Festival Preview – Mutations 2026

Mutations Festival, multi-venue across Brighton, 23rd – 24th October 2026

Taking over 9 of the city’s favourite grassroots music venues, October sees Mutations Festival return to Brighton for what promises to be its biggest edition yet, with two huge headliners announced in Fat Dog and Mike D.

London outfit Fat Dog have built a reputation as one of the UK’s most dynamic live bands, blending punk, rave, techno, and generally outright chaos into their sets. With relentless energy and heaps of crowd participation, they’re a great choice for an urban festival.

Joining them is a genuine music icon – as founding member and one third of the legendary Beastie Boys, Mike D needs little introduction. Having played an integral role in redefining hip-hop and shaping its crossover into mainstream music, his addition to the line-up is sure to be one of the festival’s standout moments.

A further 90+ breakthrough and established artists will be revealed over the coming weeks, playing between Alphabet, Chalk, Dust, The Folklore Rooms, Green Door Store, The Hope & Ruin, Patterns, The Prince Albert and Revenge.

Weekend tickets go on sale today at 10am, starting from just £35, via Mutations Festival – keep a close eye out for updates.

Preview by Siobhan

Published 22nd July 2026

Live News – We Are Scientists

Live News – 20 Years of We Are Scientists: Brighton show 23rd July 2026

Balancing the perfect mix of cleverly catchy tunes with an ever present dose of satire, We Are Scientists have long been a great live act.

Having met at college back in the 90s, founding members Keith Murray and Chris Cain remain purveyors of consistently quality songs, and always look like they’re having an absolute ball in the process. Random memory – the first time I heard them I’m pretty sure was over headphones at a record shop listening station, resulting in the immediate purchase of Nobody Moves, Nobody Get Hurt – and such is their writing ability that their tracks are very easily accessible across multiple genre tastes.

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut album With Love & Squalor, they’re back out on extensive tour dates complemented by last year’s release, Qualifying Miles. It’s their ninth album, with stand out tracks in Please Don’t Say It and Starry-Eyed – both full of thumping guitar riffs and their trademark sardonic humour. 

Whether you’re a regular or considering your first WAS gig experience, there are a stack of dates to choose from. Local for us, they play (almost) on the seafront at Brighton’s Concorde 2 on 23rd July, followed by a string of dates across the UK and internationally taking them through to the end of the year.

Click here to check out your nearest venue and grab a ticket!

Preview by Siobhan

Published 15th July 2026

 

Event Preview – Borde Hill Summer Series 2026

Borde Hill Summer Series, Sussex, 13th – 16th August 2026

As a county, Sussex has the best of both worlds – surrounded by coastal beaches and interspersed with rolling countryside. Amidst all of this lies Borde Hill, with over 380 acres of parkland and woodland in a beautiful setting just north of Haywards Heath.

Often opening up the gardens for a range of cultural events from the music and art worlds, a new addition to the roster has been added as the inaugural Borde Hill Summer Series launches this August, with a stellar line-up to choose from, whatever your musical preference.

Headlining the opening night on Thursday 13th, Nile Rodgers & CHIC are sure to get things off to a brilliant start. Over the years, Nile has produced artists including Diana Ross, Sister Sledge, David Bowie, Duran Duran, Madonna and many more. His live shows with CHIC offer an opportunity to hear some of their best loved hits, and a singalong is virtually compulsory. They will be joined by The Brand New Heavies and DJ Craig Charles, for a night of impeccable funk, soul and disco.

Who’d have thought when they propelled into the charts with Five Colours in her Hair back in 2004, that McFly would still be going strong 20+ years later? Now firm favourites on the festival scene, the four-piece top the bill on Friday 14th, with support from The Feeling and Eurovision trio Remember Monday.

And from a couple of judges on The Voice to the contestant who’s notably had the most success since the show, Becky Hill turns up the volume on the dance tunes, headlining Saturday 15th August. Joining Becky is a veritable who’s who of UK and worldwide names in the house, drum ‘n’ bass and electronic pop music fields, including Jax Jones, Netsky, High Contrast, Jaguar, Abi Flynn and Charlotte Haining.

The final day on Sunday 16th is very much geared towards being a family event, as We Are Family turn the site into a mix of music, entertainment, rides and parades, so do check out more if you’re looking to keep your little ones happy!

More details from the press release here:

Taking place from Thursday 13 August to Sunday 16 August 2026, the four-day event will bring world-class artists to one of Sussex’s most captivating historic landscapes for an unforgettable summer celebration of live music. Set within a Grade II listed heritage landscape, Borde Hill’s extraordinary gardens and parkland provide a truly unique backdrop, blending cultural heritage with contemporary live performance.

