront of the slowly growing movement. Taking inspiration from international acts, as well as adjacent genres such as cybergrind, this set was something that, for many, was entirely alien. Comprised of only one member and a laptop, the entire emphasis of the performance was on Hal Hewetson‘s performance; one that was frought with emotion and anguish. Reminiscent of the likes of US-based Zombieshark, and God’s Computer, this set was surprisingly impressive, and though very strange, struck a chord with many in attendance. Though it may not have clicked for all, it absolutely did for us, and we’ll be looking to catch 300skulls… and other’s in this genre more frequently going forwards!
Algae Bloom
Algae Bloom closed the night out, and having since learned that they’re calling it a day later this year, their performance feels all the more special. Though some of the crowd from earlier in the day had left by this point, there were plenty of fresh faces who had clearly come out later on in the day purposely to catch this set. The disturbing-ness of a standing drummer set aside, Algae Bloom‘s performance was nothing short of captivating. With a focus on the raw energy, and the delivery of the lyrics, there wasn’t any flashy showmanship here but rather an understanding that the music speaks for itself. Though perhaps a lower-energy way to end the day, the impactfulness was clear, and it rounded out the first ever Engelfest perfectly.
Engelfest was much more than just a gig, it was a sweat-soaked, limb-swinging, stage-diving reminder of how alive this scene is right now. For the longest time Stoke has been rebuilding, and with Engelfest, it has cemented itself as being back. With the likes of 1782 Promotions, The Underground, Riff Factory, and Spirit Of Fire Promotions all working in synergy, a once thriving scene has finally returned, and with many in attendance having travelled across the country for this event, the news is spreading. Stoke-on-Trent is back on the map for live music and shows absolutely no signs of slowing down.