Emerging from the muddy landscapes of Northern England, Smote is the brainchild of multi-instrumentalist Daniel Foggin. What started as a solo project has evolved into a formidable live band, blending ancient folk traditions with crushing drone, heavy psychedelia and hypnotic repetition. Think Earth and Om getting lost in some long-forgotten pagan ritual.

On their latest album, Songs From The Free House (2025), Smote dig even deeper into the dirt. Inspired by local folklore, nature and Foggin’s everyday work as a landscape gardener, the record combines thunderous amplification, eerie chants and droning electronics into something both ancient and otherworldly.

Having already made their mark at festivals like Roadburn and Le Guess Who?, Smote bring their immersive, slow-burning sonic rituals to VERA. Expect towering walls of sound, relentless repetition and a seriously heavy trip into the unknown.

Smote | bandcamp