Manchester Psych Fest storms back onto Oxford Road this August with over 60 acts. Warmduscher’s Clams Baker Jr. tells us what’s in store.

Manchester Psych Fest returns this August with another wildly packed lineup of psych-infused sound, taking over stages up, down, and around the Corridor. Joining GOAT and Nadine Shah at the top of the bill are cult favourites Warmduscher, ready to bring their signature chaos to what promises to be another unforgettable edition of the city’s best venue-based festival. We caught up with frontman Clams Baker Jr., who took a break from designing window displays for Ralph Lauren in a West London warehouse to talk touring, skateparks, and being labelled a party band.

“If I have time off from gigging, luckily, I can kind of come and go,” he says of the day job, though it’s something there’s increasingly less time for. “We did a US tour in February, which was amazing, a Record Store Day thing for Dash The Henge in London, a War Child fundraiser, then The Great Escape. Now a bit of rest. Then it kicks off again.”

“So yeah, my head’s all over the fucking place!”

Warmduscher have always resisted neat categorisation, crafting a sound stitched from wildly diverse influences. Last year’s Too Cold to Hold, their fifth and arguably best record, adds yet more texture, throwing in new ideas like South African Gqom. Whatever it is, it works, and it’s best experienced live.

“The new songs are going across great,” Clams enthuses. “Especially ‘Cleopatras’, I’d say that’s one of my favourites. It’s weird, because before we made it, I didn’t know how it was going to go over live.”

That willingness to experiment is part of the band’s DNA. “I find it’s pretty seamless. It’s funny because when we first started, I remember one writer saying something like, ‘I don’t know how to take them, it’s like listening to a mixtape,’ but we persevered. This is now the fifth album, and we can flow into different genres. There are so many different influences coming from each of us. When we get together and start playing, it becomes its own sound.”

We’re not the first to label Warmduscher a “party band.” Nevertheless, Clams squirms slightly at the term. It’s a reputation born of their wild live shows, and one that stems more from the surface-level danceability of their songs than from the actual subject matter of Clams’ lyrics.

“We are a party band,” he concedes. “It is true. But the nature of what I do and what you’re picking up on is absolutely right. I like to celebrate the misfits! I came from a very small town. I never thought I’d be a musician, but I thought I could work in music. That trip took me to New York via Seattle, via Cape Cod.

“I always came across these stories from the music industry and nightclubs. My sister lived in New York in the 80s and was a wild character. I was influenced by all these people with colourful backstories. I’m talking about stuff that’s a little bit edgy. It’s not necessarily fun. That’s always what’s inspired me. And nine times out of ten, those stories are not love stories, they’re character pieces. It’s kind of tragedy, you know? But in a good way. So I celebrate that. I celebrate that aspect of life. I celebrate street culture, nightclub culture, mystic culture.”

“I love the city of Manchester. It reminds me of New York… YES have been with us since day one. We owe them a ton.”

This celebration of subculture is exactly what makes Warmduscher such a compelling band. Their return to Manchester Psych Fest this summer promises to be just as brilliant as their 2022 set at The Ritz. By the time they arrived onstage that night, audiences had filled the venue since midday and the place was melting.

“When you get labelled a party band, promoters have you in the later slot. People are sweating all day long, everyone’s tired, but we try to put in a hundred and ten percent every time.”

That they did.

And when we let slip that they’re set to headline the Projekts Skatepark stage — the outdoor-but-sheltered space under the Mancunian Way that became a fan favourite last year with wild sets from Fat Dog and Lambrini Girls — Clams lights up.

“Really!? I didn’t know this. No way! Ahh yes! Our drummer Bleucifer is a fucking great skateboarder. I’m psyched. I always wanted to play the one in New York. We tried to put something together at a skatepark in London, but it didn’t work out.”

Clams isn’t the only one excited about this year’s festival. Warmduscher top a stacked 2025 bill that also features The Moonlandingz, Deadletter, George Clanton, The Bug Club, Gong, Chastity Belt and W.H. Lung. More than 80 artists will play across the day, and it’s well worth digging deeper into the lineup — we recommend checking out Crygoseyer, Slow Fiction, The Orchestra (for Now), Sex Week, Dutch Interior, and Manchester’s own Dove Ellis.

The festival has grown dramatically, bringing thousands of gig-goers into the city and becoming an important date for many of Manchester’s grassroots venues, which are packed out all day.

“These venues are essential,” says Clams. “That’s how everyone comes up — unless you’re already picked to be massive by a major label or whatever. But if you’re someone like us, who started as a DIY band, small venues like these are essential. If you don’t have them, things are going to get worse. It’s so hard as a musician.”

“These venues are essential… If you don’t have them, things are going to get worse. It’s so hard as a musician.”

“For people like us who’ve played the game, we’ve played in front of 15,000 people, we’ve played in front of one person. We’ve played the main stages, but we’ll go back to grassroots venues — you can give your fans something back, offer cheaper tickets, a more intimate environment, and help out the venues. It’s essential, man. I don’t know any band that started without a grassroots venue.”

Manchester has been an important city for Warmduscher. “I love the city of Manchester. It reminds me of New York,” he says. “Marc Riley really championed us. I love The Pink Room (YES) — they’ve been with us since day one. We owe them a ton.”

As for what’s next? “We’re starting on album six. Touring through France, Germany, Poland, Lithuania… we’re flat out. Then Green Man, Wide Awake, and Manchester Psych Fest. We’ll tour Too Cold to Hold until the next one’s ready. Hopefully next year.”

“I’m looking forward to Psych Fest, August 30th at the skatepark,” Clams signs off. “Hopefully old Bleu doesn’t break his neck. We better bring back up!”

Book tickets for Manchester Psych Fest here…

Summer Zine Download Summer Zine This article was first published in the Summer Edition of the Oxford Road Corridor Zine which is out now—pick up a copy around town or download it here.