Lay Bare Fest: Inaugural Lineup Finalized for Sept. 27

Posted in Whathaveyou on September 4th, 2025 by JJ Koczan

The end of this month will bring the first-ever Lay Bare Fest, put together at the behest of Lay Bare Recordings, whose varied and international lineup will be showcased at The Black Heart in London. The initial announcement for the all-dayer came through in May, and the lineup has now been finalized, not only with Coltaine and The Answer Lies in the Black Void and Mrs Frighthouse celebrating new album releases, but with new UK-based additions Kulk, Forlorn and Taz Corona.

If the latter name rings familiar, you might recall Corona from her time in Undersmile and the related project Coma Wall. I’m not sure what form her solo work takes, if she has a band with her or is acoustic, plugged-in, etc., but she’ll open the day ahead of Rats and Daggers and Mrs Frighthouse, both divergent and pummeling as they are.

Looks like good fun for the sonically adventurous. The PR wire brought the poster and details, so by all means, have at it:

lay bare fest 2025 final poster

LAY BARE RECORDINGS to Host First-Ever London Festival; “Lay Bare Fest: Frequencies Across Borders”!

Lay Bare Recordings, an independent label known for its deep love of heavy, heartfelt, and boundary-pushing music, is set to cross the pond for the first time with its own festival. In a powerful cross-border collaboration, Lay Bare Fest: Frequencies Across Borders will take over The Black Heart in London on Saturday, September 27, 2025.

Tickets are on sale now! Get them HERE: https://dice.fm/partner/forlorn/event/7d2xkv-lay-bare-fest-frequencies-across-borders-27th-sep-the-black-heart-london-tickets

Location: The Black Heart, London
Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025

Line-up:
Forlorn (UK)
Kulk (UK)
The Answer Lies in the Black Void (HU/ NL)
Coltaine (GER)
Rosy Finch (SP)
Mrs Frighthouse (UK)
Rats and Daggers (NL)
Taz Corona (UK)

Founded in 2013 by Désirée Hanssen in the Netherlands, Lay Bare Recordings has become a trusted home for artists who defy easy categorization. With a catalog of over 67 albums spanning doom, sludge, post-metal, and experimental sounds, the label prides itself on authenticity and community, supporting a DIY culture where passion and dedication come first. Every release is more than just music; it’s a story pressed into wax, meant to be shared and treasured.

This one-day label showcase is a collaborative effort between Lay Bare Recordings, Chaos Theory, and Pride Management. In a fractured post-Brexit landscape, the festival stands as a statement, a call to unite the UK and European underground scenes at a time when collaboration is more crucial and complicated than ever. Lay Bare Fest is about building bridges between people who believe the underground still matters – not just between countries, but between all who support it, from musicians to music lovers, labels, bookers, and photographers. It’s a gathering for the open-minded to connect through music.

Known for amplifying genre-defying creativity, Lay Bare Fest is hosting a lineup that reflects unity over division. Expect genre-defying, boundary-pushing Lay Bare acts like Rosy Finch (SP), Coltaine (GER), Mrs Frighthouse (UK), The Answer Lies in the Black Void (HU/ NL) and Rats and Daggers (NL). And recently added upcoming bands Taz Corona (UK), Forlorn (UK) and Kulk (UK).

Adding to the excitement, the event will feature three exclusive album release shows in the UK for Mrs Frighthouse, The Answer Lies in the Black Void, and Coltaine, who will all be playing their recently released albums for the first time in the country.

Experience the energy. Feel the frequencies. Be part of the Lay Bare Family.

https://laybarerecordings.com/
https://www.facebook.com/laybarerecordings/
https://www.instagram.com/laybarerecordings/
https://laybarerecordings.bandcamp.com/

Mrs Frighthouse, “DIY Exorcism” (2024)

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Sonic Whip 2025 Adds Graveyard, Frankie and the Witch Fingers, Lord Buffalo and More

Posted in Whathaveyou on November 25th, 2024 by JJ Koczan

A lot to like in the batch of new names added to Sonic Whip in the Netherlands this coming May. The 2025 Nijmegen edition of the festival has announced Dutch upstarts Heath will play — reasonable — and brought on Graveyard, who immediately go to the top of the bill and are playing for the first time — and punctuated noise rock masters Whores., the ambient Orsak:Oslo, as well as Utrecht heavy punkers Rats and Daggers and Los Angeles’ own Frankie and the Witch Fingers for those who’d dare a little fun while they have a good time.

As Lord Buffalo are also added, I can’t help but wonder if the Austin-based outfit won’t do a tour around this appearance, and if so, I believe that’s their first European jaunt. Don’t quote me on that, I could be wrong. Either way, I’ll try to keep an eye for dates and, if they’re going to make a run of it, with whom.

The announcement was short and sweet, the lineup is righteous and by all accounts I’ve heard, Sonic Whip is an amazing time. Barring some never-gonna-happen fiscal miracle, I won’t be there to see it, but if you get to go, enjoy. Tickets are available. Here’s what they had to say on socials:

sonic whip 2025 poster so far

NEW NAMES SONIC WHIP 2025

We’re thrilled to announce Graveyard for Sonic Whip 2025! The appearance of the Swedish band will mark their debut at our festival. Judging by their blistering performances lately they are on fire! Also present on 16 & 17 May; US garage psychrockers Frankie And The Witch Fingers, noise-punk-sludge juggernauts Whores., Norwegian atmospheric kraut-jazz-psychrockers Orsak:Oslo, cinematic & melancholic rockers Lord Buffalo from the US, Dutch psych revelation Heath and upcoming sonic punkrockers of Rats and Daggers.

The line-up is shaping up nicely with Elder, The Devil and the Almighty Blues, Temple Fang and Karkara being announced earlier on and there’s still more to follow! Keep your eyes peeled.

Get your tickets for Sonic Whip 2025 via https://bit.ly/Sonic-Whip-2025

https://www.facebook.com/Sonicwhipfestival
https://www.instagram.com/sonic_whip/
https://www.doornroosje.nl/festival/sonic-whip/

Graveyard, 6 (2023)

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