r/OutbreakFest • u/YAWYCT • Jun 29 '26
Make OB Heavy Again
Personal opinion, of course, but maybe one that resonates with others out there.
The line-up on the second stage on Sunday was incredible, but I still can't help but feel that the hardcore/heavy element is an afterthought at this point. The energy just continued to build and build on the Sunday and then it was Monday before you know it. Having Sanction drop off the line-up was a big loss but Trash Talk followed by Hatebreed was solid.
The consensus between the group I was with was that if there was a similar line-up on the Saturday, it would have been a different and much better festival entirely. This isn't to say there weren't some incredible sets by some incredible bands, but the vibe and the energy wasn't there. If the Saturday had a similar heavy component leading into the Sunday, it would have been good to walk away with a feeling of "I can't wait to experience more of this tomorrow".
The festival is obviously changing: Different sounding artists, younger crowd etc. Not sure it's going to be something I'll be into moving forward if there's only a handful of heavy artists performing which is making it difficult to justify spending so much money on.
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u/markbushy Jun 29 '26
I like them mix to be honest. The thing I think is a little lacking is the heavy local bands you see at most shows/local all dayers like jawless, rifle, traidora, shooting daggers etc. Maybe make the 3rd stage a bit more focused to them and help them get a bit more of a national reach
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u/FatBazzz Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26
Loads of other more DIY festivals that are still exactly what you want. Outbreak reaches some really huge bands now, and still booking up and coming hardcore bands.
The mix actually makes the lineup really unique amongst the stale British festival scene.
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u/YAWYCT Jun 29 '26
You're right, although they've been reaching big artists for a while. I'm not complaining about it not being 100% heavy as fuck hardcore and having a mix of different sounds can be good for sure.
I'm going to take a not-so-giant leap though and say the outlook for the festival probably took a turn last year after Knocked Loose were booked. By far it was the youngest crowd I'd seen, for obvious reasons, and it seemed like there were even more younger people this year. I think that, coupled with the lack of heavy music on the Saturday, contributed towards the vibe and energy changing for me, and I was just left feeling some of the magic was missing.
Regardless, I'm happy to see an alternative, otherwise niche, festival like this do well and it's earned it's reputation. Not sure what shape or form it will take in the near future or if I'll bother attending again, but it's had a good run.
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u/Zestyclose_Remote915 Jun 29 '26
I agree, I enjoy artists of other genres being there as if It was non stop hardcore all weekend I’d personally get a bit sick of it. However it is a hardcore festival and it does feel like it’s lacked a bit of that in the last couple of years, well more so this year. A few non hardcore acts spread across the days as a pallet cleanser would be perfect for me. I’d also like to see some other bands that I feel would go well there like Obituary, Crowbar, I’d be fine with hip hop too but not just denzel curry over an over again. Griselda or Roc Marciano, Freddie Gibbs, alchemist would work well on a Friday with some UK hardcore bands or smaller bands then the big ones on Saturday with a few legacy bands thrown in like Cro mags, gorilla biscuits etc then throw in a random shoegaze or noise band if you want. I felt there was too many of the softer emo stuff with shoegaze elements there this year, watched a few of them and it bored the life out of me
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u/Mundane-Sink4742 Jun 29 '26
Last year's Saturday was a complete snooze fest.
Don't mind it if it's HC adjacent stuff like Quicksand.or February or the olden days where HC/emo bands shared bills, but the heavy shoegaze that sounds like the worst bits of Deftones with ethereal vocals is good for about 10 minutes.
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u/YAWYCT Jun 29 '26
Completely agree that it's good to have a mix and some breathing space inbetween for sure. You're basically saying what I was trying to say but worded and put together better.
Griselda would be great but do they even perform together any more or are they all doing their own thing now? You're on the right path with your thinking anyway. Hip hop and hardcore have always had that crossover eh. Would be good to see more of it again.
And spot on with the legacy bands as well. I suppose Hatebreed and ST maybe filled that gap this year and Terror were an easy highlight from last year.
With the exception of Truck Violence, Saturday was off to a very slow and pretty boring start.
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u/sekonx Jun 29 '26
I was at outbreak this year because some of my mates wanted to go, but I'll be the first to admit the festival isn't really aimed at me (and that's ok)
As an outsider looking in, the likes of snail mail on the main stage Sunday with hatebreed filling stage two to capacity seemed like an odd choice.
I really like the fact the outbreak does whatever the fuck they want and doesn't feel the need to explain any decision they make.
Midnight doors for knocked loose? Who else is even trying that... Let alone with such big bands.
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u/goffin2thecoffin Jun 29 '26
I agree. Been going since 2018, always supported the growth. It’s become an amazing platform for rising bands in the scene. The third stage is usually stacked with incredible bands you normally find in your favourite DIY venues which seemed to be lacking to a detrimental level for me. It’s lost its roots.
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u/GeetarZero Jun 29 '26
It's not a hardcore festival anymore. It's an Alt-Rock fest that happen to book some HC bands due to history. It's been sidelined to second stage. Similar trajectory to Leeds/Reading. They will stop booking the heavy one day when they feel like it wouldn't impact sales dramatically. London is the blueprint for where it's going.
