Civil Service - News

CIVIL SERVICE ANNOUNCE THEIR FIRST ASIA DATE AT CAN FESTIVAL - 17th - 19th APRIL 2026!

Civil Service are delighted to have been announced for CAN festival line-up for April 2026.
From 10 minute improv jam sessions above a disused discount clothes store in Cheetham Hill; to gracing an internationally renowned festival stage - our appearance at CAN festival is a dream come true.We are marking the occasion alongside And So I Watch You From Afar (for the third time!) as well as joining some of the top tier of post-rock royalty in Bruit<, EF, Ranges and Goodbye, Kings - as well as some household names in The Jesus and Mary Chain, Penguin Cafe & Eivor.We're over the moon!CAN FESTIVAL 2026 TICKETS HERE!

CIVIL SERVICE ANNOUNCE THEIR FIRST APPEARANCE AT ARCTANGENT FESTIVAL - 19th - 22nd AUGUST 2026!

Civil Service are delighted to have been brought onto the ArcTanGent line-up for 2026.
Joining some immense headliners in SIkth, Chelsea Wolfe, Primus and Cult of Luna & Julie Christmas, it's a particular honour to be heading back to where the origins of Civil Service surfaced.We are billed amongst a number of previous acts we've shared a stage with, including Svalbard, Dimscua, Giant Walker, The Grey & Wildernesses, as well as joining our good friends and collaborators L.O.E. -&- Overhead, the Albatross.It's going to be special.ARCTANGET 2026 TICKETS HERE!

CIVIL SERVICE ANNOUNCE THEIR FIRST EUROPEAN FESTIVAL APPEARANCE - AT THE INAUGURAL 5NDREAS POSTROCK-FESTIVAL - 27th & 28th NOVEMBER 2026!

Civil Service announce their first European show and first European festival - 5NDREAS POSTROCK Festival, in Munich, Germany - which takes place on 27th & 28th November 2026.We've had the pleasure of working with Andreas across a number of video debuts; we've enjoyed his company online - & - in person on enough occasions to know that he's going to throw one heck of a birthday party!
5NDREAS POSTROCK Festival takes place at Feierwerk, Munich - across two days - and will feature 12 bands spanning the genre in style.
Civil Service are the first band announced, and we look forward to seeing what spectacular acts we will be sharing a stage with.We cannot wait!5NDREAS POSTROCK FESTIVAL TICKETS HERE!

CIVIL SERVICE ANNOUNCE JUNE / JULY TOUR DATES WITH MILLION MOONS
[LONDON 26th JUNE / LEEDS 27th JUNE / MANCHESTER 4th JULY]

Civil Service return to London, Leeds & Manchester on tour with friends and labelmates Million Moons, in support of their 3rd album 'You Be Good, I love you".The London date will see the pair joined by Wildernesses, following the release of their critically acclaimed debut Growth, promoted by the legendary Portals.The Leeds date is in the safe hands of Bad Owl.
The Manchester date is being promoted by Servants /// Serpents, and sees Liverpool legends Kusanagi join the bill.Million Moons Tickets here!

CIVIL SERVICE ANNOUNCE THEIR NEW ALBUM - DARK/// - TO BE RELEASED ON 21st NOVEMBER 2025 on RIPCORD RECORDS / A CHEERY WAVE RECORDS

It is with immense pride that we announce our 2nd album, DARK/// - sister album to 2024's debut ///LIGHT. DARK/// will be released across various formats and territories on November 21st 2025 - stay tuned for official missives from the desk of your Civil Service.

