With the Mutations 2025 edition just days away; Team Source are starting to salivate with excitement.
New names like Warmduscher collaborators: Jeanie and the Whiteboys and intense Speedy Wundergrouders Joyeria, have appeared on the line up alongside a mystery ‘Special Guest’ who have stepped in to replace bdrmm.
By and large the headliners need little introduction. You already know how much we adore the newly signed to City Slang local heroes DITZ, you have grimaced in all the right ways about that Dry Cleaning lyric about the ‘Carpet in a Travel Lodge’, and if you haven’t already seen the righteous fury of the Lambrini Girls at least three times, how come you are even reading this article?
Its in the foot hills of the line up that things really get interesting. The joy of the event is running from venue to venue, snatching cheeky chats with friends on the way, and changing plans, because someone persuades that you need to hear something that will blow your tiny little mind. New obsessions will be formed. Records will be bought. Moments will be well and truly lived. Who cares about hangovers!
To get you in the mood, we asked some acts who are playing, our team who are working the festival and some local musical heroes in the know, who they are excited about seeing:
Simon Raymonde – Bella Union
Family Stereo are a young band from London who are hard at work making their debut album which to this listener already has that uncanny knack of sounding timeless and impactful, with songs of great heft and significance. Ability is one thing but having MAGIC in such abundance at this stage is intriguing!
2pm Saturday – Alphabet
Stan O’Shea – Team Source
Teke:Teke are a must see for me. A Colourful kaleidoscope of interesting and original Quirky psychedelic rock.! That’s what I remember from their last show in Brighton in 2022 at Patterns during The Great Escape . Expect to see and hear the unexpected.
8.45pm Friday – The Prince Albert
Kingsley Hall – Benefits
The Mutations line up is unreal, so many amazing acts to choose from but I can’t wait to see Scaler. Their new album is up there with the very best I’ve heard this year, it’s fantastic, I had it on loop when we were touring around France last month. I love this explosion of electronica that’s popping up with bands like Adult DVD and Vlure, Scaler are absolutely top tier. Unmissable.
10.20pm Saturday – Dust
Natasha Youngs – Resident Records
The debut album ‘Passenger’ by Nightbus is excellent. Doomy club vibes. Dread-filled, nocturnal electronica with trip-hop nods. Can’t wait to experience it live. Of course I will be there for my favourites EBBB too!
4pm Saturday – Green Door Store
Jason Warner – Team Source
Mandrake Handshake’s psychedelic star has been rising, growing, pulsating and glowing for some time now and they make for a planetary presence this weekend. Their well received debut album ‘Earth Sized Worlds’ was released back in February and with a huge headline show at Fabric in London later this month, let us mark 2025 as the year they broke. Catch their fabulous fusion jamboree at Mutations before 2026 takes them out of the clubs, into the stadiums and then, most likely, the interstellar beyond.
5.35pm Friday – Revenge
Lily Wolter – My Precious Bunny / Penelope Isles
Everyone needs to go to Alphabet on Saturday 8th and watch Ceann Capaill spill their guts out at the Bella Union showcase. Some of Brighton’s finest players, pouring their souls into these dark stories and sounds, inspired by the haunting yet mystical Irish landscapes in the Mountains of Mourn. The set has been considered from start to finish and is truly a gripping listen with so much love and thought sewn into it. Very proud of these guys!
1.10pm Saturday – Alphabet
James Woodley – Prescription Art
Pan Amsterdam really impressed me at the Great Escape. He is a rapper and trumpet botherer who has signed to Heavenly Records. His Metronomy collaboration ‘Nice Town’ is a proper earworm.
3.30 Saturday – The Prince Albert
Sally Oakenfold – The Hope and Ruin
You should definitely see The Sick Man of Europe as their performance is a force of nature not to be missed plus obviously Lambrini Girls who are firing on all cylinders right now.
11.40pm Friday – The Hope and Ruin
Nick McAllister – Team Source
Ultimately I’m a sucker for a bit of dirty filth, and on record; Australian duo Party Dozen dish that out in spades. Fierce sax over pounding grooving drums. If we’re lucky Nick Cave might even show up to deliver his guest vocal on ‘Macca the Mutt’. Then all I have to do is catch my breath and stay put for the glorious warm fuzzy shoegaze of New Yorkers Hotline TNT. Definitely jacking work in early for that!!
4.25pm and 6.30pm Friday – Patterns
Jamie MacMillion – Moshpit Camera Legend
The beauty of Mutations isn’t in the inevitable headliner clashes (ouch), it’s in finding the exciting next wave bubbling up in smaller rooms that they’ll soon outgrow. Brighton’s very own Lemonsuckr are that band this year. Fresh from supporting Welly, they’re pure energy. Angular riffs, fat beats, and sensational in the flesh. Gonna be huge.
2.30pm Saturday – Dust
Cal Francis – DITZ
I’m worried we’ll be too busy sorting our gear out to catch them, but I love Makeshift Art Bar. Been listening to their debut EP a lot. Great live band.
3.55pm Friday – Chalk
Jon Desmond – Chalk/Dust Production Manager
My recommendation for Mutations this year is Vlure in Dust. Hard 90s rave with vicious Glaswegian vocals. Incredible live energy and a small packed room. What’s not to love? See you in the pit!
10.05pm Friday -Dust
Fred Helmer – Sick Man of Europe Tour Manager / Earth and Stars Landlord
I’ll be at The Hope and Ruin with The Sick Man of Europe on Friday. Were we not travelling to Bristol for Simple Things festival on Saturday, I’d make sure to arrive at Chalk nice and early to get a good spot for both Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs and Lambrini Girls. I last saw the Pigs boys at The Hope and it prompted an outer body experience through sheer rock power, while the Lambrini Girls never fail to entertain, and Mutations provides a good opportunity to catch a hometown performance!
7.25 & 8.10 Saturday – Chalk
Harry Hanson – Adult DVD
I recently just discovered Scottish duo No Windows and have had their ‘The Great Traitor’ EP on repeat. Truly lovely songs with even nicer harmonies. They are the perfect break from all the louder artists on the bill (ourselves included) go see them!
6.15 Friday – The Hope and Ruin
Over 90% of tickets have now sold, which is hardly surprising given the quality of the bands on offer. This article barely scratches the surface.
Form presents Mutations Festival
Friday 7th and Saturday 8th November – Various Venues
Last Tickets Available here
