After a relentless opening day packed with breakdowns, circle pits and enough crowd surfers to keep security permanently on their toes, Radar Festival returned on Saturday with a slightly different flavour. While Friday belonged firmly to the heavier end of the spectrum, day two broadened the festival's horizons, mixing metalcore, alternative rock, rap metal and everything in between. By the time the doors opened, Victoria Warehouse was noticeably busier, with fans sporting fresh merch, comparing highlights from the night before and preparing themselves for another marathon of live music.
One of the first bands to grab my attention was Dacara, who wasted no time injecting life into the crowd. Guitarist David barely stood still, constantly working the stage while encouraging chants that the audience happily threw back at him. A particularly memorable moment came when he pulled what looked to be an exceptionally good yu-gi-oh card before the band launched into an impressive cover of The Rumbling from Attack on Titan. It was a set that balanced fun with genuine musical ability and proved to be the perfect way to kick-start the day.
Going into Seething Akira, I genuinely wasn't sure what to expect, but they ended up being one of the biggest surprises of the weekend. Their blend of electronic elements, heavy riffs and dual vocals shouldn't work as effortlessly as it does, but everything clicked from the moment they stepped on stage. The chemistry between the two vocalists was undeniable, bouncing off one another throughout the performance while keeping the audience engaged from start to finish. More importantly, they knew exactly how to get a crowd moving, and by the end of their set the room had fully found its rhythm.
Eville continued that momentum with one of the most energetic performances of the afternoon. They hit the stage already bouncing around, expecting the audience to match their energy, and nobody needed asking twice. From constant jumping to dancing and a steady stream of mosh pits, the crowd barely stopped moving. Their classic "get down low" moment before everyone launched into the air together worked exactly as intended, while both vocalists threw themselves into the action for the final song. The female vocalist joined the pit alongside fans, while her counterpart charged straight into the chaos, creating one of the day's standout closing moments.
Having seen The Hara before, I expected complete carnage from the opening song, so it was almost surprising when their set began at a slightly more measured pace. That didn't last for long. As soon as the first crowd surfer came overhead, frontman Josh Taylor couldn't hide his excitement, encouraging even more to follow. A few sizable pits later, it finally felt like the explosive The Hara show everyone had been waiting for. What really stood out, though, was the connection between the band members. Every interaction on stage looked genuine, and that chemistry translated perfectly into the performance, making the whole set feel even more engaging. The set was completed in a typical The hara style when Josh joined us all in the pits for a wall of love since the venues had banned wall of deaths. It was a lovely sight seeing him split the room and join in the chaos
Heart of a Coward dragged the day firmly back towards crushing heaviness. Their thunderous riffs were matched by chaotic pits and one of the first walls of death of the weekend. As chants of "I don't give a fuck" echoed around the warehouse, the atmosphere became exactly what you'd expect from a Heart of a Coward set—loud, aggressive and impossible to ignore.
Royal Sorrow provided something a little different, combining huge riffs with distinctive vocal delivery that helped separate them from many of the day's other acts. It was a refreshing change of pace without sacrificing any intensity.
For many fans, Protest the Hero's appearance had been worth the ticket alone. Returning to Manchester after twelve years away, there was a real sense of anticipation before they even played a note. Their trademark technical brilliance was on full display throughout, while the band's attempts to embrace British culture—complete with a jumper that definitely looked the part—added a touch of humour between songs that the crowd appreciated.
Blackgold arrived determined to inject even more energy into the room. Wasting no time, they challenged the audience to liven things up before calling for the now familiar appearance of the "Cookie Monster." Their constant interaction kept people engaged throughout, asking, "Can you dance like that?" as the pits continued to grow. Their crushing take on Cypress Hill's Insane in the Brain proved to be one of the day's most unexpected highlights, putting a heavy twist on a classic that had the crowd singing every word.
One of the weekend's most anticipated sets belonged to Northlane, who had been one of the festival's most requested bookings for years. Judging by the reaction inside Victoria Warehouse, the wait had been more than worthwhile. The Australians delivered a performance that balanced the atmosphere with sheer heaviness, while massive circle pits formed on command as arms locked together around the room.
If there was an award for pure crowd participation, Unpeople would have been right at the top of the conversation. From the very first song, the audience threw themselves into every lyric, filling the room with deafening singalongs while bouncing from one pit to the next. At one point, their guitarist somehow found himself being carried around the circle pit on someone's shoulders—a moment that perfectly summed up the wonderfully ridiculous atmosphere Radar creates.
Bringing Saturday to a close were Welsh legends Skindred, and they delivered exactly the celebration everyone hoped for. Taking time to thank fans for helping their recent albums reach both number two and, eventually, number one in the UK charts, Benji Webbe made sure everyone felt part of the band's journey before launching into a career-spanning set packed with old favourites and newer material. The pits erupted one final time, crowd surfers poured over the barrier from every direction and Victoria Warehouse became one huge party. It was the perfect way to end a day that showcased everything Radar Festival does so well—diverse line-ups, unforgettable live performances and a crowd willing to give every ounce of energy right until the final note.
With one day still remaining, Radar had already delivered two completely different but equally memorable experiences. All that was left was a Sunday dedicated to progressive music, technical musicianship and one last opportunity for the festival to remind everyone why it has become one of the UK's standout alternative music weekends.
Photos by Radar Festival Media Team
Review by Jack Norris
