Supersonic 2022 Preview

Music festivals are pretty good, aren’t they?

Having spent two years slowly becoming normalised to solitude and the confines of a pokey flat, last month brought it all back in some respect, as a trip to Primavera shifted the mind-set of what a previous life actually felt like.

Yes, it provoked thoughts and stirred the soul, and when that happens you only yearn for more of the same. After all, it’s that time of year.

Enter Supersonic Festival: the High Priest of music festivals in the U.K.

After a two year absence for obvious reasons, next week marks the return of the Birmingham festival, which has boasted some of the finest alternative metal and experimental line-ups over the past two decades.

And of course it continues in 2022, with all roads leading to Birmingham in what is undoubtedly a bumper three days, beginning on Friday, July 8 until Sunday July 10.

While there are highlights aplenty, including a rare performance from The Bug’s Kevin Martin alongside grime legend, Flowdan, June of 44 return to our shores for the first time in 23 years in what is set to be one of the highlights of the weekend.

Then there’s Aaron Turner. Not content on sharing the stage alongside Finnish psych titans, Pharaoh Overlord, Turner is set to back it up with Old Man Gloom in what’s set to be a barnstorming finish on Saturday night.

Speaking of Pharaoh Overlord, boasting members of the great genre-hopping odyssey Circle, there will be a bit of backing up on their part too, returning on Sunday with Richard Dawson in support of the fantastic 2021 collaboration release, Henki.

What about the artists that have featured prominently on the decks throughout lockdown, whereby many, including ourselves, have yet to see in the live arena? There are plenty, starting with A.A. Williams, J. Zunz, Blue Ruth and Bismuth. And Did we mention FÖLLAKZOID? Fuck, it’s almost too much to bear…

While our highlights are marked below, it’s worth mentioning that the Supersonic Extra Curricular Program is shaping up as something equally exciting, starting with BBC 6 Music’s Stuart Maconie who will oversee talks with Dawson and Jerusalem In My Heart’s Radwan Ghazi Moumneh.

Meanwhile, Rosie Solomon will be in conversation with The Quietus’ JR Moores about his latest tome of doom, Electric Wizards.

Suffice to say, this year’s line-up has all the hallmarks of being yet another memorable Supersonic. Below are some of our picks over the three days.

Safe travels and we’ll see you in the pit.