Matthew Barnes – the mastermind behind Forest Swords – triumphed in 2010 with his scorching debut EP Dagger Paths full of dark dub, beats and obscure R&B and folk. His first full length album Engravings (with the single Thor’s Stone as a classic) made even more of an impression, resulting in Ninja Tune taking him under its wing for the album Compassion. Remixes for Björk and Neneh Cherry followed, as did his superb mix in the renowned DJ Kicks compilation series. After a handful of visits to AB, as a token of appreciation, he curated a night at BRDCST in 2017 and invited fine folk for it…. such as Cakes Da Killa, Nidia Minaj and Thom Yorke favourite Oliver Coates. In 2023, Forest Swords will be back with a brand new album.

Concert pictures © Cristina Vergara