Designed as festival-style days, each event will feature early opening times, allowing audiences to fully experience the setting, from relaxed daytime arrivals through to headline performances under the evening sky. With curated food and drink, social spaces, and a carefully paced programme, the series offers a full-day destination experience rather than a traditional evening concert.

BBC Radio Sussex are collaborating on the series, with on-air interviews featuring artists and event organisers.

Set against expansive lawns, dramatic vistas and sweeping countryside views, the Borde Hill Summer Series in Haywoods Heath, West Sussex, transforms the historic estate into a natural amphitheatre framed by rare trees and timeless heritage. The unique setting offers both intimacy and scale, an exceptional stage for world-class artists and bands.

“Borde Hill is a genuinely special place, a historic Sussex estate that becomes something completely new when you bring world-class live music into it. We’re proud to be working with Borde Hill to create something that benefits the local area, draws visitors to West Sussex, and gives music fans a reason to explore this part of the country” – Lee Suter, Supermodified.

Borde Hill Summer Series is set to become one of Sussex’s standout live music events of summer 2026.

All tickets are on sale now via bordehillsummerseries.com 

Preview intro by Callum

Published 13th July 2026

Festival Preview – Beyond Boundaries 2026

Beyond Boundaries Festival, Brighton, 26th September 2026

Exciting news from leading UK promoter Louder, as the team behind Brighton’s On The Beach Festival announces the final line-up for Beyond Boundaries, a reimagined open-air festival coming to Stanmer Park on Saturday 26th September 2026. For fans of dance music, grime, and drum & bass, the day offers up a host of acts you will not want to miss, and adds a new element to Brighton’s event roster.

The debut edition will see Hybrid Minds, JME, Max Dean, MK and Wilkinson joined by a host of newly announced artists including D.O.D, Oden & Fatzo, Ellia Jaya, Harriet Jaxxon, Redlight, Voltage, Saoirse, Pola & Bryson, SKALAH and Simula.

The festival also boasts some of the leading genre brands in the UK and Brighton’s premier venues as partners from Worried About Henry, DnB Rollers, Quarters, Patterns, Volks,  Concorde 2 and Groove Cartel.

Set within one of the city’s most iconic green spaces, Stanmer Park, Beyond Boundaries arrives as a new addition to Brighton’s event calendar – bringing together established names and emerging talent for a one-day open-air experience.

Leading the line-up are melodic drum & bass pioneers Hybrid Minds, known for their emotionally charged sound, alongside grime artist and Boy Better Know co-founder JME. Fast-rising selector Max Dean represents the next wave of electronic talent, while house music icon MK brings decades of global success and chart-topping releases. Drum & bass heavyweight Wilkinson completes a top bill that reflects the breadth of contemporary UK dance music.

New additions include chart-topping house producer D.O.D, French house favourites Oden & Fatzo, electronic music mainstay Redlight, drum & bass favourites Voltage, Pola & Bryson and Simula, alongside Harriet Jaxxon, Smokey Bubblin B, Technimatic, Particle, Jakes, FLO, Jolie P, Nutcracka and many more.

The full line-up also features A Little Sound, Bsearl, Ellia Jaya, IVY, Jaz Imsky, Julian Fijma, Lowqui, Meg Paine, Omar+, Overview: Klinical B2B Creatures B2B Gaia, Particle, Skalah, Smokey Bubblin B, Technimatic, Volks All Stars – Nima & Flakes w/ Mynx & Style One, Window Kid and others, with performances taking place across four stages throughout the day.

With a focus on quality programming and atmosphere, Beyond Boundaries aims to offer a standout moment at the tail end of the summer, giving audiences one final large-scale event before the season closes.

For the full line-up and best price ticket link, head to the Beyond Boundaries website here

Published 15th June 2026

Festival Preview – Brighton Psych Fest 2026

Brighton Psych Fest (multi-venue), 4th September 2026

JOY. Concerts unveil the final wave of artists for Brighton Psych Fest 2026, returning to venues across the city on Friday 4th September. Newly announced artists include critically acclaimed experimental quartet Mandy, Indiana, post-punk and electronic favourites The KVB, Texan psych-rockers Holy Wave and Portuguese genre-blurring trio Maquina.

Also joining the bill are Annabelle Chairlegs, Ringlets, Silverwingkiller, Little Grandad, LTTL MORT, Lonnie Gunn, Morn, The Heavenly Bodes and Bones Ate Arfa.

