Manchester band Martial Arts candidly document their day at Manchester Psych Fest 2026 with a disposable camera.
Photo: Anya Williams
MARTIAL ARTS
Marital Arts are part of the new wave of Manchester bands who feel completely rooted in the city’s DIY culture while still pushing towards something bigger. They are sharp and confident without rubbing fans and audiences off, it comes off in a way that draws you into their music. What makes them really stand out is how fully formed their identity already feels, the sound, the aesthetic, the way they carry themselves as a group, you can’t help but want more.
They make the kind of guitar music that feels immediate as well as intentional, they are built on sharp rhythms, wiry melodies and a sense of urgency that never tips into chaos. Their sound sits in between post-punk and indie. One of the reasons why they are such an interesting band at the minute, it is not just because they write and produce great music, but it is their stage presence, the grit, the melodies in their performance as well as their but also their energy and personality on stage really makes you and the audience lock in and eager for it all.
EXCITING MOMENTUM
What is really exciting about Martial Arts right now is the momentum around them. They are not just another band trying to break through, they are one of the names people mention when talking about who is the next thing. And you could see that at Psych Fest. Throughout the day you could hear people and photographers talking about their show, planning when they were going to come and watch them. And the turnout was insane. Before their show even started the Lodge at Deaf Institute was completely packed with people having to spill into the stairwell trying to get a glimpse of them and if not just to be able to listen to them.
UNFLITERED SNAPSHOTS
I was able to give Martial Arts a disposable camera to document their day at the festival. This is a little project I am starting as I really love the authenticity these disposable cameras bring out of people. Martial Arts were the first band I gave a camera to and the photos they bought back were better than I thought they would have turned out. It felt unfiltered, little snapshots of their friendship, excitement throughout the night. I feel like there is something telling about what a band chooses to capture when no one is telling them what to take pictures of or without someone really telling them how to pose. This camera allowed the band to show their night from their perspective, showing off their friendship and identity and allowing us to get a glimpse of behind the scenes.
UNSHAKEABLE CHEMISTRY
It is really nice to see a band with the identity they have created. The song writing has confidence, the band arrangements have purpose and the chemistry between the band members is unmistakable. It does not feel like they are trying to imitate or conform to anyone’s views, they are carving their own road in the Manchester music scene. Martial Arts make music that feels alive in the room, that hits you first in the chest and lingers long after you have listened to them or have left the venue.
Martial Arts: Website