REVIEW: Outbreak Festival, Autumn Edition
Speed by Eddy Maynard
Outbreak Autumn brings hardcore's best back to the UK
It feels like only moments ago we left the BEC Arena after Outbreak Festival ‘24 wrapped up with American Football’s stunning closer on 30 June, yet here we are back again on 27 October for Outbreak’s bold autumn instalment. As autumn nights stretched longer with the clocks going forward, Outbreak Autumn unfolded under a darkened sky, bringing another killer lineup to the stage. Here’s the rundown.
End It & Trauma Ray
Our day kicked off with an international flourish courtesy of Baltimore’s End It. As an opener, they came with absolutely no pretense; from the start, Outbreak regulars flung themselves across the pit and onto the walkway up front. The One Way Track five-piece brings an old-school hardcore vibe that packs a punch, with Johnny McMillion and Ray Lee adding their flair on guitars and Akil Godsey commanding the stage through Lifer. With just a few dates left in the UK alongside Speed, they’re a can’t-miss highlight for international hardcore fans.
They left the stage hot, setting up the Texans in Trauma Ray to bring their own intense presence. While a different energy from End It, Trauma Ray had the crowd two-stepping to a set brimming with atmosphere. Outbreak’s summer event leaned lighter for its main acts, but the autumn lineup hit just right, with Trauma Ray providing a welcome breather from the frenzied start.
End It & Trauma Ray by Eddy Maynard
Pest Control & T.S. Warspite
Mainstage followed up with Pest Control, who’ve had an impressive 18 months: touring with Scowl, appearing at Bloodstock, and sparking debate around the Download lineup. Outbreak Autumn gave them a fitting reception, and their recent EP Year of The Pest absolutely lived up to the hype, with live renditions like “Time Bomb” leaving a fiery mark. The two Joes on guitar, and Leah commanding the stage, were tight and energetic from start to finish for their third Outbreak.
Meanwhile, on the second stage, T.S. Warspite held down the fort as one of only two UK bands on the bill. Though we had to cut their set short for other Outbreak happenings, what we did catch delivered raw energy, resonating especially well in a room more suited to traditional hardcore. Welcome home, T.S. Warspite.
Pest Control & T.S. Warspite by Eddy Maynard
Fleshwater & Angel Du$t
Shoegaze with a punch, Fleshwater returned to Outbreak after performing at Depot Mayfield in 2023, bringing a distinct heaviness. The three guitars up front alongside Marisa’s vocals added depth and melody, making them stand out. Less crowd-interactive than Pest Control, they still had fans jumping for tracks like “Kiss The Ladder,” and their slot on this bill let them shine without getting lost in the shuffle.
Baltimore’s Angel Du$t, seasoned Outbreak performers, took to the stage next. Justice Tripp riled up the crowd with “Sippin Lysol” and “Let It Rot,” dedicating a song to the Aussies in Speed and expressing deep gratitude for Outbreak. As Leah Massey-Hay from Pest Control returned to guest vocal on “Set Me Up,” the crowd surged, though the set wrapped up a bit earlier than expected, leaving fans hungry for just a bit more.
Fleshwater & Angel Du$t by Eddy Maynard
Speed (See Also: Speeeeeeeeeeeed)
Speed needed no introduction. Fans queued for hours at their merch booth, calling their name throughout the day like a Ric Flair “Woooooo,” or even as that flute band off TikTok (don’t get me started). With a cheer, Jem Siow opened with a few notes on his flute, then shouted for Outbreak to “Get the fuck up.” And get up they did. Fans even traveled up from London to see Speed despite their upcoming London date. Jem, fully immersed, got right into the pit during “KILL CAP,” narrowly dodging limbs flying around him. Speed, who’ve been in the scene for over 20 years, expressed awe at how far hardcore has come and praised Outbreak’s reach, especially with bands from Asia like Whispers. “THE FIRST TEST” closed their set with a full stage invasion, leaving the band nearly invisible to the floor. Wrapping up, Speed brought Whispers onstage, making Jem’s point all the more poignant—hardcore is indeed back, with Speed playing a central role.
Speed by Eddy Maynard
Horse Jumper of Love, Citizen, & Fucked Up
Let’s be honest: Horse Jumper of Love had the unlucky slot following Speed, a difficult act to follow in both intensity and genre. However, their tight, relaxed set offered a calm reprieve for those in need. With autumn darkness and rain creeping in, their slot might have felt more at home on the summer bill, but the Boston band still earned love from fans.
Citizen took the main stage next, just as Horse Jumper’s set wound down. After Speed’s nod to their 20-year legacy, Citizen’s veteran status became evident. Mason Mercer led with “I Want To Kill You,” rallying the crowd to jump and sing along. While this setlist was a bit more low-key compared to “Youth in Full” in London, the energy was undeniable, with new material like Calling The Dogs fitting in alongside crowd favourites like “Sleep” and “The Night I Drove Alone.” Closing on “Death Dance Approximately,” Citizen struck a perfect balance between nostalgic tracks and fresh offerings.
Meanwhile, Fucked Up closed out the second stage with their Canadian hardcore punk, providing a perfect wind-down for some or a warm-up for others awaiting the headliner. Vocalist Damian Abraham’s energy kept the crowd moving, leaving people either bouncing or heading out happy. Their performance on the second stage resonated with an energy similar to main-stage acts, proving a crowd-pleaser from start to finish.
Citizen by Eddy Maynard
The Story So Far
Headliners The Story So Far brought the day to a heartfelt close. They’ve long graced punk and hardcore lineups despite leaning towards a lighter sound, and as they launched into “Big Blind,” the no-barrier setting allowed frontman Parker Cannon to connect with fans in a rare, intimate way. During “High Regard,” he joked he barely knew the setlist, but when he announced they needed to play new material, groans turned to cheers as the crowd sang along to “All This Time,” “Watch You Go,” and “Letterman.” In a rare pause, Parker shared, “I miss my dad a lot, but in times like these he’s right here,” before “Watch You Go.”
Balancing new and old, they wrapped up with “Things I Can’t Change,” “Proper Dose,” and “Nothing to Say” before the crowd erupted for classics “Roam” and “Quicksand.” For me, a TSSF-led day festival didn’t look promising on paper; I’d seen them before and left unmoved. But tonight, it was like watching a different band entirely. Outbreak’s magic worked once again. For the second time in 2024, a headliner I wasn’t fully sold on brought the house down (yes, I know American Football was outside).
Outbreak Autumn 2024 closed on a memorable note, capturing the festival’s ethos with a diverse, genre-spanning lineup. With acts ranging from hardcore to shoegaze and punk, Outbreak Autumn showcased the raw energy that defines this festival. Here’s to seeing what 2025 holds.
The Story So Far by Eddy Maynard