They complete a line-up led by Stereolab and featuring White Denim, Anna von Hausswolff, Allah-Las, Gwenno, Automatic, Night Tapes, The Mystery Lights, The Belair Lip Bombs, Lael Neale, Hudson Freeman, Les Big Byrd, Sex Mask, The Dharma Chain, Knives, Floral Image, Lemonsuckr, Martial Arts, Ellis·D and more.

Now entering its third year, Brighton Psych Fest has established itself as one of the UK’s most distinctive showcases of leftfield and exploratory music. Taking over some of Brighton’s most vital independent venues – including Concorde 2, Komedia, The Hope & Ruin, Alphabet, Volks and Patterns – the festival transforms the city into a one-day celebration of immersive live music across multiple rooms, stages and atmospheres.

From Stereolab’s singular catalogue and Anna von Hausswolff’s immersive sonic landscapes to Mandy, Indiana’s industrial intensity, Gwenno’s Mercury Prize-nominated psych-pop and Maquina.’s fusion of krautrock, techno and punk, Brighton Psych Fest brings together influential pioneers, cult favourites and emerging artists operating at the outer edges of alternative music.

Curated by JOY. in collaboration with the team behind Manchester Psych Fest, the festival continues to strengthen Brighton’s reputation as one of the UK’s most vibrant live music cities.

Line-up:
Allah-Las, Annabelle Chairlegs, Anna von Hausswolff, Automatic, The Belair Lip Bombs, Bleech 9:3, Bones Ate Arfa, Cordelia Gartside, The Dharma Chain, Ellis-D, Floral Image, Formal Sppeedwear, Gwenno, The Heavenly Bodes, Highdrive, Holy Wave, Hudson Freeman, Indiana, Knives, The KVB, Lael Neale, Lemonsuckr, Les Big Byrd, Little Grandad, Lonnie Gunn, LTTL Mort, Mandy, Maquina, Martial Arts, Mary in the Junkyard, Morn, The Mystery Lights, Night Tapes, Piss, Ringlets, Sex Mask, Silverwingkiller, Slag, Stereolab, Thistle., White Denim

Tickets are on sale here and via brightonpsychfest.com

Published 30th May 2026

Festival Preview – Victorious 2026

Victorious Festival, Southsea, 28th – 30th August 2026

Each August Bank Holiday, Southsea Common transforms into one of the UK’s most picturesque festival sites, with Victorious Festival offering an eclectic mix of music, comedy and family entertainment right on Portsmouth’s stunning seafront.

Set just metres from the Solent, it’s hard to find a more scenic backdrop for an event. As you wander between stages, ferries glide to and from the Isle of Wight, while historic landmarks including Southsea Castle and the nearby museum add to the unique atmosphere.

With multiple stages hosting everything from chart-topping musicians and stand-up comedy to family-friendly entertainment, there’s something for every generation. Whether you’re there for the biggest headliners or to discover your next favourite artist, Victorious has built a reputation for offering one of the strongest line-ups of the summer.

Friday’s bill is led by Richard Ashcroft, Scissor Sisters and Faithless, while Saturday sees Bastille, The Black Keys and Nile Rodgers & CHIC take the top spots. Sunday’s finale features Kasabian, The Streets and Basement Jaxx, ensuring the weekend ends on a high. Beyond the headline acts, there are countless other performances across the site, including plenty of exciting local and emerging artists who are always worth seeking out.

Victorious is about far more than the music. It’s a fantastic day out for families, groups of friends and festival-goers of all ages, with entertainment around every corner.

The event also delivers a significant boost to Portsmouth’s economy, attracting thousands of visitors who support local hotels, restaurants, pubs and independent businesses over the Bank Holiday weekend.

With another packed programme in store and tickets selling quickly, now is the time to secure your place before they disappear. Ticket link and more information here.

Preview by Siobhan

Published 29th May 2026

 

Countdown to… The Great Escape 2026

The Great Escape Festival, multi-venue across Brighton, 13th-16th May 2026

Almost there – less than 10 days now until The Great Escape kicks off again, bringing hundreds of local and worldwide artists from all genres to Brighton. It’s obviously super hard to pick just a few out but here are 10 recommendations from us – we’d love to hear who’s top of your list too! To note, the list below is purely from the main line-up – we’re still working through the Alt Escape stages. If you’ve yet to commence planning, hopefully this will give you a starting point of acts to check out…

Aimée Fatale (Thursday at 12.10pm, TGE Beach Soundwaves)

Featurette (Thursday at 3.35pm, Green Door)