CIVIL SERVICE ANNOUNCE OUR DEBUT ALBUM '/// LIGHT' - Out 4th October 2024 (pre-order now)

"A single speck in an ocean of darkness, we advanced towards the radiance, oblivious to what would be found there; a sea of static, echo and decay.
For a brief moment there was meaning and connection.
But then it fell silent..."
The industry's worst kept secret is out, our album LIGHT is releasing on October 4th on @weareripcord! Pre-orders for digital and CD are up now on their Bandcamp with the song 'Their Lines Of Communication, Severed' available to stream now.
https://ripcordrecords.bandcamp.com/album/light
We recorded this last year with the amazing Dave Sanderson [65daysofstatic / Gilmore Trail / Haus Horo] in Sheffield and could not be happier with how it has turned out. He has done a fantastic job of pushing us and managing all the layers we've slapped on.
A huge thanks goes out to Caroline Cawley from two of our favourite bands Dystopian Future Movies and Church of the Cosmic Skull for providing beautiful narration throughout. Also PR.Trail for getting this release across the line and helping us with promotion.
We can't wait for you to hear this record, by far our most ambitious work yet, and we hope you enjoy the single.
Love,
Civil Service

Civil Service - Listen

The band's sophomore album, DARK/// is available digitally on vinyl, Special edition and Standard Edition CD now, via Bandcamp (A Cheery Wave, Ripcord Records and Civil Service).
Click on the images to listen and get your copy now

The band's debut album, ///Light is available digitally and CD now, via Bandcamp.
Click on the images to listen and get your copy now

The band's first EP, Life///Death is available now digitally and on cd, on bandcamp. Click on the images to listen and get your copy now

listen to all of the band's current releases on bandcamp. Support us now and join the Civil Service community:

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BLOG POSTS

A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF A POST ROCK BAND IN CHINA

Civil Service were afforded a rare honour; opening this year’s CAN post-rock festival, in Zhoushan, China.In the instrumental world, we’re beginning to make in-roads into the established UK scene; performing at the 2025 edition of Strangeforms, as well as newer events like Celestial Diadem, and the inaugural Ripcord Records Fest.
In August, we’re looking forward to gracing ArcTanGent for the first time; our first European appearance is scheduled at 5NDREAS post rock festival in Munich, in November.
By any metric, we are not at the level to be performing in China, but CAN festival, now in its 5th edition, is built differently.Armed with knowledge from our friends across the post rock world, we were aware that CAN’s base desire is to bring exciting post rock from across the globe together to perform in China. We had an idea of what to expect, but expectations are built up to be shattered - and our experiences in Zhoushan would certainly achieve that.Here’s a week in the life of a UK post rock band performing in China.

TUESDAY (14.04) -
It's the night before departure. The band WhatsApp is awash with reminders, hopes, fears and a palpable sense of excitement.
Guitarist and founding Civil Servant Francis [Atkinson], by the grace of the schedulers of Mancunian school half-terms, has been on the ground in China for a week.
We're about to be reunited in Shanghai airport, but between then and now, a 10-&-a-half hour flight, customs, checking-in flight cases, divergent train routes and one last night with family and home comforts.Civil Service - our little ramshackle post-rock outfit - are departing from Manchester Airport, to fly 5,800 miles, to perform our biggest show to date (perhaps our biggest ever).We have been a fortunate band since COVID lockdowns lifted.
We've had the pleasure of touring with some of the best (and nicest) bands in the Irish, British and American post rock and metal scenes.
But, like many of our peers, we struggle with imposter syndrome - and we set off with the air of a group who'd won the post-rock lottery, by being invited to perform at one of the growing pillars of our musical world.WEDNESDAY (15.04) -
After too-few hours of sleep, it's the first early morning train to Manchester Airport.
Hefty fees are forked over to check equipment. Civil Service travel light, but anything we can't live without is coming with.
There's just time for Vimto-compote french toast and a pint in the terminal - and we finally see a test print of a special t-shirt run through our Chinese label partners Tomato Records. We are baffled by the scale and efficiency of a country where we can approve a t-shirt run and collect it from the hotel when we arrive - which bizarrely is today, their time!
We discussed committing to burning through and sleeping on the plane, to set ourselves to Chinese time. The experienced travellers heading home clearly have this plan and succeed. For the most part, we do not; Salt Path was an enjoyable watch, whatever Marvel drivel was served up was not - low-key opinion, there are no good Marvel films. Period.THURSDAY (16.04) -
Bleary eyed and running on fumes, we arrive in Shanghai.
Other than a sizable queue and a pricey local sim card, the airport is negotiated with ease.
We are cliche rock stars, greeted by our volunteer artist reps Léna and Sam, festival branded airport “welcome” placard in hand, accompanied by a wild guitarist Fran.

