Day 1 – Friday 23rd
We approach Psych fest with trepidation. The old events at All Saints Church were simply stunning, with the small shows in Union before hand. While this is the second event to be held at Lewes Con Club, this writer had been struck down with the very worst type of ‘Post India’ Lurgy last year so had to miss last years event.
We enter to a sense of relief. Despite the more familiar surroundings of the Con Club, host of many a good reason to head over the hills from Brighton, the Innerstrings light show is working its magic. While not quite as gasp inspiring a back drop as a church; but we do love the Con Club, and we are instantly drawn in to the swirling colours of this transformative vision.
Minor Dents
With little fanfare Minor Dents launch into an absolutely beautiful bass groove driven gentle piece of psych. As it grows and grows in it becomes an epic start that lays down a gauntlet in the most gentle of challenges to all who will follow. For track two the drummer picks up his clarinet whilst getting the rhythm started as the track grows from sixties folk to full acid house ravey gravy. Sound the new favourite band klaxon! Minor Dents are exceptionally good. The flowing music bubbles through dub, post punk, electronica and ghost Box hauntology flirting naturally with whatever sound these excellent musicians feel like embracing. That this band incorporates musicians of different ages and experiences, seems to underline the genuine creativity on offer here. It is a gentle reminder that the very best of psychedelic music, across the years, fizzes with a sense of exploration that leads to something new.
Project Gemini
Project Gemini take a similar road and amp up the funky film soundtrack edge with Wah guitar and excellent break beat drums. This is a band that like to jam together and the songs have been forged in that crucible. The bass playing really hits some interesting running notes; it’s almost a shame he has to take a break to sing, for it is in the instrumental moments the music really lifts off. Children of Scorpio adds some welcome heaviness to the mix.
Black Market Karma
Most of Black Market Karma appear to be on stage. Some notes gently ring out. Is this line checking? The notes repeat and repeat and more musicians join in to the organ sound as the music eases its way to a crescendo that signals a bit more of lad attitude. Fuzz Club records does know a thing or two and this band, new to these ears but at least 11 albums into a career fit nicely on that roster. They appear to take a big leaf from the Dandy Warholes’ school of Psych. It might not be the most original sound, but they do it well, and fair play. Sometimes it’s hard to be reviewed by an old git who’s seen a lot of stuff. They hover between a classic sixties sound a Manchester baggy vibe. When it cooks it does cooks. We do all love Revolver. We just don’t quite go as wild as we want. We are reliably informed, that in the studio all the music is played by the front man. Perhaps that explains that little factor that is missing in the full band experience.
Ultimately Minor Dents prove themselves to be a hard yardstick to measure up to. Their freshness wins the night by some margin. How lucky we are to see something that good.
Day 2 – Saturday 24th
Swallowtail
The Icey post punk of Swallowtail is in full swing as we arrive. The louche bass has us dancing hard at the bar before the first drop of Harvey’s has touched the bottom of our glass. The guitar stabs and then it soars through Something Holy. New song Cowboy showcases an ambitious band that is building a soundscape from a foundation of Gothic Shoegaze. It is a classic sound that will never quite go out of fashion and it suggests this music will sound great at home too.
Holy Springs
As we stand at the bar the start of Holy Springs passes us by but as we venture closer to the stage, we start to feel the air be moved by the directional nature of the sound system and their earnest indie jangle starts to draw us in. By the third track some sludgy fuzz has us swaying from side to side. It’s melodic and its scuzzy with some lovely harmonies in the drummers backing vocals. it’s simple yet wholesome fair. At its best it really sits very comfortably with ears raised on My Bloody Valentine and Swervedriver. The guitarist never ending battle to keep his on his nodes adds some comedy to the proceedings!
Sick Man of Europe
The sick men appear in darkness with an echoing entropic drone cascading around the building, before the bass builds and hits a dancing rhythm very much in the style of Peter Hook. The crowd starts throwing shapes like it really counts. Tom’s deep rich hypnotic vocals draw you in before a crash of distortion and he heads down into the crowd for his signature prowl through the audience. Beneath the synth structurally the music has more than a hint of a classic Faith No More stomper. It carries a heavy undertow without weighing you down. Obsolete then hits straight in with its stabby guitar. This could well be the set of the festival, and we are now dancing like we just don’t care: as it should be. They are a great band and Source will take this moment to wholeheartedly recommend you buy their debut album on Leaf Records. They draw this biggest cheer of the event so far and deservedly so.
Dactyl Terra
Dactyl Terra are surprisingly young for a band playing this perfect a classic garage rock heavy psychedelic riff fest. They’ve got double drums, synths echoes and distortion playing a biker bar groove where someone has put acid in the special brew. It works. Heads are banged. There is a lot to like about this gang from Wales. They are certainly not the first band to take influence from the work of John Dwyer. Some bands play like this and over cook everything. They are light and nimble and you can imagine the songs on your headphones. We are not alone in this as they do good business selling copies of their debut album after the show.
Aircooled
Aircooled hit the stage hard with the funk side of their music amped to the max on a blistering rendition of ‘Supermotodisco’ that would have had Mick And Jade Jagger dancing away in New York’s Paradise Garage. They seem beefed up and heavier than they ever have before as Justin pounds the drums while flute and clarinet dual over the tribal rhythms in a song from their new album that will be released later this year. The squelchy dreamy krautrock is still there in the mix though. Flowers Like Sunshine heads off in Hawkwind direction. It is an exuberant headline set from this reliable crew of top flight musicians. There are many reasons to find them lurking in your record collection on some absolutely classic albums, but Aircooled as a fun experience is up there with all of them.
Despite our worries that Psych Fest would be a lesser beast in the Con Club, we find ourselves stepping out into the cold quiet but clean Lewes night air; warm and glowing with the thrill of live music, with ideas of picking our own instrument up from its stand. Again we hasten to add; the doubt was not because of the Con Club, but because the Church was a uniquely special venue, and those days really were glorious, but Chris and Anna have rolled with the change and Lewes Psych Fest is every bit the delightfully fun time it always has been. Roll on 2027!
Lewes Psych Fest 2026
Lewes Con Club – January 23rd to 24th
Words: Nick McAllister
Pictures: Stan O’Shea (Friday) and Jason Warner (Saturday)
