UK Festivals

Fourth edition of an intimate festival championing improvised and leftfield music in Dorset. Artists include ZAUM, Frances Hatch, Lol Coxhill & Pat Thomas, The Wire’s Clive Bell & Sylvia Hallett, The Typographer’s Error, Nos Phillipe and Brigitte Bardot’s Cat, plus free workshops. Poole various venues, 31 October–1 November, times/prices vary

This year sponsored by The Wire, including a focus on Dutch composer and theorist Dick Raaijmakers, a new commission by John Butcher, a celebration of the 60th anniversary of musique concrète and Pierre Schaeffer, the work of James Tenney, a Lawrence English residency, 12 hour concert installation featuring Rhodri Davies & Radu Malfatti, Terre Thaemlitz, musikFabrik performing works by Stockhausen and Sun Ra, John Cage’s 1958 New York Town Hall concert reclaimed and more. Huddersfield various venues, 21–30 November

A festival in the heart of London’s East End with Sun Ra Arkestra, Don Caballero, Acid Mothers Temple, Kid 606, Chris Corsano & Mick Flower Duo, Boduf Songs, Aufgehoben, Shitmat & DJ Scotch Egg, Todd, Lords, Trencher, Shit & Shine, Team Brick and more, plus the Bugbrand Build An Oscillator workshop. London 93 Feet East, 7–9 November

Third annual programme of experimental music, film, sound and light installations, performance art and free public seminars housed in a 100 year old timber yard. With Charles Hayward, Exploding Cinema, Trans Siberian Marching Band, Goldsmiths College Electronic Music Studios, Psychological Art Circus and more. London Area 10 Project Space, 11–13 September, times/prices vary

Installations include a projection onto the façade of the Mersey Tunnel Air Vent, VJ’d music performances, artist screenings, visual workshops and an outdoor bike-in theatre for Liverpool’s first audiovisual festival. With Addictive TV, Ultre/Flat-e, Kinetic Fallacy and The Smith Quartet performing Reich’s Different Trains. Liverpool various venues, 15–20 September, free

Nine days curated by Oliver Knussen which include the world premiere of Urantia, the UK premieres of Zodiac and Glanz and culminates in Lucifer‘s Dance. London South Bank Centre, 1–9 November, times/prices vary

Part of the explosion of UK indie festivals, this one in its third year in a lovely north Dorset setting. Artists include Mercury Rev, Dirty Three, Low, Baby Dee, Akron/Family, A Hawk And A Hacksaw, Kurt Wagner (Lambchop) and more, plus a library in the woods and a woodland piano. Dorset Larmer Tree Gardens, 12–14 September, £105/festival pass (includes camping)

Three days of exploratory sound organised by the Blood Stereo/Chocolate Monk team and supported by The Wire with Aaron Dilloway & Joseph Hammer, Vibracathedral Orchestra, Thurston Moore/Bill Nace/Chris Corsano, Skaters, Skullflower, Astral Social Club & Axolotl, Leslie Keffer, Adam Bohman/Dylan Nyoukis/Ali Robertson, Byron Coley, Lionel Marchetti & Yoko Gami, Paul Hession, Datashock and more plus a mix of films and workshops. Brighton Sallis Benney Theatre, 5–7 September

Early announcement for the midwinter holiday camp bash, this year programmed by Mike Patton and Melvins with Melvins, Fantômas, The Locust, Isis, Dälek, Neil Hamburger, Big Business and more to be announced. Minehead Butlins, 5–7 December, £150/£140 (early bird deal)