We are sharing a large bus with Italian post rock maestros Goodbye, Kings.
They are wonderful company, particularly as they're joined by post rock royalty; Federico from Dunk! pressing, who is managing them on this trip (he has a job on, there are 13 of them! [Come allevare gatti]).
There's a warm ambient hum a few notches higher than spring in Britain; the Italians remind us this is normal for them, but the grey skies and heavy fog are much more Mancunion.The sense of scale and ambition of China is evident as we travel across the last of the many bridges linking mainland China with Zhoushan Island, home of CAN festival.
They are producing a significant new high-speed rail link between Zhoushan and neighbouring transport hub Ningbo; a project of greater scale than the UKs ill-fated HS2, built at a fraction of the cost and in barely 8 years, with extensive underwater sections - and mountainous terrain proving no problem for a nation with ambition.
There's no denying that there is more in China; more people, more infrastructure, more everything - but such is the scale of the country, there is more space too - and we are immediately aware that there is a side we are unfamiliar with - it's green. Very very green. Nature is everywhere. And it's breathtaking.

We arrive at our accommodation, which before now has been impossible to even Google, such are the limitations of western internet and the rapid scale of expansion.
It transpires that we are staying on a resort connected to a waterpark (sadly off-season), on the coast of the south-eastern island.
A spectacular setting and a modern, exquisite space. It's the nicest hotel the band has ever stayed in - and we are grateful to be housed amongst all the acts, friends old and new.

We have a few hours before soundcheck; after a brief sleep for young bassist Charlie (Adshead), we arise from our luxury digs and head down to reception before taking the beautiful scenic route to the festival site.

Set at the base of a horseshoe ring of mountains, the stage - reminiscent of the Leeds Festival mainstage of my youth, in scale and style - backs onto a nature reserve filled with hundreds of bellowing frogs, leading to a bamboo forest and beautiful stretch of beach along a furiously atmospheric, blustery cove.

We watch the last knockings of Goodbye, Kings soundcheck, before setting ourselves up.
We have 2 hours, as a gigantic clock counting down - centre stage - reminds us.
UK promoters will tell you that Civil Service are nothing if not efficient and punctual - so we think it's an exceptional opportunity to set up and play through tomorrow's set, working and refining each element to perfection.
Alas, technical gremlins and communication issues waylay much of our 2 hours, and when we're finally set - after a further interlude for a brief monsoon - we just about have time to properly check 2 songs by ourselves and 2 songs with our special guests (more of that tomorrow).We return to the hotel and head out to dinner two minutes from its doors, before getting an early-ish night. Biggest of days tomorrow.

FRIDAY (17.04) -We convene for breakfast at 7:30 - the veggies amongst us struggled a bit to piece together a meal the night before, but no such trouble at the hotel, where we are well looked after.
We head to the concierge room, where our specially designed CAN t-shirts await us; thank you Tomato Records!.

10:15 - We resolve to walk the path along the seafront and it helps reset us following a whirlwind introduction to China. The calm, rippling coastline, the embrace of spectacular but not imposing mountain ranges, the distant woodlands, far off islands and penetrating mist, coupled with the nearby sprawl of plants is a perfect counterpoint to the ultramodern hotel resort, the slightly jaded waterpark and the ongoing developments in the middle distance.
We've had brief interactions with a host of the performing acts thus far, but it is evident that a few had similar thoughts. We pass Covet's Yvette Young on a Venetian style bridge across one of the many mini waterways - if that isn’t surreal enough, I will later see the pictures she was taking on Socials of that very moment, which we have from a different angle.
We return to the hotel, but not before bumping into the Ranges gang for a second time (having said hello at breakfast). We have both stocked up on Chinese red bull on their recommendation, something that they have also discussed on the Ranges Podcast; it seems everyone is feeling the strain of 35+ hours awake on planes, travelling and soundchecking.

