Singular Artists are on fire with the curation of this superb festival that showcases all that’s great about new music in 2025.
Traditional outdoor festivals can be a chore. You’re battling the elements, the facilities, the sky high ticket prices, the impossible hikes between stages. At Borderline 2.0 you’ll have a cosy roof (it is February), you can fairly easily get a drink of your choice, the two-day pass is almost a giveaway and the stages are a short run up (or down) the stairs apart.
In their review of the year, our sister music publication The Goo, looked to last year’s Borderline Festival as the event of the year time and time again. Look at the acts… Lambrini Girls, Fat Dog, Maruja, Enola Gay. All have gone on to headline bigger venues and are the talk of the music industry. It may be a journalistic trope, but hand on heart, this year’s event promises to be one for the ages. This next wave of International and Irish acts are hugely exciting, occupying much of my top 10 must see acts this coming year. Let me give you a flavour of what’s available and who could be your next favourite band.
The South London trio are still riding the crest of the wave of their astounding second album Real Deal inspired by Evander Holyfield of all things. There’s a cool focus and confidence in what they’re doing and you can see the advancements they’ve made between albums. Creativity shines in vocal delivery, time signatures & song structure.
This will mark their return to The Workman’s which they played in 2022 or maybe you got in early enough to see their set supporting Interpol in Trinity in 2023. In any case, they’re my number one pick for this event.
Oft mentioned, there are parallels in the way singer Annouska Sokolow delivers some of her lines with that of Lily Fontaine and while English Teacher stole our hearts with their album and live performance, I’ve a feeling This Could Be…better.
I caught this brilliant Dutch collective at the end of 2023 where amidst the euphoric chaos, tracks like ‘Milk’ and ‘Key of Ego’ had the crowd eating out of their hands. They’ve added a whole new album to their repertoire with Still Willing arriving in August. It is a melting pot of energy and multiple genres which I can’t wait to see live, particularly in the hands of the exuberant & entertaining lead singer, Willem Smit. Last time out he removed his shoes and hurled his socks, one by one at a distracting and inattentive trio of punters. Proper order.
With a third album just around the corner I’ve been waiting to see these guys for forever. Their debut Souvenirs and follow up This House planted themselves near the top of the respective year end lists courtesy of their very appealing sound. Sitting in an intriguing Venn Diagram, part Indie/Post Punk/Electronic/ Shoegaze and Pop they should find friends in most quarters. They have indicated their sound is drifting more to the electronic so they should be more bombastic than ever. They did pop into Electric Picnic in 2023 but this will be their first foray to the city. I’m already buzzing.
I’ve been hankering for a live performance by this Brighton ensemble for quite a while now. There is some conjecture as to whether their two major releases qualify as albums or EP’s. Whatever your take I recommend you get on them as they’re excellent. Operating in a similar sphere to DEADLETTER and Maruja (and you know how well they go down in Dublin) they have all of the same vim and vigour with their sax infused funk/punk. I can pretty much guarantee a sweaty good time.
Just take a look at the band’s debut Terrapath album cover and I defy you not to be drawn to them. The organic retro sci-fi image tells you much about the band’s outlook. Fusing prog and jazz with the amazing voice of singer Chloe Spence they touch on bands like Curved Air, Cocteau Twins and Stereolab in their cosmic soup sound. I’m expecting a jaw dropping performance perhaps unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.
Mould are a Bristol Punk trio. They have been together over ten years but only this year released their scorching first (self-titled) EP on Nice Swan Records, (try the rapid ‘The Space You Take Up’). Freshly signed to 5dB and with their spectacular new single ‘Chunks’ just released, they’ve locked into the spirit of post hardcore giants Fugazi, bringing that DIY ethos, a raft of complicated riffs and the loud-quiet-(extremely) loud sound which should win them many friends. Brace yourself.
It looks like Neil Kerr will have the honour of being the only ever present stage performer at Borderline Festival. Interestingly he seems to have made such an impression on his fellow Borderline 1.0 talents that he wound up supporting two of the biggest hitters, Fat Dog & Maruja on their subsequent tours. Always on the lookout for a good live collaboration, he’s actually recently jammed with another 2.0 act, Black Fondu. Having thrilled the crowds at Berghain and with a fondness for ‘90s rave culture, it’s possible The Workman’s could turn into a warehouse party at some stage.
Formed by school friends Jesse Hitchman (Vocals/guitar) and Lennon Gallagher (Vocals/guitar) they don’t seem to have been unduly burdened by the latter’s father Liam also being in the industry. They’ve been steadily dolling out a stream of high quality rock from the off, be it of the math, prog or shoegaze variety. They have shown an abundance of creativity and bravery, even taking on a Chemical Brothers broken beat hybrid sound with aplomb on their latest release. I suspect that when the inevitable album drops they’ll quickly find themselves in a far more commodious setting.
Pronounced CLiT DRiP, this trio arrived from Canada, Greece and Southampton meeting in Brighton University. They headlined Whelan’s last May and could fill the space occupied last year by the amazing Lambrini Girls who have described them as “amazing in every way” going as far as having them support their latest tour. Their punk ethos is infused with electronics, nowhere more so than on their latest excellent single ‘Until You Showed Me’ which gives off peak Yeah Yeah Yeahs vibes.
This UK trio found me an instant fan on the back of tracks like ‘Bunker’ and ‘Hero Man’ from their debut album Blush. Their alluring sprechgesang delivery and hybrid dancefloor sound proved irresistible at times. They’ve been a little quiet of late barring a gritty remix on TATYANA’s forthcoming album, so here’s hoping they’ve a bag full of new music in store. Fans of The Umlauts, Chalk or Owls should make a beeline to the stage.
These could be the sneaky pick of the festival. The London quintet have only four singles out but they’re all amazing. They’re the talk of the underground, all word of mouth, a bit like bar italia were on the way up. Singer Katie Healy defies comparisons and is, as such, a unique talent. Will McNabb on bass provides the essential underpinnings of an ‘80s Simon Gallup. I’ll see you up the front.
This ensemble from London are one of the most intriguing and unique propositions for this festival. They have the choric melodic sensibilities of Brian Wilson combined with a religious service. There’s an element of gentle English folk music but also the insanely fast relentless bass drum from Dutch gabber music. I’ve never described something as wild as that before but on their July EP it makes for a beautiful experience. Though club ready (of sorts) it’s mixed in such a way as there is no dominant element and you get to enjoy all the facets of the piece. I’d say it would fascinate Sean O’Hagan. I’ve got to see these live.
Words: David Carr
Borderline Festival 2.0 takes place in The Workman’s Main Room & Cellar on Feb 21st and 22nd. Tickets available from singularartists.ie