Hank (Saturday at 3.30pm, Waterbear Venue)

J Appiah (Friday at 2.15pm, One Church)

Kids Return (Friday 10.15pm, TGE Beach Soundwaves)

Lemonsuckr (Wednesday at 10.15pm, Concorde 2 & Friday at 11.15pm, Prince Albert)

MADMADMAD (Friday at 3.30pm, Brighthelm)

Pigeon (Thursday at 9.15pm, Charles St Tap)

Vera Daisies (Friday at 8.15pm, Green Door & Saturday at 7.30pm, Prince Albert)

Winter Gardens (Wednesday at 7.15pm, Concorde 2)

Please check the TGE app for any changes to artists, venues or times – full line-up on the TGE website

Published 5th May 2026

Festival Preview – Latitude 2026

Latitude Festival, 23rd – 26th July, Henham Park, Suffolk

Latitude Festival 2026 celebrates its 20th anniversary with a huge party at Henham Park, beautifully blending its signature bohemian charm with a powerhouse line-up. The Obelisk Arena takes centre stage with highly anticipated performances from David Byrne, Teddy Swims, and Lewis Capaldi, while the surrounding woodland stages showcase the finest cutting-edge new talent.

Some acts we’ve seen before and would highly recommend include Aimée Fatale, Lemonsuckr, Lime Garden and VLURE, with others still to see and definitely on our hit-list are Biird, Getdown Services, and Jalen Ngonda – and it will always be a pleasure to catch the wonderful Dr John Cooper Clarke waxing lyrical (updating as new acts announced).

Beyond the music, the festival cements its reputation as the UK’s premier cultural weekend by packing the legendary Comedy Arena and immersive theatre tents with world-class performers. The magical Suffolk landscape will be coming alive with lake swimming, tranquil wellness workshops, and eccentric late-night parties hidden inside the Trailer Park woods. Upgraded food options like The Hothouse polytunnel restaurant and curated Street Feast vendors elevate the weekend far beyond standard festival food trucks, all making this an event to seriously look forward to.

Check out the Latitude website for the full line-uptickets available here

Preview by Callum

Published 4th May 2026

Line-up Additions! – The Great Escape Festival (Brighton)

The Great Escape Festival, multi-venue across Brighton, 13th – 16th May 2026

The line-up for The Great Escape 2026 continues to grow.

100+ new artists have been added to this year’s 20th anniversary edition bringing together the most exciting emerging acts from across the globe.

New additions include ARXX, Bella Kay, Ben Ellis, Bimini, Ceebo, Chase Icon, Do Nothing, GANS, Girl Scout, Kerr Mercer, PVA, Sassy 009, The Orchestra (For Now), The Skinner Brothers, Tom Rasmussen and many more (full line-up so far here).

With 450+ artists performing across 30+ venues, TGE remains the essential destination to discover what’s next.

You can now get a first look at which artists are playing across each day of the festival, helping you start planning your time on the ground in Brighton.

Whether you’re building your schedule around key acts, meetings or showcases, these daily highlights are your first step in mapping out the week.

The full festival schedule will be released one month ahead of the festival via the official TGE app.

Do check back in on the TGE website tomorrow when they’ll be revealing new updates for The Great Escape Conference 2026, including fresh speakers and programme announcements.

If you haven’t secured your place yet, now’s the time – tickets available here.

Published 31st March 2026

Festival Preview – The Great Escape 2026 (Brighton)

The Great Escape, 13th-16th May 2026, multi-venue across Brighton

It’s heading towards that time of year again when the streets and venues of Brighton are packed with music from every genre. With over 450 artists and the music industry-led TGE conference, the festival is a huge draw every year, and the most recent names to be announced have undoubtedly enhanced the already glowing line-up.

Heading to Brighton this May, the latest additions include UK alt-indie six-piece Adult DVD, with Irish rock duo Dea Matrona bringing guitar-driven energy, while London’s soulful hip-hop artist Bella Barbe and Birmingham rapper-producer Tony Bontana add grime and rap firepower. Experimental math-rock duo Angine de Poitrine from Quebec and Australian post-punk four-piece dogworld push genre boundaries, alongside 90s alt-rock trio HEADSEND, melodic London five-piece Marsy and alt rock shoegaze London band benchwarmer. Meanwhile, London alt-indie outfit Dead Dads Club, led by ex-Palma Violet frontman Chilli Jesson, injects post-punk flair, R&B polymath Wesley Joseph adds smooth, genre-blending grooves, whilst rising Sunderland singer-songwriter Tom A. Smith brings his anthemic indie rock and sharp lyricism to the bill. Fans of indie innovation will also welcome New York trio Chanpan, Brooklyn alt-indie frontwoman Julia Cumming of Sunflower Bean, Halifax rock trio TheOrielles, Margate Afro synth-funk five-piece Pigeon, Cardiff post-punk/disco five-piece Why Horses?, and emotive indie folk singer-songwriter Heidi Curtis. London-based pop singer-songwriter Lauren Auder and Australian songwriter Matthew Ifield round out a line-up brimming with global talent, with many more acts still to be revealed.

