Ohtis + Lifter

OHTIS @ Things Happen Here, Dartington Ohtis has been the long-running project of Sam Swinson and Adam Pressley, friends since high school in Normal, Illinois. Their debut album Curve of the Earth (Full Time Hobby, 2019) introduced their mix of dark humour, moral tension and back-porch mysticism, earning critical praise and a cult following. After a run of singles including Shatze (Saddle Creek, 2021) and Without Blemish (Joy of Life International, 2025), Ohtis return with a renewed sense of focus and a deep well of unreleased songs. After 7 years away, Swinson will be returning to the UK this autumn in support of his new material, released this year through Joy of Life International. + Support from LIFTER LIFTER have just finished recording their second album, which will be called Get Closer. Recorded at Humm Studios and J&J Studios in Bristol over the late spring of 2026, it was mixed by John Parish and mastered by James Trevascus. The band proudly take musical cues from a diverse range of sources, including slowcore, folk, country, chamber pop, and indie rock, and deftly showcase this throughout their latest release. A handful of comparable sounds would include The Fairport Convention, David Grubbs, and The American Analog Set. The band have been noted for their live shows that switch between gentle intimacy and bursts of dynamic intensity, and have shared bills with the likes of bar italia, Rose City Band, Daisy Rickman, Friendship and Wednesday on their recent tours. They've also become a staple of Bristol festivals in the last few years, with sets at Simple Things and Ritual Union. LIFTER released their first album in 2024, and have since completed numerous tours of the UK, France and Belgium.