We are merely two weeks away from the 10th edition of Amplifest, a grandiose occasion for a festival that has made a lot of people happy with its lineups over the years. Taking place on November 9th and 10th, at Hard Club, in Porto, with a few warm-up shows at several venues on the 8th, this year’s Amplifest has quite a lot to see and experience. With that in mind, we have put together a compendium of sorts – a guide for the music lover to know how to fully enjoy Amplifest. We have divided this guide in five different categories, each dealing with a different aspect of the festival in regards to music, films, exhibitions and more. But before we begin talking about this year’s edition of Amplifest and going through everything that will be a part of it, we feel it is important to give a little context to those that don’t know what Amplifest is and what is stands for, or are attending it for the very first time. For that reason, we will once again go back in time and chronicle a bit of the festival’s history and that of its promoter, Amplificasom.
The Festival
Founded in 2006, in the midst of the city of Porto, Amplificasom is a group of individuals that love music first and foremost, and whose commitment and passion for the events they organise and the respect they have towards the artists they collaborate with is awe inspiring. They consider themselves as purveyors of musical adventures for adventurous minds, providing their audiences with eclectic and memorable shows. On their catalogue of past events, you can see names such asBlack Flag, Boris, Russian Circles, Earth, Wolves in the Throne Room, Isis, Kylesa, Shellac, Yob, Zola Jesus, Mono, Jarboe, The Ocean, Sumac and Melt-Banana, among many others. For them, each and every single one of these shows is as important and historic as the next, and it was for that very reason that they created Amplifest back in 2011, a gathering for music lovers by music lovers, in which there are no discernible headliners – every act is given the time and space they desire to perform. This sense of respect for the artist helped build Amplificasom’s reputation as an esteemed promoter.
But as we mentioned earlier, Amplifest’s history began in 2011. Its first edition, celebrated in October of that year, boasted an impressive lineup. From Godflesh, Jesu and Acid Mothers Temple to Barn Owl, OvO, Rorcal and Process of Guilt, among others, this was the edition that gave birth to a new cultural movement within the city of Porto – and the rest of Portugal. The inevitable comparisons to other festivals in the same vein like Roadburn, Incubate and Supersonic were not unfounded either – in fact, the latter ended up becoming the inspiration for Amplificasom to create their own festival, a similar event in this side of the continent. They succeeded and what followed were eight more editions, each more successful and memorable than the last, something that helped establish Amplifest as the go-to festival for musical exploration. Who can forget the tremendous concert of GY!BE in 2012, or Neurosis’ definitive debut in Portugal, in 2016? Or even Russian Circles on stage with Chelsea Wolfe, in 2013, or the absolute sonic devastation provided by Swans in 2014? Or better yet, Lingua Ignota’s highly emotional set in 2023, the same year that saw the return to Portugal by the masters of the wall of sound, Sunn O)))? Amplifest is made of momentous performances that will forever endure in our hearts and minds, from the most minimalistic act to the highly complex and experimental ones.
It isn’t just music that drives the festival either. At its core, we could say that Amplifest is an arts festival. Music may be the main course, but it is complemented by a selection of documentaries and films, listening sessions, talks with artists and other promoters, as well as exhibitions on the main floor. And this year is no different. We are beyond excited to be able to return once again, and we know you are too. That is why you are reading this article right now too. You want to know it all. You want to know all about Amplifest 2024, be it the music, the exhibitions, the amplitalks, and even the city. You want to discover the festival and we are happy to provide you with the information you need. So, continue reading and discover Amplifest 2024. And remember – it’s not a festival, it’s an experience.