The Great Escape is also partnering with NME to celebrate the festival’s 20th anniversary with a special spotlight show from locals The Kooks, who join previously announced spotlight acts Kingfishr and Peaches.

Check back in with us soon as we’re busy putting together our shortlist of must-see acts (and hoping they don’t clash!)

Tickets, full line-up and loads of handy info at greatescapefestival.com

Published 11th March 2026

Festival Preview – Truck 2026 (Oxfordshire)

Truck Festival, Oxfordshire, 23rd – 26th July 2026

A new wave of artists announced for this year’s Truck Festival has offered plenty more reasons why you might want to head to the Oxfordshire fields this summer – just a few of the names added are Divorce, Picture Parlour, GANS and Tom A Smith.

Some huge names from indie royalty already on the the line-up include The Maccabees, Two Door Cinema Club, The Libertines, Kaiser Chiefs and The Cribs. You’ll also find Mercury winners English Teacher dropping in alongside some much talked about breakthrough acts  in Adult DVD and Girl in the Year Above. And let’s be honest, if this really is the farewell to Barrioke (Shaun Williamson), you don’t want to miss that!

Truck has established itself as a major player on the UK festival scene and 2026 promises another year of great music, comedy and loads of fun activities with a big old party atmosphere. There is still more to be announced so grab your tickets while you can – final tier is fast approaching and over 90% are already sold so don’t hang around too long – link here.

Check out the full line-up, more info and any updates on the Truck website.

Header Photo © Izzy Challoner

Published 5th March 2026

 

Festival Preview – So Long Good Friday 2026 (Liverpool)

So Long Good Friday Festival, multi-venue across Liverpool, 3rd April 2026

The Good Times and HSP Presents have announced So Long Good Friday, a new multi-venue all-dayer in Liverpool showcasing the best new music at an affordable price.

In spring 2026, a brand new event brings some of the most exciting upcoming bands to Liverpool. Taking place on 3rd April, the first edition of So Long, Good Friday already boasts an impressive lineup, including a headline set from rising rock ‘n’ roll cowboys Fat Dog.

South London haiku-loving trio Honeyglaze and Chicago’s early-millenium indie-rockers Brigitte Calls Me Baby will close out their own stages, with more headliners still to be announced. The initial lineup also includes Halifax Heavenly band The Orielles, Wigan-born alt-rockstar TTSSFU and Manchester’s most high-energy electronic duo Silverwingkiller.

Jeanie and the White Boys, Monks, Credits, Mickey Callisto, World News, Curiosity Shop, Pevova, Kissing Peoples and Dave Lofts complete the huge first wave announcement. 

Tickets are currently under £30 – grab yours here!

Published 10th January 2026

Festival Preview – Simple Things 2025 (Bristol)

Simple Things Festival, multi-venue Bristol, 8th November 2025

This year’s Simple Things Festival has a line-up sure to impress. Playing across multiple venues in and around Bristol Beacon, some well recognisable names include Adult DVD, DITZ, VLURE, Dry Cleaning and The Orielles. The list of names we (as yet) don’t know so well but are looking forward to catching up with features the likes of Clark, Iglooghost, Mechatok, Upchuck and Y.

Special guest Nala Sinephro is a talented purveyor of experimental jazz, fusing harp, synth and piano, the mix of styles and genres summing up the festival’s approach to offering up something new and unexpected.

