Every year for six years and for just three short days and nights, Birmingham's Custard Factory has played host to possibly one of the most understated and downplayed Festivals of the last decade.

Our UK summers seem filled to the brim with music events and weekend-long tent outings, swapping sterling in the hundreds for an unforgettable live experience.

So why is Supersonic so different? Well firstly it's ridiculously well priced, at just £70 for the entire weekend, secondly it's almost always featuring some of the greatest, innovative and most alternative acts across the spectrum of music. Moving further down the list, the festival also features a skate-ramp and park this year as well as workshops throughout the day, extracurricular learning, art exhibitions, talks and a range of special performances over the three days.

The Festival also takes place inside a building (with a stage outdoors as well), swapping the enjoyable but sometimes problematic need of camping for the relaxed luxury of a hotel room, or if you happen to live close enough, your own home.

Below is a list of twelve bands that we at Strange Glue highly recommend you try and catch at this years Supersonic Festival which takes place this weekend (July 24th - 26th). 

Sunn O)))

Friday 24th - Outside Stage - 23.40PM

Their newest record Monoliths & Dimensions was said to be possibly their finest to date and if our live review at this year's Primavera Festival shows anything, they're also meant to be more than just a little special on stage. Experimental drone-metal with a thick fog of unsettled, ambient slendour, Sunn O))) are an absolute must-see at this year's event.

Sunn O))) Live At Primavera Festival 2009: HERE

Monotonix

Saturday 25th - Outside Stage - 01:15AM

Israeli garage-rock trio Monotonix are set for a late-night / early morning performance on the outside stage at Supersonic this year and to be honest, we couldn't of chosen a better slot ourselves. Known for their wildly chaotic live shows, seriously hairy faces and half-naked stage antics, we're expecting a seriously crazy couple of sweaty, loud hours when this band hit the stage in just two days time.

Make sure to check back over the weekend for our exclusive interview with the band.

Monotonix Myspace Page: HERE

Head Of David

Sunday 26th - Space 2 Stage - 21.15PM

Recent reunited industrial-rockers Head Of David will play their first show in twenty-three years at Supersonic 2009 marking one more reason why each and everyone one of you should be attending the Festival this year. With a legion of fans ranging from way back in '86, we expect this will  be a show not forgotten by many.

We've managed to grab some time with the band at the Festival so check back over the course of the weekend for our interview with the group.

Head Of David Myspace Page: HERE

Venetian Snares 

Friday 24th - Outside Stage - 01:00AM

Call it glitch, call it IDM, call it completely fucked-up electronica but one think you can't call one man genius Aaron Funk aka Venetian Snares is unoriginal. Fusing out of this world time-signatures with jungle, break-core and something else we can't even begin to explain, Funk is swiftly becoming the one of the most prolific artists in his twisted choice of genre. If you like Aphex Twin, Autechre or anything of that nature then you simply must hear Venetian Snares, especially in a live atmosphere.

Venetian Snares Myspace Page HERE:

Goblin

Sunday 26th - Space 2 Stage - 23.00PM

After gaining popularity throughout the seventies and creating soundtracks for legendary horror movies including George A. Ramero's original Dawn Of The Dead and the classic Suspiria, Goblin are still going today, even though it's been over thirties years since their musical birth. With a near-midnight headlining slot at this years Supersonic, you'd be silly to miss their dark, classic progressive-rock atmospherics (even if it's just to pretend you're a zombie).

Goblin Myspace Page: HERE

Caribou

Sunday 26th - Outside Stage - 22.15PM

Low-fi, psychedelic and completely unique, Caribou is Daniel Snaith, a Canadian born with a penchant for electronic music. Growing and growing into a name now known throughout more than just his home-country, Snaith has kicked up quite a fuss in the past few years under the Caribou name. He's on our list to see at the event and we hope he's on yours too.

Caribou Myspace Page: HERE

65daysofstatic

Saturday 25th - Outside Stage - 20.45PM

A band that doesn't need much of an introduction, 65daysofstatic is a group we never tire of seeing live. Morphing glitch electronica with a cacophony of brutal noise and exploding beats, if you haven't managed to catch these guys yet then you literally have no excuse not to jot them down as a priority for Supersonic 2009. Fingers crossed for some new material too.

