A few weeks back, Birmingham’s Supersonic festival announced that a reformed Swans would headline their 2010 edition.

Sporting Michael Gira, Norman Westberg, Christoph Hahn, Phil Puelo, Thor Harris and Chris Pravidca in their current formation, Swans will apparently be “performing songs from their early brutal, growling noise albums, with an emphasis on the most heavy Swans material and extreme volume levels that they have become most infamous for”, as well as material from the new Swans album which is due out later this year.

Well today a host of new acts have been announced. Most appealing to FACT’s ears is Melt-Banana, the Japanese grindcore act who are simply incredible live. Free jazz mavericks Jailbreak will be playing with Chris Corsano and Heather Leigh, while James Blackshaw brings his billion-string guitar to proceedings.

Also announced are Lichens, Bong, Gnod, Voice of the Seven Thunders, Necro, Death Mort, Gnaw, Eagle Twin and Blue Sabbath Black Fiji. Supersonic runs from October 22-24, and tickets are already on sale.

Photo by Pete Ashton