The full line-up is below – full details and remaining tickets here

10 years of Nyege Nyege Tapes showcase ft. Kampire, Sisso & Maiko & PÖ, 15-15, Adult DVD, BaBii, Blackhaine, The Bug Feat. Flowdan, Warrior Queen, Manga Saint Hilare, Logan and Magugu, Ceephax Acid Crew, Clark, Danalogue, Decius LIVE, Deki Alem, DITZ, Dry Cleaning, Eiko Ishibashi, Factory Floor, Fatboi Sharif, Fievel is Glaque, Florence Sinclair, HAAL, Horse Vision, Hotline TNT, Iglooghost, Jadu Heart, Jawnino, jb glazer, Joshua Idehen, Kayla Painter, keiyaA, Kelan, Léa Sen, Lover’s Skit, Lucy Gooch, Malibu, Mandrake Handshake, Mechatok, MOULD, My First Time, Mystery Tiime, Nadah El Shazly, Niontay, No Windows, The Orielles, Pan Amsterdam, Psychotherapy Sessions Feat. Joker + AYA (DJ Set) + more, Punching Bag, Rachika Nayar & Nina Keith present Disiniblud, Rich(ard) Dawson, Run Logan Run, The Sick Man Of Europe, Smerz, Steve Davis presents: Graham Dunning & Strictly Kev (aka DJ Food), Sculpture, jb glazer & Stunty, TAKKUUK: A BICEP Scored A/V Film on Arctic Life & Climate, TEKE::TEKE, These New Puritans, Tracey, Upchuck, VLURE, Y, The Zawose Queens

Preview by Siobhan 16beasleystphotography.com

9th October 2025

 

Festival Preview – Mutations 2025 (Brighton)

Mutations Festival, Brighton, 7th & 8th November 2025

Halloween, Bonfire Night, Mutations Festival… the autumn months are shaping up nicely for entertainment, and back in its now familiar slot, Mutations comes to the streets of Brighton again this year for two days packed with an imposing line-up. A showcase not just for the artists but also for a great cluster of independent venues, Mutations has crammed some ground-breaking names into its 2025 party – there are going to be some tough decisions to make but wherever you end up, you’ll be able to catch some excellent music.

With 80 acts announced yesterday, pre-sale tickets go on sale at 10am today, with general sale this Friday and instalment purchase plans available. Friday sees Dry Cleaning, VLURE, Adult DVD, Makeshift Art Bar, Adwaith, No Windows and many more hit the stage, and on Saturday you can take in Benefits, Big Special, Nightbus and a whole string of others. This is going to be a good one!

Full list of artists announced below, ticket link here.

Friday: Adult DVD, Adwaith, The Bug Club, Ditz, Divorce, Dry Cleaning, Fickle Friends, Golomb, Hotline TNT, Ist Ist, Madmadmad, Makeshift Art Bar, Mandrake Handshake, Mary in the Junkyard, My First Time, Nadia Kadek, No Windows, The Orielles, Party Dozen, Ratboys, Renny Conti, Rip Magic, The Sick Man of Europe, Silver Gore, Stella Bridie, Teethe, Teke::Teke, Test Plan, University, Upchuck, VLURE, Vraell, Winter, Y

Saturday: Ain’t, Annie-Dog, Ashnymph, BDRMM, Bells Larsen, Benefits, Big Special, Blood Wizard, Brown Horse, Coilguns, congratulations, Courting, Dekker, Ebbb, Family Stereo, Fuzz Lightyear, Gans, Good Health Good Wealth, Green Star, Jools, Keo, Ladylike, Lambrini Girls, Lemonsuckr, Mamalarky, The Man The Myth The Meatslab, Mēn An Tol, Midding, My Precious Bunny, Nightbus, Night Flight, The None, The Oozes, Pan Amsterdam, Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs, Saint Clair, Scaler, Sean Trelford, Skydaddy, Stealing Sheep, Teethin, Thistle, Truck Violence, Tooth, Waldo’s Gift, Wrkhouse, Yang

Preview by Callum

Published 27th August 2025

 

 

Festival Preview – DedFest 2025 (Lewes)

DedFest, Crockstead Fields, Lewes, 16th August 2025

Returning to the East Sussex countryside, DedFest is back to showcase a cluster of breakthrough artists. Co-presented by DedBest Distillery and Hidden Herd, the combination of live music and locally handcrafted drinks is surely a winning combination for a summertime Saturday.

Curating a great selection of music, the festival is family (and dog) friendly so we’ll certainly be hoping to catch up with some four-legged friends as well as taking in sets from talented acts, some of whom we’ve seen before and some we’ve still to discover.

The impressive line-up consists of (deep breath)… Atticomatic, ChitChat, Comforts, Congratulations, Fukushima Dolphin, Gaffa Tape Sandy, Ideal Living, Keg, Lean with the Breeze, Lucy Darke, Moon Idle, Mulimba, Nature TV, Projector, Room Service, Sansom, Telecom, The Rapports, The Roebucks, The Stanford Family Band, Trip Westerns and Winter Gardens. You’ll find many of these covered in our previous features – just enter the artist name into the search box at the bottom of any page.