The Music
This year’s music lineup is as varied and broad as the festival as accustomed us to. From post-metal, psychedelic black metal and experimental noise to folk music, death metal and sludge metall, there is something for everyone to enjoy, and both days of the festival will include a little bit of everything and more. On the first day, the opening sonorities on the Büro Stage will belong to the Berlin-based experimental cinematic noise duo Insect Ark, who will be presenting their brand-new record, Raw Blood Singing, followed by the North American wholly doomed black metal project Mizmor, an absolutely unmissable debut in Portugal – the A.L.N.-led band will be focused on presenting their latest release, Prosaic, with some material from their back catalogue possibly making an appearance. Next up will be the Danish LLNN, another debut on Portuguese soil, who will be bringing the dark, heavy and post-apocalyptic sound of their latest record, Unmaker. Returning to Portugal after two years – and eleven years since their first and only performance at Amplifest -, the North American kings of instrumental post-rock Russian Circles will electrify the Büro Stage with songs from their entire catalogue, with a special focus on their latest opus, Gnosis. The closing of the stage will be reserved to the Italian psychedelic sludge metal trio Ufomammut, who are returning to Portugal after six years to warp our minds and twist our perceptions with their latest record, Hidden.
Over at the second stage, entitled Dois Corvos Stage, the first day of the festival will be composed of Avesso, a brand-new Portuguese supergroup dedicated to exploratory rock, who will be presenting their debut record, Desassosego. Afterwards, the Ireland-based Cinder Well will take the stage with her experimental take on folk music, as seen on her latest record, Cadence, followed up by the Fvnerals, a German outfit that exists on the fringes of doom, post-rock, shoegaze and dark ambience. In their very first time performing in Portugal, the group will be presenting their latest release, Let The Earth Be Silent. For the finale, we have the death metal supergroup Living Gate, another debut in Portugal, even though all of their members, ranging from Wiegedood, Yob and Oathbreaker, have played at Amplifest before, and UF, a power metal techno duo that will transform the Dois Corvos Stage into a sweaty rave dancefloor.
The second day at the Büro Stage will commence with the North American post-sludge metal quintet Inter Arma, who are making their return to Amplifest after five years to present their devastating new record, New Heaven. The Norwegian instrumental post-rock six-piece Spurv will follow suit in their very first performance in Portugal to present their latest record, Brefjære, and after them, we will be graced by the presence of a sonically challenging and overwhelmingly destructive collaboration between The Body & Dis Fig. The highly-anticipated return of Chelsea Wolfe to Portuguese shores will come next, as the renowned songstress and modern-day goth queen is set to present her latest record, She Reaches Out To, much to the delight of new and avid attendees of Amplifest alike. The definitive closing of the Büro Stage will be left at the hands of Oranssi Pazuzu, the Finnish psychedelic black metal collective that keeps on dismantling the boundaries of metal music and reshaping it as they please, as will be heard when the band presents their monumental new record, Muuntautuja.
As for the Dois Corvos Stage, the second day will begin with the return to Portugal by the Canadian avant-garde black metal duo Menace Ruine. Its been quite a few years since the duo’s last performance in any part of the world, which dates back to 2015, so as rare an occasion as this is, we urge you to not miss this one. Next, the New Yorker poet, singer-songwriter, performer and video artist Mary Jane Dunphe will perform her idiosyncratic assemblage of crooning and danceable avant-pop songs, as can be heard on her debut record, Songs of Love, with the Portuguese darkwave project Decline and Fall coming afterwards, presenting their debut collection of mournful and introspective tones, Gloom. For the grand finale at the Dois Corvos Stage, the Canadian post-rock quartet Yoo Doo Right will be presenting their latest record, From the Heights of Our Pastureland, and the French Eihwar will transform the stage into an empowering, Viking dancefloor. Both nights at the Dois Corvos Stage will feature a special Amplificasom DJ set at the end. And lest we forget, on November 8th, there will be a warm-up party at three different locations with three different artists – Okkyung Lee at Serralves, Velho Homem at the Bolhão Market, and John Cxnnor at Ferro Bar. The latter will also include a listening session of The Body’s upcoming record, The Crying Out of Things, and a special NO JOY DJ set. For the full running order of bands – and everything else -, check the festival’s official page, here.
