Through The Lens: Bell Witch / Fuoco Fatuo @ The Bread Shed, Manchester, 17th August 2023

few weeks back, yes, I admit, I’m not the quickest at sorting these posts out, I headed down to The Bread Shed in Manchester’s city centre for a Tapestry Promotions night of heavy doom and blackened gloom featuring Seattle’s bass and drum duo Bell Witch with support from Varese, Italy’s demonic Fuoco Fatuo.

To a fairly packed venue, both bands, although a complete juxtaposition in sound and vision, yet at the same time complimented each other, played stellar sets as Fuoco Fatuo impressed me with their blackened death and doom theatrics, but the night for me was all about Bell Witch.

Dylan Desmond with his seven-string bass and a multitude of FX pedals, along with Jesse Shreibman on drums and keyboards, that he expertly triggered using foot pedals, mesmerised the crowd as they played a cut from their current, and it has to be said, awesome album Future’s Shadow Part 1: The Clandestine Gate that’s out now Profound Lore Records.

I was lucky enough to catch them when they played a surprise set on the main stage at this year’s Roadburn, and although it was astonishing to witness, a smaller, more intimate venue, added an extra element. It’s also quite amazing to see how far Bell Witch have come since The Shaman’s involvement in booking their first UK tour back in 2013 with Samothrace, who at the time, Dylan also played bass for.

Anyway, enough waffle and time to check out the photos from this incredible night below…

Bell Witch

Fuoco Fatuo

Photos by: Lee Edwards