An anniversary edition of Wild Bread Fest—celebrating ten years since the first show organised by Wild Bread Booking—is a return to the event’s 2021 format: one day, 100% emo.

From across the western border, Hippie Trim will come to Wrocław. The North Rhine-Westphalia five-piece, formed in 2019 by members of the band Earl Grey, plays melodic hardcore with Midwest emo riffs, 00s pop punk catchiness, influences from contemporary post-hardcore in the vein of Drug Church and a healthy dose of positive energy. They debuted in 2019 with the album Cult; 2022 saw the release of their second and so far most recent album What Consumes Me. Next up on the bill is Esazlesa, a post-hardcore four-piece from the Czech Republic, formed in 2009 by former members of the band Kmen. Their approach to the genre combines post-rock subtlety, darkness and extended guitar-laden compositions with emotional lyrics in Czech; their influences include modern post-hardcore like Cult of Luna alongside old-school screamo like Shotmaker or Fingerprint. They debuted in 2010 with the EP Vyhlídky a konce, and have since released a split with Five Seconds to Leave, another EP and their first full-length album, 2017's Společnost psů.

The Polish part of the bill opens with We Watch Clouds, who are steadily cementing their position as one of the most interesting bands in the country’s post-hardcore scene. With a minimal, mathematical take on the genre, their sound pushes into boundaries of noise and tension in a controlled and deliberate way, evoking classic 1990s screamo bands like Orchid and Saetia; at the same time, We Watch Clouds deftly subvert hardcore conventions, with their ascetic live shows featuring the band in all-white outfits and gathered around a standing lamp. Largely due to their reputation as an extraordinary live band, they have developed something of a cult following in the Polish screamo scene. Next up—Lochy i Smoki. Formed in Szczecin in 2012, they lean towards the melodic, pop-punkish side of emo, with a sizeable dose of nostalgia. They debuted in 2015 with a self-titled EP; 2022 saw the release of their first full-length album Mogłem zostać w domu i grać w gry (I Could've Stayed Home and Played Video Games). Like We Watch Clouds, they are also currently signed to Peleton.

The bill closes with two debuting local acts. The first is Cafetrauma, a Wrocław band combining catchy alternative rock with rap, formed as a more guitar-driven offshoot of the hip-hop project Skowyr Multirecydywa i Kubuś. Associated with the city's metalcore scene, the musicians made their debut as Cafetrauma in 2023 with the single Chyba znam na to lek (Ej many). The second act is Soaked, who promise to deliver a journey to the origins of emo, full of melody and positive vibes.

Festivals in Wrocław

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