Leeds has a great history of DIY music culture that goes deep underground. So underground, in fact, that there are events that make Leeds hardcore mecca, Boom, look positively mainstream. Tonight, we are at one of those events. Worn Path Festival has returned for another blast through Leeds’s young noise makers, and we’re on a mission of discovery.
Lead by Worn Path organiser Liam, Sciatica opens proceedings with fuzzy, chaotic math rock, and the two piece have much vitriol and angular discordance on their side. It’s a nicely experimental set which suits this space well. Lightspace is an arts and photography unit in the Meanwood area of Leeds that plays host to some of the more DIY side of the music scene up here. As their 30-minute set progresses, Sciatica’s noisy in-between song samples and skilled musicianship singles them out as an act to keep an eye on, indeed, with hooks and melody sneaking out of the mix and giving the heads present some groove to dig.
Wonderfully named Mancunians Open Fly are up next with plenty of energy and riot grrl power. There’s plenty here for fans of Shooting Daggers and Menstrual Cramps, as well as a lot of great attitude and punk rock swagger. We’re feeling somewhat nostalgic about the last time we heard this kind of music in Leeds when we were as angry and vibrant as this impressive crew. A spirited cover of ‘Connection’ by Elastica improves on the original to our ears.
Bill Hetta offer post-hardcore vibes with occasional blasts of post-rock abstraction and douse, all present in fuzz and excellent heartfelt vocals. It’s another exuberant performance and the quality on display is full of promise. One noticeable thing from the output on display is a pullback to noise rock sounds and a grittier output. Whether this is a reaction to the over-polished metal core scene remains to be seen, but as Bill Hetta pull out surprise blast beats and Deafheaven vibes, there’s nothing over-polished going on here, just fury and overdrive.
Worn Path Festival has more to offer the audience tonight, but unfortunately, we have to make our exit now due to boring real-life stuff beckoning. I’m sure the collective here will be smashing it up into the night, and indeed, through 2025, the future looks bright here in the underground. Big respect to Liam and his crew for giving these acts a platform.
Review & Photography By George Miller – https://www.facebook.com/oneflamemedia
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Sciatica
Open Fly
Bill Hetta