11:45 - Our set time is 1pm, we nervously await our shuttle bus to the festival site - 20 minute scenic ride through back alleys to the winding mountain pass - punters are shortly going to be let in, and they have a headstart on us, which feeds my sense of dread.12:00 - We board our bus to the festival, but we are without the majority of the string section of Goodbye, Kings, who have spent the morning exploring the local town.
After a few frantic calls from the brass trio - we acquire our missing members and head into the site.12:30 - As openers we are afforded the luxury of setting up on stage as we arrive, which gives us the ability to re-line check ourselves, our brass and string accompaniments - before setting up camp in the wings to prepare for our walk on time.12:59 - We receive our countdown, we complete our pre-show ritual and our volunteer Sam hits the go button on our playback, it's show time.

13:00 - These Cities are Ruins, Liz Heaton (Midas Fall)'s spoken word poetry screams out from stage - largely built on backing track, the band take their places and I afford myself the only blunder of the day; my pack and wireless units have gone onto standby mode - after reactivating them, I subtly cut into my part a line or so late, no harm done.URBNDCY is next up; the quintessential Civil Service song, high octane, relentless, bouncy walls of noise - it's built for stages like this - and aside from Fran assaulting me with an overeager lunge with his guitar, we are away and feeling like we belong.She Would Never Retreat is next up; offering brief respite for a retune. it's evident that some of the settings have not been retained from soundcheck - the boys cope with a level of professionalism that would not have existed last year.

There's a natural Interlude between songs and Fran is straight to the sound desk to request a rebalance. The mix balance improves to a liveable level, but it is perhaps a lesson in acquiring a stage friend who can communicate your needs (particularly where language barriers exist), as we opt to push forward and not lose time or songs from the set. We use the need to fall back on Thom (Hamper)’s flawless drumming for cues as a great excuse to use his drum riser as a launchpad. We will outjump Zhoushan’s frogs if it’s the last thing we do!The Heurist is next as we welcome our first special guests - and first time performing with more than the 4 of us; Giulio, Tiziano and Francesco from Goodbye, Kings.
The immensely talented, classically trained trio of Trombone, Trumpet and Saxophone have had little over a week to listen to our jazziest, most free-form song, but they are not phased - and deliver spectacular soaring additions to our little ditty.
I take the time to reflect on the positive crowd reaction; the area front of stage continues to fill out as late arrivals pile in, but it's comfortably the biggest crowd we've played to - and that’s just those we can see from the stage, there is a large seated section obscured from view by a large video screen. ArcTanGent will have to go some in August to match the sense of scale.
We thank one Italian trio to welcome another.

An Infant Wave In A Savage Ocean will be augmented by live strings for the first time. The album version features the Severn Duo, but today, the roles are reprised and extended by Goodbye, Kings' Lucia, Francesca and Giulia. 2 of whom are the youngest performers at the festival in a close tie with some of Caroline (UK), but they are seizing the chance to fully experience everything on offer in China - and appear more thrilled to be playing with us, than we are to have them (if that's possible). The addition of live Cellos and violin immediately hits. The crowd is suddenly more active - it's a hit!

Turn Out the Light follows; it's usually our closer, so we feel like we're almost home. I can tell everyone is locked in to nailing this, so after making a quick joke (bidding fair well to our special guests with a "Goodbye, Strings") - we're into Fran's sauntering intro.
The heavy burst takes the audience by surprise and we've got a ripple of action. Not quite the circle-pits that will break out later in the weekend, but for a twinkly post rock band, it feels like people are getting it.