The Amplitalks
It wouldn’t be an Amplifest without Amplitalks. Usually moderated by José Carlos Santos, the Amplitalks see artists, promoters and other relevant names of the alternative music scene and industry debate various themes that range from discussing the meaning behind post- music, how the media and music coverage has changed over the years and the creation and maintenance of a festival, among others. As with the previous year, this time there will be two Amplitalks, one in each day. Entitled Raw Blood Talking and One Last Song, both of these Amplitalks will see Insect Ark and Menace Ruine speak on the creative aspects that led to the creation of the their latest releases, Raw Blood Singing and Nekyia, respectively, as well as possibly talking about what will come next for each band moving forward.
The Exhibition
Last, but by no means least, we have the exhibition. In the past, the show floor of Amplifest was host to many different exhibitions – we recall Error! Design, Münster Studio, Dehn Sora and David D’Andrea as being some of the artists who embellished the main floor with their artistic creations and designs. This year, the honour goes to André Coelho, a brilliant illustrator from Portugal, who has worked with a diverse range of artists, promoters and music festivals over the course of his career. He is also a comic book author, having published four books: Terminal Tower, with Manuel João Neto; Sepulturas dos Pais, with David Soares; Acédia, winner of the 500 Paus contest, and Mnemosina. Not only that, but André Coelho also develops musical work in the field of electronic and experimental music, currently under the alias of Metadevice, and has also participated in several international antolholoogies with short works. Having collaborated heavilty with Amplifest over the years, and with such an impressive body of work, it makes all the sense in the world that Andé Coelho be the featured artist in this year’s exhibition on the Main Floor of Amplifest.
The City
Coming to Porto for Amplifest also means visiting the city itself. Also known as Oporto in some languages, Porto is the second-largest city in Portugal and one of the Iberian Peninsula’s marjor urban areas, famous for its beautiful and serene landscapes, as well as its varied gastronomical offerings, which range from port wine to the famous francesinha, without forgetting the typical “cozido à Portuguesa”, the “tripas à moda do Porto” and other traditional dishes. There are many restaurants and pubs to choose from to get a feel of Porto’s culinary delights – D’Gema, for example will provide you with the best selection of hamburgers in town and Casa Guedes will do the same for you in regards to their famous francesinha. Boa Bao and Cais 35 will fill your belly with asian food goodness, and for our veggie friends, Rosa Imunda and Pizzeria Bela Mia! are the places to visit. But if you are looking for a place with various options, Duas de Letra and Café Santiago da Praça are the way to go. And for that late night drinking with friends, we can recommend a visit to any of the following venues and “tascos”, each with their own appeal and distinguishable nature: Maus Hábitos, Ferro Bar, Barracuda, Cervejaria Miria and Praça Poveiros.
Porto is also home to some of the most beautiful landmarks that you can visit. For example, the avid followers of the Harry Potter series will certainly be drawn to the awe-inspiring Lello Bookstore. Others might be more keen on taking a walk around the garden surrounding the Crystal Palace (also known as Rosa Mota Pavilion or more recently, Super Bock Arena), or even cross the Dom Luís I Bridge, a double-deck metal arch bridge that connects the cities of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia. For the more historically inclined, the Clérigos Church offers a bit of Baroque history, and those with a more artistic view of life will love to see the magnificent tiles in São Bento Station, or the inner and outer allure of Casa da Música. As an end of day activity, if not occupied with the festival itself, we recommend watching the sunset at the Ribeira Wharf. And if your artistic side is still craving for more, a visit to the various galleries around Porto will suffice, whether it’s the AL859 – Ars Longa Vita, Ó! Galeria or Senhora Presidenta. There is plenty to do in your stay in Porto besides Amplifest and believe us when we say that combining all these elements together will make for the perfect festival experience. See you all very soon.