Remaining tickets and more details here – camping is available.

See you on the fields! 

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Words by Siobhan

Published 1st August 2025

Festival Preview – Victorious 2025 (Portsmouth)

Victorious Festival, 22nd-24th August 2025

For may years now, Victorious has kept its promise of being ‘the most beautifully located festival in the UK, featuring some of the world’s biggest artists’. Set up over the expanse of Southsea Common, the view across the Solent runs along the side of some of the stages and you might just spot an occasional ferry coming in from the Isle of Wight.

As well as the music, there are little pockets of traders selling a wide range of merchandise, over 100 food stalls and a kids’ arena that makes this an attractive option for families as well as hardened gig-goers.

But the music, of course, is the main attraction and there are once again some big names up for grabs over the three days. Headliners this year are Queens of the Stone Age (Fri), Vampire Weekend (Sat) and Kings of Leon (Sun). Elsewhere on the bill you’ll find the eclectic mix of Michael Kiwanuka, Madness, Sprints, Lime Garden, The Charlatans, The Last Dinner Party, Betty Boo, The Pill and Bloc Party – amongst many, many more.

As well as putting Portsmouth on the events map, Victorious has been active in supporting the local community through charitable donations and hours given supporting local schemes, contributing over £830,000 to local charities and good causes since 2014.

For more information, details on the line-up, and remaining tickets, head to the festival website here

Words by Siobhan

Published 9th July 2025

Festival Preview – TRNSMT 2025 (Glasgow)

TRNSMT Festival, Glasgow Green, 11th-13th July 2025 

Attracting thousands of music fans to the heart of the city, TRNSMT Festival returns to Glasgow Green in July with a stellar line-up already announced. Across the 3 day musical smorgasbord, you can choose from some huge names mixed with a bunch of breakthrough acts that you’ll definitely want to see again.

Opening day on Friday includes a transatlantic visit from 50 Cent, indie favourites Wet Leg, causers of controversy Kneecap, the always entertaining and perfectly choreographed Confidence Man, and Edinburgh’s electro unit Redolent.

Saturday is looking strong – Biffy Clyro are sure to bring one of the biggest rock singalongs of the weekend, contrasting nicely with Scandipop singer-songwriter Sigrid and dance star Jaguar. Meanwhile, Underworld will no doubt have the crowd moving and might want to be watching over their shoulders at the unbounded talent of locals Lucia & the Best Boys and the mighty VLURE.

More talked about artists established and new on Sunday with BRITs rising star award winner Myles Smith and Brooke Combe making an impression with her accomplished live shows. More familiar faces come in the shape of The View’s frontman Kyle Falconer and a big show with big tunes expected from Snow Patrol.

It’s shaping up to be a weekend to remember – check out the full line-up and don’t hang about for too long before you grab your tickets!

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Preview by Siobhan

Published 30th April 2025

 

Countdown to… The Great Escape 2025

The Great Escape Festival, Brighton, 14th – 17th May 2025

Who’s heading to Brighton next month? It’s getting very close to Great Escape time once again and another exceptional line-up of emerging artists, with some who are very likely already on your radar and some headliners guaranteed to impress.

Last week’s announcement adds over 175 new names, with a coveted slot on The Independent Stage at The Old Market being filled by the brilliant Skunk Anansie. Other acts appearing will include popular locals CLT DRP, along with fellow punk protagonists SLAG and Bruise Control. For those seeking out a more laid back vibe, expect soulful tunes from Nia Smith and catch Knats picking up the jazz mantle. The recently announced late night programme adds the likes of Badger, Sim0ne and Mechatok.

With around 450 artists performing and an eclectic mix of genres and venues, there’s sure to be lots to choose from. To help you start your daily plans, here’s our initial Top 20 selection of acts we’re hoping to catch – some already favourites and plenty who fulfil the aim of discovering new talent, which really is what TGE’s all about.