They Felt the Yawning Skyline, Meaningless is today's closer. We say our heartfelt thank yous to everyone involved; which Fran repeats in more-than-passable Chinese - which is met with murmurs of approval and astonishment. A big cheer. Six weeks of lessons have served our resident polyglot well.
We begin an additional slow build up and I invite the crowd to join us in our chanting chorus at the close of the song - I think it the message has gotten across - but time will tell.

We race through the song and when we eventually reach the chanting section, we are greeted by a smattering of singers-along, which grows with each repetition. It's unlikely that most of them have heard the song before, so to see so many people enjoying and participating in it is special.
With that, the set closes.
Just time for the obligatory crowd photo; Thom's drumsticks go in, my wristbands go in, the setlists go in -and with that, we depart the stage.13:57 - On time and under-budget, Civil Service are more Chinese high-speed rail network than Network Rail today.
Thom is being interviewed en route off stage. I've sent our volunteer to locate some missing cases, Sam gratefully succeeds. We are all packed down.14:10 - We get the call to head to the signing tent - but I am grabbed for an interview and attempt to provide interesting answers, but my mind is swimming from the performance.

14:20 - We arrive over at the signing tent. A modest queue is awaiting us, but it quickly turns the corner and disappears out of sight. We had been warned by friends and former performers that this would happen - but it is so alien to us. Another first in a day of firsts.
The trend appears to be for fans to buy all the vinyl variants on offer, so the first dozen or so present both colours of the vinyl to sign (mind blowing), before we are informed there’s no vinyl left for sale.
After that there's shirts, posters, tote bags signed and even a few gifts - we are signing for considerably longer than we'd anticipated - and as a result can only hear (but not see), any of the following act, Chinese favourites Fayzz, and we're nibbling into Human Tetris' time before we're back in our marquee.Rep Sam asks if we'd like to return to the hotel, but we have no intention of missing a stellar day of music - so after a quick change and pit-stop, we're out and about for Covet, who were due on next, alas, technical issues plague Yvette's pedalboard and the set is pushed back. They will return!
So it's Sylvaine next; a storming set by the Norwegian powerhouses; it is readily apparent the caliber of the show production is a level up from almost every line-up we've graced.Covet returns, and whilst the set is only half an hour, it's a superb showcase for the very best technical math rock. Yvette apologizes in English for her rusty Chinese, but the crowd aren't having it and it's clear there's a strong love for her conversing bilingually. Her talents know no bounds, it seems. We exchange messages with friends Million Moons back home; amongst them are big Covet fans - and their experiences in China, along with so many other friends, have been invaluable. It was nice to share a moment with them from 6000 miles away.It's been a busy and bewildering day already but we're going nowhere as next up are our new besties Goodbye, Kings.
I'd consider myself a festival veteran. Whether it be T in the Park, Leeds, Glastonbury, Summertime in the UK, the likes of Wrechter, Sizget, NoS and more across Europe or Riotfest in the US, I've been to enough to know great sound, a great show and a performance beyond what was expected; when a band has ‘it’.
As the first band in darkness Goodbye, Kings delivered the set of the weekend.
The 13 performers led creatively by Davide Romagnoli, and orchestrated by Giulio Amerigo, are exceptional. Transatlantic//Transiberian is already a firm favourite record amongst the crowd, but how it is translated to the grandest of stages and settings is remarkable.

