“With nowhere to hide, find peace being truthful.“
Everybody knows about Outbreak Festival by now, and if somehow you don’t, what rock have you been living under? What many may not be aware of, however, is that this year there was a second instalment of the beloved fest, dubbed Outbreak Autumn, which touted a selection of some of the worlds finest current hardcore and pop-punk acts. Fans flocked to the Bowlers Exhibition Centre for a day chocked full of fantastic music, and, as expected, it did not disappoint.
Let’s take a second to appreciate the organisation before getting into what you all want to hear about – the bands. The day was organised fantastically well, with the two stages in use being staggered so that now two bands ever clashed. Alongside this, the general layout of stages and amenities ensured that everything was easily accessible, and generally improved the flow around the venue. Merch getting its own halls-style setup away from the stages was a nice touch, and it allowed festival-goers to spend more time browsing and, on occasion, talking to some of the bands they’d come to see.
Now, onto the line-up, and needless to say, it didn’t disappoint. We made it there just in time to see the incredible Bangkok based Whispers take to the stage, and what a fantastic choice they were to open up the second stage for the day. It took them no time at all to get the crowd going, and the turnout for them in general was nothing short of incredible. Seeing so many fans arrive early to catch a DIY hardcore band like Whispers is what this festival is all about. Taking the opportunity to tease their upcoming EP Yom-Ma-Lok, there is no doubt that this band is going to be huge, and that Outbreak has no doubt accelerated that for them.
Moving over to the main stage now and hot on the heels of their debut album, Chameleon, Texas based shoegaze outfit, Trauma Ray put on one hell of a set. Breaking out material spanning their entire catalogue, the band truly made their set one to remember. Telling the crowd that it was their first time playing in the UK, you could see the gratitude and, to an extent, surprise that they’d amassed such a large gathering, and it was truly deserved. In a scene where shoegaze is becoming more popular by the day, Trauma Ray stand out as one of the finest current acts, and their inclusion on the line-up absolutely introduced many others to their work.
Pest Control were up next for us, and the UK crossover-thrash outfit had the crowd moving instantly. Another band celebrating a recent release, Pest Control put on a set that is sure to go down in Outbreak history. Vocalist Leah Massey-Hay’s screams roared across the room, commanding attention from all in attendance. Having seen the band earlier in the year performing a benefit show for beloved venue Boom in Leeds, it was surreal seeing them command such a massive crowd, and it truly felt deserved.
Manchester’s own T.S. Warspite took us back over to the second stage, with a clearly dedicated fanbase eagerly waiting for them to kick-off the carnage. A band that for many has crept under the radar, there is, undoubtedly, something special here, and despite the vocals sitting awkwardly in the mix, there is absolutely no doubt that this band will become more and more prevalent in the coming years.
Fleshwater took over the main stage afterwards, bringing grunge-gaze to the masses. The Boston based outfit have truly grown into something special since their 2020 demo release, and their performance here really showcases that brilliance. For many, the question of “Why aren’t Vein playing?” may have been on the mind, but following an unforgettable performance, the band absolutely answered that question, staking their own claim for greatness and not just as a side-project, but as something special in its own right. This set was one of my personal highlights for the day, and the crowd was lapping it up as well. The darker, more grungy moments were truly a spectacle, and fan-favourite “Kiss The Ladder”saw masses of people invade the stage. If somehow you weren’t sure about this band, or had dismissed them for whatever reason, we urge you to give them another shot as they are a sight to behold.
Next up, a band that needs no introduction in today’s hardcore scene. Quickly progressing into one of the biggest names in the space right now, Australian hardcore outfit Speed dominated the main stage. Taking the opportunity to highlight hardcore from across the world, bringing out Whispers and Big Cheese alike during their set, the band’s gratitude and love for the genre and the people within it was on full display. Arguably the most anticipated set of the day, Speed showed us all just what makes them so special. Commanding vocals, punchy, danceable riffs, and pounding drums exploded from the stage and across the room. The front-pit saw constant movement, with there being an abundance of two-steppers, stage-divers, and head-bangers alike, all looking to express themselves. Every second of this set was captivating, with the band oozing enthusiasm and putting their all into every moment. Speed, you really are an unstoppable force, and your gratitude and commitment to shouting out others within the scene is truly remarkable, thank you. Oh, and in case you were worried, they also did that flute solo thing that everybody loves!
Switching gears now, emo mainstays Citizen took to the stage. With a setlist consisting predominantly of tracks from their 2013 debut album, Youth, they knew exactly what fans wanted to hear. Though there was nothing wrong with their set by a long shot, it was clear that many in attendance were there specifically for these older songs, with them seeing much more of a “pop” from the crowd when pitted against newer material. With that in mind, the performance itself was stellar, it’s just hard to get a crowd excited for newer material when they’re eagerly awaiting older tracks.
Finally, the main event. Headliners The Story So Far have become synonymous throughout their many years with putting on rowdy sets, with more recent shows taking a more subdued approach. Thankfully, frontman Parker Cannon leant into this somewhat, getting much more into the spirit of the festival and spending near-enough the entirety of the set on the front stage with fans. Playing their biggest UK headline show to date, and somehow it’s also a no barrier stage, it’s incredible seeing just how far this band has come. Throwing many fan-favourites into the mix whilst also keeping that buzz for newer material, this band just gets it. Anthemic riffs, infectious choruses, and an overwhelming sense of fun, The Story So Far put on a show like no other, and stake their claim as one of this generation’s greatest pop-punk acts. Their ability to garner love from the pop-punk and hardcore scene alike is unmatched, and it’s hard to believe that we’ll ever see a band quite like them again, and they were absolutely the correct choice to close out the festival.
Thank you to Outbreak Festival, all of the staff and organisers, and to the bands for having us. We had a fantastic time and look forward to hopefully coming back next summer for the full three day fest!
Check out our reviews of the recent releases from The Story So Far, Citizen, Speed, and Trauma Ray, and our live pictures from the accompanying dates of The Story So Far and Citizen.