65DaysOfStatic - The Destruction Of Small Ideas Review: HERE

Kylie Minoise

Friday 24th - Factory Club - 01.10AM

Have you ever witnessed a printer make love to a blender? Really dirty, grinding, grating love? Really loud, nasty, mechanical, filthy, fuzz love? Then it could well be that you mistook that love-making for Kylie Minoise as that's really the only comparison we can possibly muster to describe the insanity that just one is able to craft. If noise-bending, ear-bleeding walls of pandemonium is what you crave then, well, you already know about him. Make sure you're there for a serious mind-melting when he plays at the Factory Club tomorrow night / Saturday morning.

Kylie Minoise Myspace Page: HERE

Pontiak

Sunday 26th - Outside Stage - 16.45PM

Ponitak have swiftly become one of Strange Glue's most respected bands of late with CD after CD of fantastically unique material, all of which sounds even more brilliant when experienced live. Psychedelic, fuzzy, a hint of drone and a whole heap of individuality, Pontiak are yet another band we can't recommend highly enough.

Strange Glue Interview With Pontiak: HERE
Pontiak - Maker Review: HERE

Arbouretum

Sunday 26th - Outside Stage - 18.00PM

A little less abrasive than the previously mentioned lot but just as fuzzy around the edges, Arbouretum are another band that flew up the ranks on S.G's most played of the year. Their latest full-length Song Of The Pearl was nearly flawless and so we're more than intrigued as to what the new stuff sounds like in it's live format. Coupling their laid-back, bordering folk-rock style with a slot on the outside stage near sun-set, we can guarantee you this will no doubt be one of the weekends highlights.

Arbouretum - Song Of The Pearl Review: HERE

Khyam Allami 

Sunday 26th - Space 2 Stage - 17.30PM

The Syrian born, Iraqi blooded and now London dwelling Khyam Allami has been trying to build a name for himself since a startlingly young age. After learning the violin at just nine years old, the man has paved his future with a whole range of instrumental abilities and is now able to air his talents as he has finally been getting the attention he so rightfully deserves. 

We've arranged a little mid-Festival get together with the man so keep your eyes peeled for an interview over the weekend.

Khyam Allami Myspace Page: HERE

Nancy Wallace

Sunday 26th - Outside Stage - 14.00PM

If Folk is your forté then fear not because this years Supersonic is playing host to one of the most emerging folk talents of today in the form of Nancy Wallace. From her unique vocals rhythms to her wonderfully crafted melodies she's as soft as silk, as sweet as sugar and a whole heap more cheesy comparisons that we'll leave to you to create yourself when you witness her wonder on the final day of the Festival.

Nancy Wallace Myspace Page: HERE

The full stage time-table for all three days can be seen below.

Supersonic 2009 Stage Time-Table:

Friday 24th:

Factory Club:

21.20PM: Atomized

22.00PM: Glatze

22.50PM: Army Of Flying Robots
23.50PM: Scorn

01.10AM: Kylie Minoise

01.50AM: Taint



Outside Stage:

21.20PM: Drum Eyes

22.20PM: PCM

23.40PM: SUNN O)))

01.00PM: Venetian Snares

Saturday 25th:

Factory Club:

17.30PM: Remember Remember
19.00PM: Thought Forms
20.15PM: Skullflower
21.45PM: Kim Hiorthoy
23.00PM: Light Trap
12.15AM: Growing

Outside Stage:

16.45PM: Flower/Corsano Duo
18.00PM: Tartufi
19.30PM: Nisennenmondai
20.45PM: Marnie Stern
21.15PM: Bobby Previte + VJ Benton-C Bainbridge
23.30PM: ZU
01.15AM: Monotonix

Space 2 Stage:

16.30PM: Rose Kemp
17.45PM: Diagonal
19.00PM: Master Musicians of Bukkake
20.15PM: Iron Lung
21.30PM: The Accused
22.45PM: Thorr's Hammer
12.15AM: Corrupted

Sunday 26th:

Outside Stage:

14.30PM: Nancy Wallace
15.45PM: Theo
16.45PM: Pontiak
18.00PM: Arbouretum
19.15PM: Earthless
20.45PM: 65daysofstatic
22.15PM: Caribou

Space 2 Stage:

15.00PM: zZz
16.15PM: Esoteric
17.30PM: Khyam Allami
18.30PM: Jarboe
20.00PM: The Memory Band
21.15PM: Head Of David
23.00PM: Goblin

Strange Glue will be live at Supersonic amidst all of the action so make sure you check out the live reviews, interviews and pictures all due over the course of the weekend.

In the meantime leave us a comment as to who you think we may have missed off, who you wish you were seeing and maybe we can all discuss it over the legendary Club Sandwich at The Crown.