CAN have boasted to all about their revolutionary world-first L-ISA 3D festival audio sound system, and it is pushed to its limits as the Italian ensemble see their variety of performers perfectly swept across the sky, fittingly matched by a projected aurora. There are comparisons to Explosions in the Sky and Godspeed You Black Emperor - but neither of the post rock Goliaths have delivered a live set this captivating or brimming with emotion when I have been in attendance. There is a chemistry to the performance that is spellbinding. Bellisimo.They have left everything on the stage...which they may regret, as they are rushed to a signing tent that simply cannot accommodate them all, so the neighbouring merch tent houses the remaining members.
It's not just the size of the band that is monstrous. Their queue stretches around the corner and beyond the festival entrance. They remain there for the entirety of the next bands' set and only finally depart during the headliner, an hour and a half later; and only after the festival organiser has plied them with an inordinate number of drinks. Again, befitting the scale and ambition of China, CAN has gone big, both on the star names, but also in finding the very best and backing them to deliver. Impressive by any measure.Blue Foundation are up next. The festival has no clashes, running at a mind-bending pace. 10-minute change overs and a growing hunger means that by the time we've relocated to another marquee, dropped bags, grabbed food and stopped to chat with many of the other performers along the backstage road, Blue Foundation are well into their work and are well received, if somewhat a little anticlimactic by way of comparison. But it is a well crafted and executed set - and their efforts are warmly appreciated.Eivor will close the evening. Rep Sam is a big gamer, so is surprised and thrilled to learn that the Faroese singer is inextricably linked to 2018's God of War series across the soundtrack.
She delivers in impressive fashion, but the fans have voted with their feet and it is clear who has been crowned Kings of CAN 2026 day 1.23:45 - Our ride offsite collects a few stragglers from other acts, but upon our return to the hotel, we head straight out to join our Goodbye, Kings friends in the restaurant bar of choice. Everyone ensures sore heads in the morning.
Our volunteer reps and the festival organiser join us; various tour plans are discussed. Fair to say Goodbye Kings will be greeting more Chinese audiences soon.
Giulio and I get lost in philosophical discussions perhaps too mundane for the others, but it's always nice to find out that - for 99.9% of the post rock scene, they are great musicians and great people in equal measure.02:45 - It is 19:45 in the UK, and for the first time I have a window of being awake at the same time as my family back home. It's only been 2 days, but it's already been tough and despite disguising it well, I need to take 5 after the call to collect myself before heading back to the group.03:25 - In true Italian style, one last shot of the local spirit of choice, in salute to Sam, Lena and CAN festival.03:31 - we enter the lobby of the hotel and stop to speak to a fellow in a Villagers shirt; I explain my love for Mr O'Brien. My new acquaintance is a sound engineer, and he's worked extensively with Villagers. I ask him to pass on our love and mention a shared connection (the artist Paul Holbrook-Phillips). It transpires he is tech’ing for NI legends And So I Watch You From Afar. Rory stops to chat with us on his way to sound check. We let them know they're in for a treat; I leave saying we'll see him for Breakfast, but I imagine the prospect of waking up before 10am is impossible for them, and tricky enough for us!We collectively reminisce about all of the amazing people we have met, the fans who stopped us. Those who showed up early. Those who queued - and missed a band - to have us sign something. Those who shared a drink, a photo opportunity or a gift with us. Those who joined our - now ever expanding - WeChat. Playing music is, at it’s simplest, connecting with people. We have never connected with an audience and a fanbase as that which we found at CAN and in China.

Truly the most bizarre, surreal, stupifying, delightful, disorientating, life-affirming day.
Whether this is the highest summit Civil Service ever grace, or whether this is the start of a new chapter, I'm grateful to have been fortunate enough to have truly lived it.SATURDAY (18.04) -
Having set the desire for a productive morning, the hopes are quickly extinguished by the consequences of the night before.
Blearly eyed, fed and watered, we join our Kings outside awaiting shuttles onto the festival site for day 2. There's just time to grab the tailend of hotel breakfast before meeting the fine folk of Penguin Cafe outside and discussing Jaws the musical (probably not coming to a theatre near you soon).Once back on site we catch the last of the local opener, before Indonesia's finest ambient post rock band In Inertia take to the stage. A beautiful, timely opportunity to take a breath and soak in where we are.
After their set, we take the opportunity to head to the beach. I never pass up an opportunity to walk in a new ocean - and we stop to play frisbee with fellow festival goers, before being gifted fruit vodka concealed in a squeezy radish paste container.
Turns out young folk at festivals resourcefully sneaking in booze is both universal and heartwarming (or maybe heartburning).A return walk through the bamboo forest and woodlands, before catching the last knockings of Russian outfit Powder, Go Away!
Having briefly spoken with them after, we share in lamenting the political position. They are a great band, who were well on the way to breaking through in Europe before world events meant they couldn’t even realistically tour their homeland anymore. CAN gave them the opportunity to reform and tour. Another positive effect of the far reaching selection process of the festival organisers.

