Festival review: Sunday Worcester Music Festival 2026
Circle of Swords is a tattoo parlour where bands perform in a basement that’s a cross between a kitchen and an abattoir. Hifidelica front man Dan Box reminds me of Jamie Vardy. Demonic guitar opens ‘The Dark One’, and the loud bass threatens the arrangement of vital organs. One song ends with chiming, despondent guitar like Radiohead’s ‘Street Spirit (Fade Out)’. Dan says apologetically: “I know the line-up is very heavy – we’re probably the softest band here.” The next song involves 70s detective show wah-wah guitar, and metal heads attempt a funky shuffle with the same level of coordination as a toddler chairing a meeting of the UN Security Council. The chorus on ‘Spirals’ sounds like The Jam, and “a dancey song” is an indie bop in the same ballpark as The Fratellis’ ‘Chelsea Dagger’. Dan pogos and grazes the ceiling (on the ‘ead, son!), and the Britpop-like chorus “We gotta get up! We gotta get out!” thrills the metal heads once more. On my way up the stairs, I’m seen by a life-sized cardboad cutout of Sean Bean.
Herefordian band Carbon Heart are at the Copper Beech, and they play as if their lives depend on it.Front man Ryan Nelder reminds me of both Pete Wentz from Fall Out Boy and Brian Molko from Placebo. ‘Saturn’s Air’ has Hole-like chords, and someone takes off their beanie and demonstrates to their mate how to headbang. Turns out that I’ve been doing it wrong all these years. It requires doubling over, with hands on thighs, and shaking the head as if you want to divorce it from the neck. In between songs, Mars Kelly on bass tells jokes such as “What’s a mummy’s favourite type of music? (W)rap.” ‘Sundials’ is a song about mental health that veers into Motörhead territory. ‘Lost Boys’ is “dedicated to trans rights” (“…and wrongs,” adds Mars). On ‘The Beholder’, Ryan and Mars scream in unison, their faces locked in anger like gargoyles hiding above a church you’ve never visited. Prior to performing the “first political song we’ve written”, Ryan refers to Nigel Farage, and once more, without missing a beat, Mars adds: “The human foreskin.” If you want to scream and laugh and have an utterly fabulous time, then go see Carbon Heart.
As I return to The Firefly, I wonder if I’ve walked through a portal into a Berlin bondage club circa 1980. SIOUXSIE SUICIDE are a leather-clad duo: Richter on guitar and vocals, and
Muzz on bass. Richter repeats the words “sex drive” until climax, I mean the end of a song. On the next song, he repeats the line “breaking the law” despite wearing a police hat, and the backing track includes jumbled voices of panic and derision. A man sits stock-still in the corner of the venue next to an impossibly large lampshade. One track ends with the words “I…Don’t…Caaaaare!” and on another Richter growls the words “good things come to those who wait” like an irritated headteacher. SIOUXSIE SUICIDE are like a mixture of Ramstein and Guns N’ Roses with more than a sprinkle of Milli Vanilli due to their use of backing tracks. Nowt wrong with that – DJs do it all the time.
Finally, for me, it’s back to the Copper Beech yet again to see Bristolian emo punkers Downcast. Bassist Jeff Boywer frequently and entertainingly uses a radiator to support his leg (he does have another leg). A mother hoists her 3- or 4-year-old onto her shoulders and exposes him to the delightful spectacle of rock music. “We’re gonna play a song everyone knows”, announces front man Liam Edwards, and the band knock out an immaculate version of Sum 41’s ‘Fat Lip’. Afterwards, there’s an introspective song with shimmering chords, chatterbox vocals, and a bellowing emo chorus. ‘Falling to Pieces’ is a black metal rumble that prompts more radiator antics.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Worcester Music Festival is like that scene in The Simpsons in which Homer dreams about being in a town made of chocolate. Everywhere is music and happy people, and for three days you’re in heaven. See you next year.
By: Neil Laurenson
Check out Neil’s Reviews of the Friday & Saturday at Worcester Music Festival.
Many thanks to everyone who gave up their time to organise and run this year’s festival. Thanks also to everyone who donated to Onside Advocacy, you can also still donate to the festivals Just Giving Page.