As far as lofty returns go, Rotterdam’s Left of the Dial festival has more than proved its mettle. You’re not going to find the marquee names of today here, but those of tomorrow. The tally of artists who made their first babysteps on the European circuit at Left of the Dial is quite impressive. Cult curiosities Hamish Hawk and Blue Bendy, post-punk sensations like Deadletter and Whispering Sons, and of course, Mercury Prize-winners English Teacher – all names that went on to achieve greater notoriety. A special mention also to Divorce and The New Eves, two bands with a truly original voice.
This isn’t random by any stretch. Rotterdam is actually a perfect city to showcase live music with its rich armada of smaller autonomous venues. It spawned an extremely potent hotbed of local acts that have made the jump internationally – and thus the inverse must also be possible: giddy up-and-comers and upstarts looking to make an impact. Left of the Dial is prone to a lot of spirited performances with acts having something to prove, and that should get every fan of live music tingling with excitement.
Henceforth, it’s probably a healthy thing to forgo artists in this list that are already on this writer’s radar, and dig just a little bit deeper. Names like Wild Pink – who we’ve recently interviewed – are a worthy inclusion. UK up-and-comers such as Benefits, Miss Tiny, UGLY, Pencil and Black Bordello have garnered a strong live-reputation and grassroots-credentials to boot. Of course, we’re on the lookout for buzz-getters such as Man/Woman/Chainsaw and Famous, which have been whispered into our ears several times. Plenty of substance from the Benelux as well: let’s namedrop disco-punk deviants Lézard, jangle maestros Naive Set, psych rock enchanter Robin Kester and alternative pop duo Michael Ekow & May.
The density of good shit in Left of the Dial’s programming has massively increased in its six year run. That became quite apparent last year, and this year, likely even more so. As you would have guessed, it was a maddening prospect to narrow it all down to the following 12 acts to discover.
ELLiS: D
Corny name aside, ELLiS:D captures an interesting field of tension between several extremes, specifically – a combo of primal post-punk paranoia and glam rock dramaturgy unheard of this side of Suede.
Cubzoa
Fans of Radiohead should probably line up to Cubzoa, the moniker of Isle of Man-based artist Jack Wolter – his music brings a similarly enchanting alchemy of evocative songwriting and electronic abstraction.
New Age Doom
So what was it again with Canadians and sprawling collective-based band projects? There seems to be plenty of room next to Broken Social Scene, Thee Silver Mt. Zion and Crack Cloud. New Age Doom are a decidedly different operation, at least sonically: a pocket universe where avant-prog, drone-metal, jazz and dub coalesce. They also create their own edible merch (!), and got a co-sign from the late dub-legend Lee “Scratch” Perry. Free spirits unite!
Low Girl
It’s a real sweet spot, isn’t it, that intermediate between making a sweeping pop statement and spiralling down indie rock introspection. The likes of Phoebe Bridgers, Jay Som and Alvvays instinctively found it, and so does Low Girl. Listen for yourself:
SHEIVA
Fans of the fragmented, nocturnal pop transmutations of Tirzah, Micachu & The Shapes and Wu-Lu should be immediately endeared to SHEIVA. The Iranian-UK artist fancies themself as something of a ‘music magpie’ – defiant, discordant and eager to pursue the unconventional, boundary-breaking twist.
AK/DK
Here’s the one band at this year’s Left of the Dial that’ll make you dust off those Battles and Three Trapped Tigers LPs: math-rock oozing with a sense of quirkiness and fun. AK/DK perform with such gusto, you forget you’re trying to dance to some bizarrely unconventional time signature. We honestly need more bands like this.
Hyper Gal
Speaking of boisterous fun, behold Japanese duo Hyper Gal, who describe themselves as minimalist punk, but their music sounds delightfully cartoonish. Earsplitting blast beats, gloopy keyboards and chanty vocals, what’s not to like? Your requisite Boredoms/Melt Banana type of madness.
Gia Ford
Gia Ford‘s debut Transparent Things is a potent and ambitious exercise in songwriting that already drew a ton of praise in the UK. Ford has a similar knack for inhabiting a song as luminaries Tom Waits, PJ Harvey and Nick Cave – an artist who can stretch and subvert mere stylistics with her storytelling prowess alone. Few, for example, can inject a chamber pop song like “Paint Me Like A Woman” with such a restrained menace. Oh, and Elton John is a big fan.
Christian Music
Christian Music is definitely one of those acts that make you scratch your head in befuddlement – but in a good way, rest assured. The bluntest snap judgment says ‘a completely ketamine-addled Devo’, the music literally bursting out of the sound systems like some gnarly ghost. Interesting stuff indeed – I guess we’ll have to see it to believe it.
Sam Akpro
You gotta be worth your salt if something as abrasive as “Death By Entertainment” becomes a BBC Radio A-list rotation hit. But damn us if it ain’t justice. This South-London artist and producer is the latest signee of ANTI- records, and certainly, there’s no genre beyond his reach. Sam Akpro brings his genre-bending wizardry to the stage with an unruly spirit.
Black Fondu
Black Fondu is an enigmatic experimental rapper and producer who’s real name is still a complete mystery. The Ghana-born, London-based artist’s adventurous metamorphic productions have nevertheless turned the heads of publications like The Fader. Black Fondu’s music is immersive and constantly thrilling, like magic puzzle box waiting to be unraveled. His live shows sparked multiple word-of-mouth raptures in the famous Windmill scene – where black midi and Black Country, New Road derive from – and Left of the Dial is next on the menu.
Mermaid Chunky
Mermaid Chunky qualify for the (admittedly rather trite) adjective Björkism: pop bended and warped to eccentric, avantgardist whims. But even that somehow sells Mermaid Chunky utterly short, for Freya Tate and Moina Moin’s project is rooted as much in folklore as in modernism. They also don’t just write music for human beings: they actually hosted the largest ever dog wedding in the south west of London. Tate and Moin hang around in the Total Refreshment Center, which also counts Alabaster DePlume and Shabaka Hutchings as frequent residents. DFA Records – the flagship label of LCD Soundsystem – was quick to sign Mermaid Chunky, which seems like a pretty good idea. And for a festival with Luchador Sky Dancers for mascots, a natural fit.
Left of the Dial takes place between 17 and 19 October 2024. For more info, check out the event’s official website.