It's Bruit ≤ next.
No band has delivered like Bruit have delivered in terms of consistent quality. The obvious pedigree of 3/5ths of the M83 live band is in no doubt, but they are growing into their role as new pioneers in post-rock. By the time they reach ArcTanGent, it will be fairly obvious that Mr Scarlett has wasted a lot of money on the top order, as the show will be stolen. Bruit are not only future headliners, they are currently laughably underbilled for the band that swept all others aside for 2025’s post-rock’s album of the year in most publications and public votes.
In particular, Clement's passion and the ferocity of Julien’s drums mark them out as the most emotionally resonant band on the bill.
They would humbly confess in the hotel afterwards, the surreal whirlwind of touring China with EF and the overwhelming reaction had been baffling to them and they felt completely lost. The feeling is mutual mes amis.Penguin Cafe have to follow that. Ouch.
But, thanks in no small part to the ringleading of Civil Servant Fran, who is down the front, teaching the Chinese crowd to Morris dance - they have one of the most energetic sets of the festival. They are humble and effusive, but really shone in the spring sunshine. You don’t have to know the catalogue to love it and that has clearly caught a lot of the crowd off-guard.
A perfect festival band.

Sweden’s EF have the sunset slot tonight and it’s the best fit for them.
They bring the best of a meticulous, impressive back catalogue to a knowledgeable audience. This is the culmination of their Chinese tour and there are tears on and off stage, including - I don’t mind admitting - from myself.
I found myself captivated and brought along by them as a live outfit in a way I have not been so furiously on record. I felt a surge of homesickness for a place I have not lived when hearing them perform; the Scandinavian blood in me yearns to see them on their home-soil and I hope one day that comes to pass.Heretoir are next, and - again - such is the unrelenting pace of everything at CAN, there is barely time to grab a delicious Chow Mien from a foodstall, chat with our volunteers about amazing festival experiences before Heretoir’s set is well underway. They deliver under the lights and the star-filled sky optimises their rise. One of the band was clad in Damnation clothing and it cannot be long before they are brought over to wow UK audiences with their brand of heavy.Underheadlining tonight are Caroline. The UK act are a left-turn even for CAN; blending a kind of freeform folk with mellow rock that, whilst not out of place, is maybe out of step with the pace of proceedings. They are exceptionally talented and pique curiosity throughout, and their unique stage-play is warmly appreciated, but towards the end of their set it is perhaps increasingly transparent that the audience is swelling for tonight’s headline act.

The lights are down low, the mood has been set. Two lengthy intro songs blare out into the crisp Zhoushan night air. The mountain range behind is nothing more than a silhouette, such is the pitch-black surroundings. A sea of stars overhead, a hum of anticipation from the audience drowning out the nature reserve frog-pound - the |/| logo appears, it’s And So I Watch You From Afar!Joined by guest guitarist Adam tonight in Niall’s absence, the band opt for an expanded version of ATG 2024s ‘best of’ set, augmented by rarities and older hits that all of the members are more familiar with.

Aimee on lights has a hell of a job on; the visuals, stage-lights and pyro are production levels immeasurably higher than our last two outings with ASIWYFA (with absolutely no shade cast on StrangeForms at Brudenell, or Parish in Huddersfield) - but this is one of the world’s premiere post rock bands performing on its biggest stage. It’s captivating, it’s moving, it’s inspiring - a perfect musical end to our bewildering adventure.

We take the ‘party bus’ - featuring members of most of the bands performing CAN that day - back to the hotel resort. Sean (Oliver) who helps organise Post- Festival in Indianapolis (US), has posted my ASIWYFA tattoo, he very sweetly passes me a branded plectrum and a setlist, complete with pyro burn. I remain exceptionally grateful.

