WEAVE

In Hotel Forum, this year’s final late-night Unsound event again packs two rooms with weird and wonderful delights. The Ballroom opens with a new project called MAGMA, presented by the Godfather of Polish techno, Jacek Sienkiewicz, and producer Piernikowski. The room is headlined by three unimpeachable icons: British acid house and drum’n’bass pioneer A Guy Called Gerald celebrates the thirtieth anniversary of his landmark album Black Secret Technology with a special set, while Jamaican vocalist Warrior Queen will set the stage ablaze with Kevin Martin aka The Bug, returning to Unsound after a four-year break. A disruptive Unsound intervention will separate the sets, delivered courtesy of Indonesian duo KUNTARI, who mash up Javanese sounds and sludge metal, landing on what they describe as ‘primal-core’. French DJ and producer Simo Cell joins forces with Belgium-born Nono Gigsta for an eclectic, ecstatic b2b set, blending high- and low-brow sounds and playing fast and loose with genre. Melbourne-based DJ Kia, meanwhile, brings her signature blend of bass-heavy rhythms, IDM and deep techno. Closing the room, breaks and bass will be provided by Polish DJ Bambi Uzi.

Over in the Corner Stage, a live set from young percussionist Tymek Papior opens things up, followed by Angolan-Belgian producer Nazar, who brings to the stage his revered Hyperdub album Demilitarize – a psychedelic kuduro masterpiece. And don’t miss a rare appearance from mysterious UK duo Tracey, whose sexy, bassy pop sounds have been reverberating through the underground this year. Then Philadelphia’s DJ Haram plays live, still raking in accolades for her debut album on Hyperdub. Just to shake things up, San Francisco sound artist and instrument builder Evicshen, who’s best known for her ‘needle nails’ turntablist technique, arrives with an intervention that’s certain to be electric. A DJ set from cult Glasgow-based artist KAVARI follows, notorious for her surreal, idiosyncratic edits and dark, genre-agnostic club sounds. The room closes with an Unsound exclusive back-to-back set from two of our favorite DJs: OKO DJ and Assyouti, who are set to spar after first meeting at Unsound two years ago. 

There’s also a third room, the mysterious and atmospheric 89 at Forum’s lower level – check the Unsound website or app for the program.