Adult DVD (UK) – Leeds’ answer to LCD Soundsystem, expect skilful electronic beats and bring your dancing shoes

Aggrasoppar (Faroe Islands) – ‘Flower-punk’ outfit with playful production and performances

Angry Blackmen (US) – A duo of emcees bringing experimental rap from the revered Deathbomb Arc label

Ashaine White (UK) – Soulful rock, some beautiful tunes and probably a story or two to boot

Bighead Tea Drinkers (UK) – If the name itself isn’t enough to lure you in, go for the accomplished indie tunes

Black Fondu (UK/Ghana) – ‘Abstract grime’ and bags of energy in this one-person extravaganza

CIFIKA (S Korea) – Experimental pop and crystallised vocals, one to watch

Laundromat Chicks (Austria) – Chilled out jangle pop with a dash of humour

Maria Uzor (UK) – Known as one half of Sink Ya Teeth, Uzor’s solo shows float through electro, dance and trip-hop

Mechatok (Germany) – Electro-pop underpinned by classical training, this’ll be interesting to see live

Peter Xan (UK) – Don’t miss what’s guaranteed to be a performance to remember, the whole band are fantastic

Polite Bureaux (UK) – Broken beats and razor sharp spoken word lyrics, they just get better and better

Say Sue Me (S Korea) – Despite a tumultuous journey, the current line up are still going strong  

Search Results (Ireland) – Dublin trio making waves in the Irish indie-punk corner and beyond

SLAG (UK) – Popular and very present on the local Brighton scene, with a brush of jagged indie-pop

SOAPBOX (UK) – Glasgow’s latest name on the new music radar getting big live reviews

The Klittens (Netherlands) – Repping Amsterdam with catchy fuzz-pop with an edge 

TV Death (UK) – A fine blend of garage rock tinged with psychedelia

Velvetine (UK) – Alt rock with smooth vocals and an ethereal atmosphere, time to relax

Witch Post (UK) – Scottish/American pairing bringing angst and just the right side of chaos to the table

The full line-up is available on the TGE website and app with schedules in progress – it’s always good to check in nearer the time and even during the festival for any updates. Come say hi if you see us around!

Ticket options here

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Preview by Callum 

Published 8th April 2025

 

Festival Preview – The Great Escape 2025 (Brighton)

The Great Escape, multi-venue across Brighton, 14th-17th May 2025

It’s getting rapidly closer to that time of year again when a multitude of artists spanning genres and styles descend on the streets of Brighton for The Great Escape. With line-up additions still dropping, this year’s list is looking very, very good, and the announcement of the new Billboard UK Live Stage comes with a whole host of talented acts, featuring recent Mercury winners English Teacher headlining.

With the latest bunch of names added, the bill now includes some big recommendations from us in Adult DVD, Maria Uzor, WELLY, Ashaine White, Black Fondu, one of last year’s highlights Peter Xan, and delighted to see Polite Bureaux on there – with a big following in Brighton theirs will be a set not to miss.

Confirmed spotlight shows are scheduled for Peter Doherty, Warmduscher, Trampolene and Rizzle Kicks.

We’ll be taking a closer look at what’s to come over the pending weeks, in the meantime find the full line-up, more information and ticket links here. Catch you by the seaside…

Words by Siobhan

Published 5th March 2025

Preview – Amplify Her 2025 Showcase Tour (London, Brighton, Bristol)

Amplify Her announces 2025 showcase tour championing women in music

Amplify Her, a UK-based organisation dedicated to supporting women in the music industry through engaging events, has announced a 2025 showcase tour, supported by the Arts Council England

Spanning three major UK cities, London, Brighton and Bristol, this tour aims to highlight the talents of nine exceptional female artists while connecting music industry professionals, fostering a community where women can thrive and advance their musical careers.

The London showcase on 13th March will kick off with a powerhouse lineup headlined by Tolü Makay, Fabia Anderson, and Mia Mi. On 17th April, the Brighton event will showcase Mookie, Adriana Lord, and Tia Ice. The tour concludes in Bristol on 21st May, featuring Moxie Dolls, Abs, and Big Mambo. Amplify Her founder and artist Andrea Dee will also take the stage at each showcase, adding her dynamic presence to the lineup. Every artist selected for the Amplify Her showcases is an independent, local talent, recognised for their distinctive artistry and growing impact in the music industry.

Thursday 13th March – The Water Rats, London

Thursday 17th April – Hope and Ruin, Brighton 
Wednesday 21st May – The Louisiana, Bristol

Founded in 2023 by seasoned independent artist Andrea Dee, Amplify Her has rapidly become a vital platform for women in music. Andrea’s vision is to create a community where female musicians support one another, moving their careers forward and pushing for gender equality.

“As a singer and songwriter, I longed for a space to share my experiences in the music industry, but I couldn’t find one. I knew others felt the same, so I created that space myself,” Andrea explains. “Amplify Her is more than just live events; it’s a community where women in music can connect, support one another, and push each other to the next level.”

Tickets for all three showcases, and other events, are available here

You can find out more about Amplify Her via their socials: Instagram | Tik Tok | Facebook 

Header team photo © Vittoria Avigliano

Published 28th February 2025