Words by Rowdy, Dan Rockwell, BetweenTheEars, and Rattle, graphic by Billabong Valley Bootleg

Field of Vision 2026 is right around the corner! This year's lineup somehow manages to improve on the excellent roster from last year's festivities. To get everyone primed for three days of music, magic, and community, the team at KGLW.net has compiled a new Nice V to break down the five acts (not counting Gizz, of course) that we are the most excited about catching, whether in person or from the couch (Heaps Keen willing!). Of course, every single act is worth your time this year; they were all hand-picked by King Gizzard, after all. More information about each performer can be found in this year's Tour Guide as well as in our special Field of Vision Zine. Visit our Forum to discuss the acts you're looking forward to, and keep an eye on that same space for real-time discussion as the weekend unfolds.

Angine de Poitrine (by Rowdy) — Friday August 14, 5:30-6:10pm (Main Stage)

If there is any band at Field of Vision that doesn’t need a write-up, it’s Angine de Poitrine. It was Feb 5th 2026, not long ago at all, that a live video session of this alien duo was posted to YouTube by KEXP and millions of people suddenly knew where the heck Montreal was on a map. It isn’t often in the modern era of the internet that things go “viral” but being unc or whatever, Angine de Poitrine has been the closest thing I remember to this bygone age. The band has popped up at my weekly disc golf league and even my mom asked if I had seen those “polka dot guys."

I did indeed get to see the polka dot beings at one of their album launch parties in Montreal. The crowd was full of energy, animated, and friendly as heck: things I see in large amounts at Gizz shows. With how absurd the world is, I think people are fully leaning into the bit and just sending it, just like Klek and Khn (pronounced “kin”) push the absurd at every show. Dance, laugh, and bask in the absolute absurdity and you might leave feeling enlightened or, more likely, even more confused about the band.

Angine de Poitrine are definitely a live band first, one that excels when given room to breathe and a crowd who wants to play along. The looping has so much more energy live when things can get louder and more alive than on a produced album. I think it takes an understanding of this and the absolute absurdity of the band to get the full effect. So it isn’t a live session, but the below interview is fairly essential viewing for understanding the band beyond the music. Personally, I think not understanding French enhances the experience.

See them also for their technical playing reminiscent of the best compositions of Polygondwanaland (odd time signatures and prog beats) and the sound of Gizz’s microtonal music. The band has come a long way since their former projects and even the start of Angine de Poitrine, but you can easily catch up with their live catalogue in listens of Vol. I and Vol. II. I would certainly listen to the live KEXP session that started it all for a lot of new fans, as this is still one of the best captured live sessions. See also this live audience recording from before their explosion.

Primitive Ring (by Dan Rockwell) — Friday August 14, 3:00-3:40pm (The Castle Stage)

The Los Angeles, CA based band, Primitive Ring, consists of Bert Hoover (bass/vocals), Jon Modaff (drums), and Charles Moothart (guitar/vocals). The group formed in 2024 as a power trio who have all honed their skills in the LA garage rock scene. Bert Hoover has been in Hooveriii and GROOP. Jon Modaff has been in Frankie and the Witch Fingers and Hooveriii. Charles Moothart has been in the Freedom Band, Fuzz, GØGGS, and CFM.

According to the band’s bio on the Greenway Records website, “Primitive Ring started when the three members realized their worlds were organically converging. Seeking a new well to pitch the mental bucket in search of creative fluidity, the choice became obvious: start a new band”, and I am so glad that they did. Primitive Ring has been on consistent rotation in the Rockwell household since their self-titled LP was released on May 15th, 2026. Prior to the LP release the band had put out four 7” records all on four different labels (Greenway, In the Red, Reverberation Appreciation, Society, and Fuzz Club UK).

I live in a fairly small town in Oregon. I often have to travel over an hour to find the live music experiences I desire. It is exceedingly rare that I am able to ride my bike to a show. You can try to imagine how absolutely, positively, floored I was when I read on Primitive Ring’s Instagram story that they had a show in my town, at a venue less than two miles from my house. I nearly fainted. I immediately started texting everyone I knew that would enjoy their music and tried to rally as many people to the show so that this awesome band was not playing to an empty small town bar. I was moderately successful and was able to personally bring another five people to the show. Their small town show was well-attended and featured an encore that consisted of their live debut “Fire and Brimstone."

The chemistry and energy that this trio brings to the stage is larger than the sum of the parts. Moothart’s guitar playing is polished and delivers all of the piercing melodies that your soul needs. Hoover’s fuzz-filled bass playing is a thing of wonder. How does something sound so clear and fuzzy at the same time? Modaff’s drums are powerful, driving, and central to the group’s primal appeal.