Civil Servant Fran is whisked away to the airport, the realities of returning to the classroom for 8am Monday hit home.
The rest of Civil Service bar myself head out to the local restaurant bar again with EF, Heretoir, Ranges and others.
I’m accosted by half of ASIWYFA and - having failed to convince them to leave the confines of the hotel lobby, settle instead to drink with - eventually - the whole band and crew there instead.
We exchange tales of how mad the trip has been. I share with them the decibel level they reached; their loudest show to date - and we toast what has been another special day.SUNDAY (19.04) -
At 8am the next morning we are at the hotel lobby.
A hasty trip into Shanghai follows, and the remaining CivServ trio resolve to complete the highlights tour volunteer Lena has left for us. She knows her onions, and we make it to all the stops, detour via some fantastic food (good call Thom); annoy several DiDi drivers with our crustician themed Beatles puns (I blame Charlie) - and eventually spend our last moments before heading to the airport overlooking Shanghai’s famous waterfront and skyline - videos of which we had displayed during our performance (in the aptly titled Skyline: Meaningless).
A full circle moment of writing a song and creating a video in your bedrooms, working it up in dilapidated rehearsal spaces, perfecting it over years of runs up and down the UK - to deliver it to its spiritual home.I left part of myself on the pier in Zhoushan, part of myself at the beach at CAN & part of myself on that waterfront in Shanghai; I hope one day to return to collect them all.In the meantime I’m left reflecting that we set out on this journey wondering if we fit in amongst such exultant company and such exotic climes - yet I am more resolved than ever, that standing on that stage at CAN festival was one of the few places I have ever truly belonged.

ABOUT

Civil Service are a Post Rock band from Manchester, UK.
Their roots growing from a formative discussion at ArcTanGent festival in 2016, they have spent 10 years developing a unique, experimental approach to creating their own brand of instrumental music.

Typified by an energetic performance style, twinkling guitars, layered reverb and poignant spoken word parts - Civil Service seek to create a catalogue that explores contrasts; Light & Dark, Life & Death - and some of the most compelling places, people and problems of our times.Career highlights include performing with the likes of And So I Watch You From Afar, EF, Overhead the Albatross, Bruit<, Svalbard, BLACKSHAPE and many more modern greats of the post-rock world.Formative appearances at CAN Festival (Zhoushan, China), StrangeForms (Leeds), Portals presents & Celestial Diadem (London) and Ripcord Records fest (Glasgow) have seen Civil Service grow from humble beginnings to becoming a recognised name in the UK post- scene.Having released early singles Wallenberg, David Lynch Mob and Guilty Mothers Club; 2022 saw the release of debut EP Life /// Death - recorded live on reel-to-reel tape.

October 2024 saw the release of debut album ///Light, recorded with Dave Sanderson (65daysofstatic, New Ghost, Polinski, Haus Horo), mastered by Sam Proctor (L.O.E.); to positive reviews across the post- press. Released on Ripcord Records, the record saw the band embark on multiple UK tours and establishing their own all-day celebration of instrumental music in Manchester, each October - Akari festival.

This was followed up at pace by sister album Dark///, also recorded with Dave Sanderson.
Collaborations with the likes of Luke Daly (Overhead The Albratross), Liam Knowles (Hidden Mothers), Liz Heaton (Midas Fall) and Scott Shepard (BLACKSHAPE) saw a deluge of new listeners from across the international experimental scene. Dark/// has been picked up for distribution on vinyl across the UK (A Cheery Wave / Ripcord Records), US / North America (A Thousand Arms) and China (Tomato Records).

In celebration of 10 years of creating music, Civil Service have been working with friends in a host of acts they have performed with, in order to bring a series of remixed, reimagined and reworked versions of songs from the archives - which has already seen releases in collaboration with 601 and Din of Celestial Birds.

Civil Service - Socials

Civil Service - Shop