Philly’s Second Annual Dual Pathways Festival Refines Sound & Setting With lespecial, Consider the Source & More (FESTIVAL REVIEW)

There can be artistry in constructing an evening of music, similar to how a band might approach building a setlist, where the structure of the night functions as a conductor directing an orchestra. This premise underlies Dual Pathways, a Philly festival that held its second annual iteration on Saturday, May 17th. It touted more than just a stacked bill: Dual Pathways presented five hours of (mostly) continuous music across two stages. The idea is to carry the audience along a persistent current, transitioning seamlessly from one performance to the next, each act explicitly chosen to complement the last. Underground Arts, going strong for a decade-plus as an inclusive artistic hub, was ideally suited to host the show, offering a two-room layout that proved the ideal crucible for this musical alchemy. 

Philly’s own Qway kicked off the night in the smaller of the two “Black Box Rooms.” The trio immediately drew in the crowd with a set of progressive psychedelia, with guitarist Maximus Feeman adding a Middle Eastern vibe by playing a bağlama in addition to his guitar and Moog. Their set led immediately into the first in the “Main Room,” where Dizgo wasted no time and got the room dancing immediately with their proprietary blend of psychedelic jamtronica and an impressive light show that painted the room in dynamic shapes and hues, perfectly in sync with their meandering, groove-driven jams. They treated the audience to a spot-on cover of King Gizzard’s “Kepler-22b,” a nod that resonated deeply with the increasingly packed and grooving crowd. Brooklyn-based quartet Space Bacon took the stage next in the Black Box Room. It offered a set that ran the gamut from prog rock to pop punk, with plenty of untz and guitar shreddery, including an epic sit in from the Disco BiscuitsJon Barber, who brought his Strat and added an unmistakable element of psychedelic exploration to “Clownslayer,” one of the band’s extra greasy originals. 

Next up in the Main Room was Consider the Source. This virtuosic instrumental trio presented an almost ineffable fusion of Middle Eastern metal, outer space prog, and sci-fi math rock. Their latest LP, 2024’s The Stare, constituted the bulk of their set, delivered in a full sensory assault. Gabe Marin, wielding his signature double-neck guitar — one fretted, one fretless — unleashed a torrent of microtonal wizardry. Paired with bassist John Ferrara’s two-handed tapping technique and drummer Jeff Mann’s intricate polyrhythms, the group created a maelstrom of sound as complex as it was utterly compelling. The crowd, including many clearly devoted fans, hung on every impossibly syncopated beat and mind-bending scale, reacting in reverence to the band’s cohesion and the thematic depth of their work.

Following an atmospheric Black Box Room DJ set by local producer Jewelssea, Connecticut’s lespecial took the stage in the Main Room for a set that built on all that had been presented to that point throughout the night. Hailed as bringing a “heavy future groove” aesthetic, they seized control immediately, bringing a darker, more intense counterpoint to what had come before. Their music — equal parts metal and electronica, often code-switching multiple times within a given tune — brought forth a visceral reaction that got the room moshing. Heavy tom fills thundered, effects-drenched guitars sliced through the mix, and a palpable energy surged from the stage into the audience, who were with them from the jump. They teased the Grateful Dead’s “Shakedown Street,” busted out some Aesop Rock, and put their own twist on a cover of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman,” offering both the original guitar-driven metal and their own synth-driven dance version. lespecial embodies the modern power trio, fusing double kick drums with 808s and a keen sense for dramatic, impactful live sound. Finally, legendary hip hop producer Blockhead closed the night.

So, did Dual Pathways achieve its ambitious goal of an unbroken, immersive musical journey? For the most part, emphatically yes. The flow was smooth, the energy sustained, and the value undeniable – a killer lineup for a remarkably accessible price. This felt like a confident step forward for what is becoming a cherished fixture in Philadelphia’s ever-evolving scene. Dual Pathways isn’t just offering a series of concerts; it’s cultivating an experience, a unique rhythm for the city’s most adventurous listeners who can look forward to following the pathways to wherever they lead.

Photos by AJ Kinney @independentphilly and Billy Murray

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