Automatic Noise Festival celebrates its fifth edition on January 25th and 26th, 2025, at the intimate yet electrifying Cinetol in Amsterdam. Presented by Automatic Music, the festival also marks the beginning of the label’s 20th-anniversary celebrations—a fitting tribute to two decades of championing boundary-pushing sounds. The festivities kick off early with an official pre-party on January 23rd at Rotterdam’s Vessel 11.
This year’s lineup reads like a dream for any shoegaze aficionado. Greece’s Sugar For The Pill will deliver their hypnotic oeuvre, while U.S.-based Mahogany and Dead Leaf Echo promise to blur the boundaries between melody and chaos. Representing the Netherlands are Resplandor (hailing from The Hague) and Rotterdam’s own Thrilled and Death By Audio. Add Italy’s The Whistling Heads and Slovakia’s Alex Kelman to the mix, and you’ve got a globe-spanning roster that captures the genre’s kaleidoscopic essence.
Keeping the vibes alive between sets, DJ Dragnet and DJ Yogi will spin an impeccable selection of gems across both nights.
Mahogany (USA)
Mahogany is the visionary project of Andrew Prinz and Jaclyn Slimm. Combining the ethereal textures of shoegaze with the drive of post-punk and the intricacy of classical music, Mahogany crafts immersive, symphonic compositions. Their signature sound includes twin 12-string guitars, lushly layered synthesizers, and intricately sequenced rhythms, creating an effect they call the “Hypercube.”
Critically acclaimed albums like The Dream of the Modern Day and Connectivity! have cemented their place as innovators in the genre. Recent works such as the expansive 8-minute track “Phase Break” and the vinyl single “A Scaffold” showcase their continued evolution. Mahogany has shared stages with Interpol, Luna, Bloc Party, and Broadcast, earning coverage in Pitchfork, The New York Times, and The Wire.
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Sugar For The Pill (Greece)
Athens-based Sugar For The Pill combines the dreamy allure of Cocteau Twins with the sonic dynamism of My Bloody Valentine. Since forming in 2020, the band has crafted a lush, emotional soundscape that envelops listeners in ethereal vocals and immersive, well-reined distortion. Their debut album Wanderlust (2022) earned them international acclaim, with features on KEXP, BBC, and Rolling Stone Greece, and the vinyl edition sold out within a month.
Their live credentials are equally impressive, performing alongside Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Mogwai, and Fontaines D.C. at Release Athens Festival. They also supported Ride on their sold-out Nowhere 30th Tour in Greece, winning fans with their celestial yet raw energy.
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Dead Leaf Echo (USA)
Dead Leaf Echo is a Brooklyn-based band blending shoegaze, post-punk, and goth influences to create a swirling, atmospheric soundscape. Their latest album, The Mercy of Women, took over seven years to write and four years to record, featuring a mix of haunting melodies, syncopated beats, and shimmering guitars. Tracks were finalized with Jeff Berner (Psychic TV, Shilpa Ray) at Studio G and mixed in London by James Aparicio (Spiritualized, Mogwai).
Drawing from influences like My Bloody Valentine, The Cure, and New Order, Dead Leaf Echo has toured with artists such as A Place to Bury Strangers and Ringo Deathstarr while earning critical acclaim for their lush soundscapes.
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Resplandor (The Hague, Netherlands)
Resplandor embodies the melancholic beauty of shoegaze, with production and mixing by Robin Guthrie (Cocteau Twins) and mastering by Simon Scott (Slowdive). Their latest album Tristeza (2022) has been lauded for its cinematic soundscapes and emotional depth. The band’s live performances include opening for The Cure on their Shows Of A Lost World Tour and appearances at major festivals like SXSW and Grauzone.
Known for their powerful presence, Resplandor has shared stages with legends like The Jesus & Mary Chain and Slowdive, solidifying their status as shoegaze stalwarts.
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The Whistling Heads (Italy)
Messina’s The Whistling Heads have quickly established themselves as a force in post-punk and new wave. Their debut album Dull Boy drew praise for its expressive maturity, blending angular riffs and driving rhythms. Their track “Well… I Mean,” remixed by Factory Floor’s Gabe Gurnsey, adds a modern club twist to their sound.
After a successful UK tour and over 30 shows across Italy, The Whistling Heads are proving their global potential.
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Death By Audio (Rotterdam, Netherlands)
Death By Audio delivers a relentless blend of post-punk and shoegaze, drenched in haunting atmospherics and emotional intensity. Their latest EP, Beautiful Parasite, recorded during the lockdown and mastered by Ride’s Mark Gardener, captures the band’s signature haunting melodies and infectious guitar work.
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Alex Kelman (Slovakia)
Alex Kelman merges the psychedelic textures of The Soft Moon with the post-punk edge of Death in Vegas. His 2023 album Ilusia offers a kaleidoscopic journey through noisy guitars, driving beats, and vibrant synthesizers. With over 200 concerts across Europe, China, and South America, Alex Kelman is a seasoned performer whose collaborations with dream-pop luminaries continue to shape his sound.
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Thrilled (Rotterdam, Netherlands)
Thrilled takes inspiration from shoegaze, grunge, and punk, crafting an emotive and textured sound characterized by warm fuzz tones and dynamic shifts. Formed in school, the band has quickly risen in the Dutch music scene, with their debut EP Out of It offering a raw yet polished introduction to their talent.
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Whether you’re a longtime shoegaze devotee or a curious newcomer, the Automatic Noise Festival promises walls of sound, ethereal vocals, and all the beautiful noise your ears can handle.
Purchase tickets here.
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