The 2026 edition of Mutations Festival is just days away with some absolute bangers on the line up. Both the weather forecast and our pundits agree: a storm is coming you lucky people. The guitars are going to howl and the drums are going to blow the roof off or all your favorite venues, while spilt lager and sweat rain down upon you.

Not only that but an actual Beastie Boy, Mr Mike D is going to come at you live in full 5D glory. His new album is really fun, and by all accounts, all his recent sets have included some Beastie Boys numbers.

Who doesn’t want to get lost in the post punk soundscapes of former Brighton residents Squid? Who doesn’t want to whirl like a Dervish in the Fat Dog mosh pit?

Meg Fretwell – Panic Shack
We’d recommend fellow Cardiffians Casual Smart. We’ve seen them pack out Clwb Ifor Bach last year and I’m sure Brighton already loves them! Their songs are very charming and we’re always gonna back a band that has a DIY-ness to them. Theres quite a few of them and most of them take their turns singing. Its very sweet and wholesome.

Sat 4.00 – Green Door Store

Nick McAllister – Brighton Source
On Friday I’m super excited to catch Morn. I saw the ends of two Great Escape sets and made sure I was there well in advance for their Alt-Escape show downstairs at the Hope. Really lovely people making lively riotous alt-rock of the highest calibre. On the Saturday obviously all roads lead to Mike D, but I was really surprised to see Belgian artist Warhaus on the bill. I picked up his debut album ‘I Fucked A Flame Into Being’ at a store in Dieppe years ago, and I am a sucker for anyone that is influenced by Cohen and Cave. I took his most recent album ‘Karaoke Moon’ on a Camper Van trip round France this summer and really enjoyed the way the song writing has developed. This is the first time I’ve heard of a chance to catch him in the UK and I think it will provide a stunning way to massage myself back to life after what will, knowing me, be a late one the night before.

Morn Fri 6.45 – Patterns
Warhaus Sat 2.30 – The Prince Albert

Stuart Hopkins – Post Common
The only time I’ve seen Alex Cameron play was in Brighton. He was playing Great Escape at a tiny venue on the beach. His face was covered in prosthetics to make himself look like an old man. Afterwards we chatted at the bar as he slowly peeled it off. It was very good and very strange. Go see Alex Cameron! I’m also going to shout out an excellent trio of Shoegaze/ dream pop/ noise bands; Deary, BDRMM and M. Woodroe.

Sat 8.30 – Patterns

Noah Ryder – Morn
A MORN recommendation for mutations festival would be BED. We were fortunate enough to share the same stage with them earlier this year in Brighton, and they absolutely blew our minds, and all the other minds in the room. I remember someone labeling them as rave rock and couldn’t agree more… those guys ROCK!

Fri 7.45 – Patterns

Marice Garwell – M. Woodroe
I’m really sad that I won’t be able to catch Tara Clerkin Trio. You all have to see them for me. Their album from this year, ‘Somewhere Good’ is a creative, free-form and dreamy fusion of trip-hop, jazz, post-rock and ambient. Their lyrics of ennui, frustration and gentrification paired with such organic and creative instrumentals combine to create something that feels real. Between some of the beautifully sparse and experimental instrumentals, there are more janky and challenging moments with off-kilter electronics and samples. They are on World of Echo – one of my favourite labels. I’m so interested to see how they play live – guess I’ll have to wait till next time they come through to Brighton! FFO: Alabaster De Plume, Astrid Sonne. Obviously you should come see us too!

Sat 9pm – Hope & Ruin

Stan O’Shea – Brighton Source
The last time I took acid I went insane. Something I can very much relate to and also the album by Jeffrey Lewis that turned me on to, tuned me into and dropped me out to his quirky lovable music and persona. ‘The bus stops at the bus stop.’ Cant argue with that!

Fri 9.15 – Green Door Store

Natasha Youngs – Resident
The Mutations 2026 line up is MINT! From my trusty staples like working Men’s Club, O., The Besnard Lakes & Squid, to newer obsessions like Silverwingkiller, Bed, M.Woodroe, Morn, Speedial & Night Swimming. But everyone needs to get their arses to Revenge on Saturday for Post Common. It’s Stu Traams + John JOHN + Ian Yetti. A must-see meeting of musical brilliance!

Sat 4.20 – Revenge

Tony Bartholemew – Goo Records / Dirty Management
My recommendation is Death Valley Girls, playing Revenge on the Friday about 6.25. They’re an all-girl (as you’d expect, though boys have been in the line up previously) garage rock band from LA that sound like the offspring of sixties girls groups and Californian surf rock obsessives. They tick all my boxes for their big sound, their knack for a killer melody and their brilliant live theatricality. I discovered them through having a big label crush on Suicide Squeeze who have wonderful taste and put out stuff by the likes of LA Witch, Holy Wave and Ty Segall. Check out the track Islands In The Sky for a taster of what they’re about. Then once you’ve seen them, you might want to take yourself up to the Goo Records stage at The Prince Albert to enjoy The Mink, The Stanford Family Band, Oral Habit, and Zo Lief. No pressure, though.

Fri 6.25 – Revenge

Jamie Healy, Giggly editor
The bookishly cool LA four piece Sunday Mourners were my biggest discovery of this year’s Great Escape. Their sound is deeply – and unapologetically – indebted to Television and the Modern Lovers, with Quinn Robinson’s adenoidal vocals veering from the tender to the caustic. The band’s debut album, A-Rhythm Absolute, released back in January, is filled with lyrical gems (single Careers in Acting opens with: “Fill up my mouth with your teardrops / It won’t help you”) and choppy guitar hooks, with standout track Darling evolving from a Jonathan Richman-style love song into a ten-minute kosmische wig-out. Supporting Franz Ferdinand on their recent US tour has raised the band’s profile, so it’s a real coup to have them open proceedings at the Green Door Store on Saturday. Get down in plenty of time or by Sunday you too will be mourning.

Sat 1:10 – Green Door Store

Will Howell – ALPHABET and The Black Dove
Mike D for f@cks sake how wicked! Tara Clerkin Trio for sure. Plantoid are playing two gigs over the weekend, double the amazingness there, Big Long Sun always put on an epic show. Wholeheartedly recommend those artistes, but honestly what a corker of a weekend Brighton

Sat 3.30 – The Prince Albert

Jason Warner – Brighton Source
I first saw Panic Shack at The Great Escape a few years ago and like bubble gum that sticks to your shoe, their sound relentlessly travelled with me, refusing to be extracated. Straight outta Cardiff, they dish up fizzy, frothy punk-pop confections but with a deliciously dark centre. This show is a guaranteed, nailed on and if we may completely rinse the metaphors here, bullseye of a good time (nb. For anyone reading this under 30, Bullseyes were sweets from the olden days).

Sat 9.15 – Revenge

Lainey Loops – SNAYX

I’m really hoping to get to see Cowboy Hunters if I get the chance to. I love their new EP ‘EPeepee’. Really dirty bass tones and a lot of shouty vocals which is right up my street. Politically relevant lyrics while also keeping that tongue in cheek side to them. It’s something that I would really love to experience live.

Sat (Sun!!) 12.50am – Hope and Ruin

Mutations Festival 2026
Friday 23rd to Saturday 24th October – Various Venues