CORE FESTIVAL, DAY 2, WOODSIDE HALLS/HUG & PINT, GLASGOW, SEPTEMBER 13 2025

 In which we encounter technical difficulties and schedule amendments.

OK, before we get to the fun stuff, I find that my video camera has stopped speaking with it's battery and will not work. I have spare batteries, but they are 70 miles away and might as well be on the Moon. So, no proper videos from here on. Bugger.

Today is the day when the quotation from Day 1 (look it up) really kicks in.

Line-up:

GOUT: Off to a fine start. One of the highlights of last year's line-up, they do not disappoint. Thunderous sludge, and a nice NIN cover. Top stuff. Apparently most - or all - of the band are also in an indie-pop outfit of some kind. 

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/Hv1KCH58b60

SHOOTING DAGGERS: Raucous 'queercore' punks from London. Very noisy and great fun. Bucketsful of 'attitude'. Joined by Beth(?) from SLOWCORE and FLINCH for a song, making her the only person to play all three CORE festivals.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/T4zu72PgvaA    https://www.facebook.com/shootingdaggersxhc

BELLOW BELOW: Veteran math-rockers, back together after a good few years away. Sturdy stuff, lots of widdly tapping, they still know how to do it. I think they were originally scheduled to play the Hug & Pint, but swapped with LIGHTS OUT for some reason.

VIDEO:                https://www.facebook.com/bellowbelow

MONI JITCHELL: Local noise-rock duo, back for a second CORE visit. Showing off some excellent new material. Seem a bit quiet, although I'm told it sounded really loud on stage. Dead good, though.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/6EbcGLCwDU0    https://www.facebook.com/monijitchell

ROMAN CANDLE: US screamo/hardcore outfit, taking over this spot from OVERSIZE, who I'd planned to see but who pulled out. Their original slot in Room 2 will be taken by Glasgow hardcore folks RESIST, who I miss. Their first ever UK show was two nights ago, so I guess this is their first Scottish show.

DITZ: Post-punk/alt-rock from Brighton. Singer doesn't seem too keen on the lights and switches them all off. And on again. And off again. Then swings them about a bit.

Video:   https://youtu.be/g5HoPJsc0VM    https://www.facebook.com/ditzband

PEST CONTROL: Thrashy hardcore kinda stuff from Leeds. Popular with 'the kids'.

https://www.facebook.com/pestcontrolleeds

CRUELTY: Metallic hardcore from...somewhere in England, possibly. Not really my kind of thing, but still not horrible.

https://www.facebook.com/thesoundofcruelty

DEFEATER: Blue collar melodic hardcore from Boston, Mass. That's in the USA.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/CTJxj5wfTfs   https://www.facebook.com/defeaterhc

Bands who were there but I didn't see:

GRAND SLAM : LIGHTS OUT : NO KNOWN WEAKNESS : RESIST : PERP WALK : TEST OF PATIENCE : FALSE REALITY : THE CHISEL

CORE FESTIVAL, GLASGOW, DAY 1, SEPTEMBER 12 2025

Glasgow's premier underground metal festival, back for a third year.

'No plan survives first contact with the enemy' - attributed to Gen. Carl von Clausewitz, amongst others.

FRIDAY:

Right, here we are in Glasgow, waiting at the front door of the Woodside Halls, and getting nervous. GOD ALONE are due to start shortly, but the box office, where we're supposed to pick up wristbands and press passes, won't open until 7:00pm at the earliest. This is awkward, and needs to be sorted for future events. Opening the doors 30 minutes or so earlier surely can't be impossible.

The quotation above will prove to be relevant.

We are already presented with a major clash, with headliners TORCHE directly up against math-rock legends AND SO I WATCH YOU FROM AFAR. It's a tough choice, but I've seen ASIWYFA recently in Leeds, so I opt for the resurrected Torche up in the main hall. It's still a bit annoying because it would be good to see the Irish lads in their natural environment of a small venue, but it's going to be really hard to get in if you're not there VERY early. It will be, and indeed IS, rammed.

Line-up:

GOD ALONE( Hug & Pint): Hyperactive Cork math-rock lads, out on tour with And So I Watch You From Afar. Very twiddly, very dancey. A fine selection of horrible shirts.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/2FAWOOoBgcU   https://www.facebook.com/godalonecork

OMO: Enigmatic doom/sludge combo from Glasgow, featuring current and former members of a number of other bands from Glasgow. Which bands? Various bands.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/K537THIjWqo    https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571640149538

HELMS ALEE: Seattle thundersludge trio touring with TORCHE and playing their first ever gig in Scotland. A band I've wanted to see for many years and they do not disappoint.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/i-RoWcRtEDU   https://www.facebook.com/HelmsAlee

TORCHE: Stoner-sludge/pop quartet from Miami, they 'retired' in 2022 but CORE persuaded them to come back to play a few gigs with CAVE IN, and here they are. Nice to see them back in Glasgow for what proves to be the best gig I've seen them play. Quality.

Singer/guitarist STEVE BROOKS now has a lot more hair than he had last time I saw them.

VIDEO:    https://youtu.be/G42l23j17fA   https://www.facebook.com/torcheofficial