There’s a real buzz around the Rescue Rooms complex that runs through not just the fans but also the crew, bands and seemingly the very fabric of the building itself. The courtyard has vendors giving off a mini-village vibe, with the aroma of the food on offer making it impossible not to stop and eat something right then and there. This incredibly warm welcome sets the tone for the day.
Here are Gary Trueman’s highlights from a great day across all five stages.
It’s not easy to be the first band on stage so early at a festival. You know a great many people still haven’t arrived. Thrashers King Abyss are the not-so-lucky ones, but they put on a blistering set that was well received. Opening up the main venue itself are local lads Wolves Don’t Sleep, whose emo-tinged metalcore does more than enough to put the already sizable crowd well and truly in the mood. Glaswegians Scordatura hit the overdrive button, heavying things up even more. They play it tight and loud.
Ward XVI have performed a miracle in getting at least some of their asylum props onto the compact Rock City Beta stage. Their performance is full of all the wonderful theatrics we’ve come to love. Gurt have really broken through over the last year or so, so it’s no surprise to see the Red Rooms full to capacity for a set that confirms them as fast risers. Taking a more melodic metalcore route, Confessions Of A Traitor are simply sublime. They play like headliners in waiting to a packed venue.
The ever so slightly bonkers Bad Milk Blood Robot‘s psychedelic funk gives off Jane’s Addiction vibes. They are ultra quirky, have great songs and are fun to watch. London groove metal outfit In Search Of Sun have big songs, slick moves and a dynamic stage presence. All of that adds up to a blinding show that goes down a storm. Downstairs, Stealth, A-Tota-So apply mathcore slide-rule precision to garage grunge. The result is a wondrous noise rock that the appreciative audience laps up.
Red Method seem to have half of Nottingham shoehorned into the Rescue Rooms for their magnificent set. They are wonderfully madcap while looking like warriors from a fantasy film. They look like another band that could headline in the future. Post-hardcore has never really sounded better than when delivered to you by Hidden Mothers. Once again they nail it. Mangata doesn’t have a house band, but if it did, it would be Raised By Owls. They bring boundless joy and hilarity (including Mr Blobby) with their take on the normally more serious death metal.
Over at the Tap N Tumbler, it’s Maatkare’s turn to raise the roof. Vocalist Janneke de Rooy has a voice so powerful it could level a city block. Staying on the topic of singers, Sergeant Thunderhoof‘s impressive stoner rock is anchored by Dan Flitcroft’s superbly clean vocal style. In many ways, The Hara are the shape of things to come. They advocated for youth mental health and were also early to go viral on TikTok. Today they look and sound every inch the stars they have become, with each song having the crowd happily singing along.
Falling within the parameters of ‘math rock’, Alpha Male Tea Party are technically as crisp as you’d expect. Their fluidity and organic way of knitting songs together make them truly memorable. Their evening showing here puts them firmly in the ones-to-watch bracket. Down in Stealth, it’s prog time with a hint of the late 60s thrown in courtesy of the wonderful Giant Walker. Vocalist Steff has a way of burrowing into your very soul while the music envelopes you like a best friend’s hug. Seemingly springing up almost instantly, headliners ten56 have rapidly earned themselves a sizable following. With foundations in nu metal but a whole lot heavier, they timed their entry into the world perfectly, and it’s no surprise to see how well they’ve kicked on. Tonight’s show is flawless and a great way to bring down the curtain on Mangata 2026.
It’s easy to overlook events like Mangata Festival, but what the festival represents is fundamentally important to the music scene. Firstly and most obviously, it showcases emerging artists, giving many their introduction to playing a larger event. It also gives more established acts a higher spot on the bill, giving them vital experience. The most important feature of Mangata, though, is that it shows other prospective promoters how to run an event. Everything is incredibly thought out, with fans made a priority. The layout makes the very best use of the space available, and all the staff are friendly and very helpful. The move to a September date is a smart one too. And it’s also bloody good value for money. What more could you ask for?
See you again in 2027!
Review and photos by Gary Trueman