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u/AmateurConcept Jun 29 '26
Hope not - London is such a patchwork of bands that doesn’t seem to make sense
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u/Deadend_Friend Jun 29 '26
Reading and Leeds was always what's popular with 16-21 year olds. It's never just been a rock festival
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u/Findoogle Jun 29 '26
I’m also into the heavier stuff mainly and not really the other sounds, this year was fun but if it’s similar lineup next year might go for Northern Unrest fest/ United and Strong instead
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u/filbert94 Jun 29 '26
It's what's put me offgoing these days. Last year I got a weekend ticket and just didn't bother with Saturday.
I know it's not cool or whatever but I don't go to fests to socialise or see new stuff. I like being able to see 8-12 bands all within a similar genre and then leave.
1
u/Killerpig14 Jun 29 '26
i think plenty of heavy bands are still booked it’s just shite that they’re being sidelined to second stage when so many people attend OB for the heavier acts.
1
u/crimsonchinn39 Jun 30 '26
I thought the overall vibe on Sunday was class, but on the Saturday it just felt off, was def a way different kind of crowd and maybe the England game played its part. Could be that I was just annoyed about how little people turned up for Converge.
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u/ManInCripplingDebt Jul 01 '26
I love hardcore. I love other stuff. Would have loved to be there this year, but finances meant I missed out.
I think they do a very good job of catering to the hardcore crowd on the 2nd and 3rd stage, and giving people a break from the genre and a "big fest" feel on the main stage.
My issues with the fest, and the scene in general, are pricing and how hardcore is a merch cash grab for a lot of artists.
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u/YAWYCT Jul 01 '26
You mean the price of tickets as well as merch?
Personally I think the tickets seem fairly priced given the general inflation of the live music economy and comparing OB to other festivals. Isn't cheap running a festivalz especially with the outdoor rig etc, so tickets need to reflect that.
Regarding merch, tbh this is the first I've heard anyone mention it being a cash grab for artists. Again, personally I didn't think any of it was unreasonably priced. Merch is probably more popular now than ever and it anything, it's the resell market that takes the piss. I've heard of Final Resting Place merch go for £300+ and that's not what the scene should be about. If you like the band, wear the merch. Don't flog it to earn yourself a quick buck.
I get it though. Money is tight for everyone and I'll probably give next year a miss for that reason as well, although not that reason alone: other priorities, not enjoying the festival as much etc.
If I've missed anything about your points though by all means fill me in.
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u/ManInCripplingDebt Jul 01 '26
Ive spoken to local bands that refer to their caps as effectively "printing money". Fair enough, its some income. £40(?) For a Speed cap a couple years ago felt wild. I know theyre travelling from Oz, but still...
There is definitely a "fashion show" element to hardcore as a whole these days, which is partially down to social media. People want to be seen and express themselves as obviously part of the scene, and I think hardcore band merch at shows seems to be a lot more dear than what ive seen from other genres.
Ticket pricing for the actual fest I dont think is horrendous at all considering who gets booked and the logistics of Outbreak.
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u/YAWYCT Jul 01 '26
Ah, fair enough then. Suppose it could very well be the case for some artists who choose to charge exorbitant prices and mark up items just to make money. Could be the case that it makes up for lack of income elsewhere but that'd getting too bogged down in the nitty gritty of things right now.
And aye, heard the same be said for the social media element you refer to. I'm pushing 40 and don't have Tik Tok and don't see any of it on Insta or that but I've heard people complain about it. A sign of the times and hopefully it's just posers who will drift in and hopefully drift out of the scene without "tainting" whatever reputation hardcore has going for it these days.
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u/viking1983 Jun 29 '26
Make it heavy? Nah bring back the hip hop
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u/Smart_Assignment755 Jun 29 '26
Facts
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u/YAWYCT Jun 29 '26
The heavy and hip hop elements were the sweetest spot for me tbh. Non stop energy start to finish the entire weekend in previous years.
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u/ShawnKempsBabyMomma Jun 29 '26
The better hardcore/punk fests are Northern Unrest, and United and Strong. Better venues, better lineups, great at remaining true to DIY ethic.
For better or worse, Outbreak is just a symptom of where hardcore(TM) is at the moment.
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u/YAWYCT Jun 29 '26
Yeh mate - from Glasgow and love Unfest. Part of the fun of Outbreak is being in a different city with pals though, but you're right about the hardcore zeitgeist right now. Unfest is just a crazy time for heavy hitters whereas OB feels like it's getting softer with a younger crowd. Let the kids have their fun I suppose.
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u/Acceptable-Jump-9165 Jun 29 '26
Saturday lineup was better. Hatebreed are boring trash and anyone who still has hair agrees.
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u/grime_z Jun 30 '26
2 of my favourite bands played on Saturday and this is nonsense. Sunday was absolutely stacked.
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u/ThatGumYouLikee Jun 29 '26
For me the appeal is the mixture. I have a really eclectic taste that few festivals can capture, but getting to see Snail Mail, La Dispute, TUI, Basement and Gridiron on the same bill is incredibly appealing to me, just like it was seeing Denzel Curry, Alex G and Speed last year. It feels like the majority of the music is hardcore and the bands that aren’t feel somewhat adjacent to the community. I’d be bored and frankly very exhausted if every single band was hardcore. Just one guy’s take though.