If you are at Field of Vision I highly recommend that you do not miss the set(s) that Primitive Ring will perform. You will likely find me as close to the front of the stage as possible, flailing around, and rocking the F out.

Primitive Ring, 4/18/26 in Denver, CO:

Primitive Ring, 5/31/26 in Corvallis, OR:

Spacemoth (by Dan Rockwell) — Sunday Aug 16, 12:00-12:40pm (The Castle Stage)

Spacemoth is the brainchild of Maryam Qudus, a California based artist. Their latest album, titled Inward Eye, is a blissful psychedelic pop omnibus. The album is light and refreshing and comes at a time where all of us need a little bit of that in our lives.

The topics that are explored in the tracks are not shallow. There is a delightful balance between existential crisis and pure pop fluffiness that keeps me coming back for each relisten. The first track “Do We Exist?” somehow makes me feel uplifted and energized while the lyrics are questioning whether we are even real to begin with. Qudus is a talented artist that I may not have found if they were not booked for Field of Vision. I am so thrilled that the stars aligned and helped me find this band right before they released their second album.

When I looked back at my July 2026 streaming app stats, it showed me that my top band streamed in July was Spacemoth, with 568 minutes listened. Second in that list was King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard with 241 minutes. So it is with a well-informed ear that I HIGHLY recommend that everyone does not miss the Spacemoth set at Field of Vision.

Jay Weinberg’s Drum Clinic (by BetweenTheEars) — Sunday August 16, 2:00-3:00pm (The Castle Stage)

It may seem a bit counterintuitive that the piece of programming I’m most curious to catch isn’t even a band and may not even feature any song performances at all. But that’s the beauty of festivals: there’s always something you go into with zero expectations and get pleasantly surprised by, and I think Jay Weinberg’s Drum Clinic has the potential to be one of those things at Field of Vision.

It’s easy to focus on the finished product like a studio album or a live show. But behind every song, every earworm, and every live performance are countless hours spent by a musician and their bandmates exercising their creative powers to write, record, and perform a song. Many musicians are private about their creative process, preferring to let the music speak for itself. Or, when they do talk about their processes, it is technical and targeted towards other musicians rather than the fans.

Jay Weinberg’s Drum Clinic offers a rare opportunity for a glimpse behind the curtain into the creative process and life of a professional musician and drummer. How does he think through creative decisions? What inspired his style and how did he develop his own personal style? How do you take a creative idea and hone it into a drum part? What technical techniques and fundamentals are important to him? What has he learned over the course of his career about collaborating with bandmates? What advice would he give to someone starting their first band? How does he keep the creative flame burning after decades in the music industry?

While the format of the clinic is unknown – perhaps there will be some demonstration, or a lesson, some audience Q&A, or some stories? – I’m looking forward to experiencing whatever Jay has in store for us. Hope to see you there!

W.I.T.C.H. (by Rattle) — Saturday August 15, 5:30-6:10 (Main Stage) and 11:30pm-12:10am (The Castle Stage)

When Zamrock legends W.I.T.C.H. toured North America in 2025, I was unable to make any of their dates, and with the principle members based in various parts of Europe, I was unsure when my next chance would be (if there would indeed be a next chance). So when this year's Field of Vision lineup was released, I nearly fell off my chair when I saw W.I.T.C.H. listed among the performers.

If you haven't heard W.I.T.C.H. (the band name is an acronym: "We Intend To Cause Havoc"), you'll want to rectify that situation, ASAP. The most widely known practitioners of the Zamrock subgenre, the music of W.I.T.C.H. is one part Afrobeat and one part early Black Sabbath and Blue Cheer with a dash of Sly Stone thrown in. Shake lightly with fuzz tones and you've got the quintessence of the Zamrock sound. There's nothing else quite like it, and once you get a taste, you'll be thirsty for more.

The story of W.I.T.C.H. is one of redemption. After a string of steady albums between '72 and '77 (the mega-fuzz of Lazy Bones!! and the psych-folk-prog of Lukombo Vibes are this listener's recommendations) and two releases in the '80s, the band ceased activity.

In the early 2010s the group was revived, with original lead vocalist Emmanuel "Jagari" Chanda and a group of stellar musicians hitting the studio and the road. (Their KEXP session from '25 is a great showcase of their current sound.)

Field of Vision '26 is your chance to catch a band with a global influence enjoying a rare second act. W.I.T.C.H. is playing two sets so be sure to catch at least one. And if you're interested in more Zamrock, check out Ricky Ililonga, Ngozi Family, Chrissy Zebby Tembo, Dr. Footswitch, and Salty Dog among others. I also recommend the book Welcome to Zamrock! How Zambia's Liberation Led To A Rock Revolution, Vol. 1 (1972-1977) for an in-depth cultural history of the music's inception and evolution.