Barcelona has many festivals but the trait that makes the AMFest (formerly Aloud Music Festival), Thursday-Saturday, November 3rd-5th, unique is that it is mainly devoted to instrumental music.
Post-rock? Yes. Kraut-rock? Yup. Math Rock? Sure. Space and Psychedelic Rock? Why not? A bit of blues? If it sounds right…
The AMFest Barcelona celebrates its fifth edition in a week’s time. In this short time, it has become a reference in the Mediterranean about new tendencies in instrumental music, but also leaving space for local creativity in other genres, and the have programmed bands from all over the World: the USA, Belgium, Russia, Italy, the U.K., you name it.
The venue chosen for this is a classic in the Barcelonan scene: Apolo’s younger sister, La 2. With 400+ people capacity, you have the guarantee of a certain degree of intimacy with the music and the bands.
And as for the bands, we have quality in buckets. Headliners are Irishmen God Is An Astronaut (QRO live review). They have gone through different phases but their spacious melodies, mixed with the most dynamic ones make them a powerhouse of the instrumental you can’t miss (QRO live review).
Canterbury has an archbishop and one of the best bands of the mid-noughties, Yndi Halda. In fact, as the organizers claim the AMFest was born while listening to “Enjoy Eternal Bliss”, the exciting first record by these imaginative Englishmen. With a new record after ten years, “Under Summer” we can expect a display of dreamy, oneiric and noisy music (depending on the song, that is).
The third band we’re interested in is Three Trapped Tigers (QRO photos at a festival). Described as math rock, but so ingenious and inventive they can be hard to follow, at times, TTT are a power trio that can surprise a venue with twisted electronica or with screechy analogic tunes. A must watch.
Last but not least in the poker of main names (for us, at least), the dreamy, calmer and soothing The Album Leaf (QRO album review). When I was talking about the intimacy the La 2 room gives to music I was actually thinking of Jimmy Lavalle’s band. When they last visited Barcelona, was at the old open-air Pitchfork venue in the Primavera Sound 2011 (QRO photos), but the stage was too big for their soft and reflective tunes. Hopefully, the La 2 will prove to be a better environment, as they come across the Atlantic behind this year’s Between Waves.
These four bands – plus rocky Norwegians Leprous, expansive Germans My Sleeping Karma, and one of the best bands of the moment, Frenchmen Lost in Kiev – are the big international names of the AMFest, but there’s plenty of local talent to listen to and to discover.
Za! are the main exponent of math rock done in Spain, with complicated patterns and Indian traits that have surprised many listeners for years. And their camp videos can be very fun, too.
Mardemarmo are a novice band that has toured the U.K. already. With a more classic post rock sound, the quartet has a long way to explore and to experiment, after exposing a very solid base.
At the other side of the spectre, we find Bala, a duo consisting of a drummer and a guitarist who basically are the outsiders of the festival. Remember the Aussie band, DZ Deathrays? Good, now imagine them as stoner rockers and faster. Yeah? Great, then you have Bala.
Finally, Gambardella rescue progressiveness and psychedelia, but mixed with a fluid and fluent sense of rhythm.
Yes, The AMFest displays the flag of instrumental rock, but they’re clever enough to include interesting proposals.
For festival website, go here: http://www.amfest.es/
