Rotterdam’s tastemaking multi-venue festival returns this October.

Across 20 venues – be they boats, buses, clubs, dance studios and churches – for one weekend at the end of every October, Rotterdam plays host to one of the undisputed gems in the city festival calendar. Delivered with an endearing sense of humour and love – may I refer you to the inflatable ‘Noodle Guys’ dressed as Luchadors that mark the entrance to every venue – Left of the Dial’s line-up of 150+ acts (each playing multiple sets across the weekend), is also unwaveringly on the pulse, always championing new music, upcoming acts – no ‘big name’ headliners here.

And so, in an attempt to sort through it all, we’re starting with 6 artists that we can wait to see at this year’s edition of the festival, which runs from 23^rd to 25^th October.

Shaking Hand

For Manchester-based trio Shaking Hand, patience is power. Their extended, voyaging compositions – mingling psychedelia, post-rock and emo – defy the conventions of time and space and leave the listener hanging in their tantalising narratives. There’s something deeply compelling about seeing a stripped back three-piece lock-in and unspool their ambitiously enthralling works – and Shaking Hand are no exception. Measured, yet packing a punch, Shaking Hand’s melodies will no doubt worm their way into your ears. (Elvis Thirlwell)

Mamalarky

We were very pleasantly surprised to see Mamalarky on the Left Of The Dial bill this year, a notably more established outlier on a lineup that centres on bands in their relative infancy. Cast in a woozy, dream flecked light of psych pop spectrality that vaults aqueously through different shapes and colours, their music is a shepherd’s delight of sweet, sunblushed complexity. Calling to mind contemporaries such as Deerhoof or Crumb, the ambrosial idiosyncrasies of their third album ‘Hex Key’ (released via Epitaph Records back in April this year) placed the US based group firmly on our radar, and we can’t wait to catch them in Rotterdam later this month. (Hazel Blacher)

Prewn

Based in LA, Prewn – aka Izzy Hagerup – is another act from across the pond that we at HoH don’t want to miss. Thoroughly catching our attention following the release of their accomplished sophomore album ‘System’ this month, their music is a brooding, strange and emotionally fraught cauldron of folk infused indie rock that has drawn comparisons to the likes of PJ Harvey, Jessica Pratt and Adrianne Lenker. Bathed in ruminative cello expressions and lyrical outpourings, Prewn’s music drizzles deep into your psyche, pensive and exhilarating like a dusky autumnal downpour. Make sure to bring a jacket for this one because you’re at serious risk of goosebumps. (Hazel Blacher)

big long sun

Borne from the prolific bedroom productions of Brighton’s Jamie Broughton, anyone who’s listened to the two excellent albums big long sun have released in the past year will be only partially prepared for the manic exhilaration of their live show. Songs that mingle psychedelic-rock and wonky funk-pop become frenzied and mangled by an 8-piece line-up of zinging guitars and massed vocal chants, sparking with bundles of energy that can barely be contained. It’s an experience to be savoured, that’s for sure. (Elvis Thirlwell)

Maddie Ashman

Coming to our attention earlier this year with the wild, Jockstrap-esque experimental pop banger single ‘Toffee’, London based composer and multi-instrumentalist Maddie Ashman is also an internationally recognised exponent of micro-tonal guitar playing, whose various works and installations have travelled from Egypt, to Istanbul to San Francisco. Frightening, magical, and a little bit strange, her live performances promise jaw-dropping virtuosity, mesmerisingly beautiful vocal performances, and…microtones! (Elvis Thirlwell)

Pebbledash

The burgeoning alternative scene in Ireland right now has issued music lovers with a plethora of thrilling new acts, and Cork newcomers Pebbledash are certainly no exception, who have been on our radar for some time now. Blending elements of shoegaze with post-punk and traditional Irish music, the four-piece fluidly and compellingly balance lulling, dream-hued sensitivity with abrasive, noise-rock grit. Having very recently completed a multi-date UK tour with Mên An Tol and Cardinals too, they will no doubt be nicely warmed up to wow us over in Rotterdam later this month. (Hazel Blacher)