Get to know: Sexbeat
We hooked up with Paul from label and promoters SEXBEAT to talk all things music and RADFEST
What is SEXBEAT and what do you do?
SEXBEAT is a DIY promoter, label and blog based in London. As well as regular headline shows we have a few festival stages including SXSW, Beacons and The Great Escape plus our annual one day event RADFEST which takes place on August 19 this year.
How did the project come about?
SEXBEAT was born out of a boredom of what was available to us and a desire to create something more interesting for ourselves. RADFEST was born out of a boredom of the conventional festival format of watching bands in a muddy field drinking warm beer. We wanted to a create a more engaging experience celebrating a variety of different musical interests and visual entertainment in an alternative venue setting.
Is there a mission statement for the project?
To keep everything as fun and interesting as possible. Shows can become so stale. We try to use as many weird places as we can for our events. Highlights have been a 16th century church, a SXSW party in a frat house and we recently celebrated our 5th birthday with a cruise down the Thames 35 years to the day of the Sex Pistols God Save The Queen voyage.
We are especially proud of the chosen venue for RADFEST this year. It manifests in a huge multi room warehouse complex in Hackney with three stages, a market area and outdoor courtyard. It feels like an industrial maze inviting the audience to explore its vastness to find each different hidden stage.
You're running this Radfest event in August, what can we expect?
A whole bunch of bands! RADFEST is fun for us as we are able to showcase a number of acts representing genres we dig. From Maria Minerva's Estonian disco, to Trash Talk's LA hardcore to Diiv's dream pop and everything in between. We document the line up each year with a free mixtape featuring all the acts playing on limited edition coloured cassette for the first 500 ticket holders to arrive.
As well as the music we also have a screen print poster exhibition by Poster Roast, Kristina Records pop up store, Zine Swap fanzine library and a food market organised by Netil Market.
You've released a few records, what bands are you working with at the moment and why do you love em?
Our most recent release was the culmination of a long lasting love affair with Eagulls since their Birds Of Prey cassette. Their self titled EP is available on snot green 12" vinyl with artwork from the band and hand drawn lyric sheet insert.
Fear Of Men represent our softer side (everyone's got one!).
VIRALS was our first release this year, and possibly our best video ever. Directed and starring SEXBEAT friend and spiritual guru Zac Ella.
VIRALS // MAGIC HAPPENS from Zacella on Vimeo.
What's your plans for the future of Sexbeat?
We don't like to forecast too much of a plan except to continue with what we are doing right now on a bigger and better scale every year. More releases, further development of the artists we work with, increased festival involvement and making RADFEST more... rad.
Check out SEXBEAT online HERE.
And make sure you've got your RADFEST ticket from HERE!
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