FUNGUS BRAIN FESTIVAL with Mushroom Giant, Grinding Eyes, Treebeard and lots more!

The FUNGUS BRAIN FESTIVAL is a showcase event celebrating the alluring crossover between the twin pillars of Psych Rock and Post Rock, both of which have developed a hardcore following of passionate devotees over the last decade or so, especially here in Melbourne/Naarm. Stylistically, the connection is within the ambience – the predilection to open a doorway of otherworldliness, a trip into the ethereal. But like all good trips, there are highlights and climaxes, and these nine bands most certainly deliver their fair share of adrenalin as well.

Co-headlining the event are two of the best in their respective genres: GRINDING EYES (Psych Rock from Sydney) and MUSHROOM GIANT (Psychedelic Post Rock from Melbourne). Both bands have had prodigious last few years releasing albums and touring – Grinding Eyes touring the USA with Swervedriver (UK); Mushroom Giant performing the big stage at Dunk Festival in Belgium and touring with Russian Circles (USA) and Mono (Japan) here in Australia – honing their live shows both aurally and visually, with both bands complementing their music with impressive visual stimuli. 

TREEBEARD and MYRIAD DRONE are also two bands on the rise, with both riding the wave of their recent album releases and subsequent praise from fans and press alike. Both are perhaps best described as Post Metal, and both being able to shift dramatically from ethereal cruise mode to interstellar overdrive within a heartbeat.

With nine bands on the lineup between The Tote’s two stages (Main Stage downstairs and the Cobra Room upstairs), scheduling is staggered meaning you won’t miss a band, ie. as one finishes the other is about to start. And to start the night we have two brilliantly creative bands in HONEYBONE (Psych Grunge) on the Main Stage at 6:30pm, then it’s upstairs to see SLIKNITA (Psychedelic Post Rock) right after them. SKIN THIEF (Post Metal), ALL IS VIOLENT (Post Rock) and then the mighty OCEANLORD (Psych Doom) round out the bands up on the Cobra Room stage – all three deliver impressive live performances.

Tickets are $25 plus booking fee via Oztix.com.au (or $30 at the door, if available). The Tote Hotel is at 67 Johnston St, Collingwood. Get along, support awesome live music.