The fifth edition of Nibirii Festival wrapped up at the scenic Dürener Badesee, hosted by Bootshaus Cologne. Over three days from August 22 – 24, 2025, more than 50,000 music lovers enjoyed five stages featuring techno, GOA, drum & bass, Afro and Melodic House, with Saturday completely sold out. A new dedicated stage for Afro and Melodic House made its debut, and over 100 artists performed, marking a new attendance record.
Set against golden beaches, crystal-clear waters, and lush surroundings, Nibirii continues to combine top-tier production with an intimate, boutique festival vibe. Organiser Tom Thomas summed it up: “Nibirii is about more than music. It’s about connection, energy, and celebrating life.”
Early bird tickets for the next edition, August 28 – 30, 2026, are already on sale at nibirii.com.
Here’s a look at some of the best moments from the weekend:
Leicestershire, home to pork pies, foxes, and southern American charm since 2018 – yes, we are returning once again to the fields of Stanford Hall for The Long Road festival, a cornucopia of country music and Americana in the heart of England.
Walking into the site we can already see the fruits of this festival’s continued growth, with much extended campervan fields and a plethora of extra camping, and we can smell the morning breakfasts being cooked in the Friday sunshine. I am particularly invested in how fancy everyone’s set-up is, having walked past a gazebo with a full kitchen set up including hanging pots and pans, and a sink area. Roadies come PREPARED.
The festival arena itself remains mostly unchanged (bar the addition of a new stage which we will investigate later) but there are some notable omissions from this year’s line-up of extras, like Solo Stove whose gorgeous firepits (and late night s’mores) I will definitely lament later. I was also hoping for the return of the Harley Davidson shop, but I do think the inclusion of the Hat Bar where you can buy and DIY your cowboy hat with various trinkets and branding, is pretty darn cool.
Anyway, off we go!
FRIDAY
One big upgrade for this year’s festival is that the main stage opens tonight, giving Roadies a whole extra evening of musical action to look forward to – where in previous years the Interstate stage bore the Friday entertainment mostly on it’s own. I do think immediately setting up your chair and plonking yourself down at the Rhinestone is a bit nutty for 11am though… *side eye*.
Heading out into the back of the site, we decide to check out The Hitching Post, Long Road’s newest addition, which is a stunning peaked tent stage filled with tinsel and disco vibes. I love the fact that the side wings provide a heap of seating undercover, and that the wooden floor makes for the ideal dancing space – perfect for the weekend’s line/square/barn dancing schedule.
The area surrounding this new stage is also home to a lot of exciting food offerings, and a plethora of picnic tables – if there’s one thing this festival just does exceptionally well, it is making sure you’ve always got somewhere to sit and eat. I choose pulled spicy pulled chicken tacos which are a taste sensation but structurally the worst I’ve ever tried to eat. Delicious and frustrating in equal measure.
From there we pop over to Lil Possum County, a hay-baled area set up for kids activities, where a possibly deadly, definitely chaotic, game of dodgeball is being waged. We opt instead for a quick game of Cornhole, before heading to the Weber Grill area to investigate a very delicious smell…
The thing is, even if you have just eaten Tacos… you could always eat more Tacos… and the Tacos being made here smell phenomenal. Weber is running cooking classes and competitions all weekend, but you’ve gotta be quick to get a tasting token. Next door, Ariat are already doing a roaring trade in boots and tees – along with London Shoeshine who are there to giddy up your kicks (and you can even get them branded if you want!).
We head back over towards the main stage area, to the High Falootin’ VIP to case the joint. Having spotted some nice comfy sofas around the mini tent stage there, we sit down in the sunshine where Katie Rigby is singing about how she’s pretty sure she was born in the wrong place (a Brit into country music) with ‘Past Life Cowgirl’ – her viral tiktok hit. Katie has an incredible voice, I really hope to see her here again, hopefully on a bigger stage.
First up on the Rhinestone stage is Liam St. John, bringing a wakeup dose of energy to a sleepy Friday evening. Bopping about in a wifebeater tank with a Crybaby haircut, you might not expect the truly brilliant Britney Spears ‘Toxic’ cover, but you should be super sad if you missed it. It’s a great set overall, and Liam is funny and charming (especially when he manages to say Leicestershire correctly, we stan a man who practices our silly words). A quick trip around to The Front Porch stage takes us to Oscar Blue, singing gorgeous soft melodies in the evening sun, then Ashley Monroe lights up the Rhinestone in a black fringe party dress to deliver her soulful songs.
There’s no rest for the wicked as we take ourselves back to the furthest corner of the festival to grab some dinner (Cajun shrimp from the Bayou truck, my annual favourite haunt) and then head into the Interstate tent for Fantastic Negrito.
Fantastic Negrito (aka Xavier Amin Dphrepaulezz) is one of the coolest cats I’ve ever laid eyes on. Unfortunately beset by sound issues, the frustrated band is yelling at techs to turn various things up and down, while Xavier bounces around nervously and tells us he feels awkward. Luckily after around ten minutes it does get solved and they launch into a blues laced set of wall-to-wall delight. Guitarist Clark Sims absolutely wails, Bryan Simmons on the keys is just so full of life and fun, and Fantastic himself is pure unadulterated joy in stripy socks. It is instantly one of my favourite sets of the weekend, I have been genuinely lost in their music and will probably binge every Spotify song whilst writing this up.
Friday’s Rhinestone headliner Drake Milligan has brought a very imposing stage backdrop emblazoned with his name in giant red letters, to match his postbox red shirt and spangly red white and blue glittered guitar. What follows is a rip roaring, furiously fun romp through Drake’s upbeat country songs, to a huge arena crowd. We are 30k strong here this weekend, a big jump up from previous years and it is really noticeable in the roar of appreciation for Drake tonight.
“Y’all this is crazy, we have been all over the world these last few years… but I don’t think I’ve ever experienced something as cool as this in the UK right now. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a crowd this big sing this song before…”
The patriotic lighting dances across Drake as he yells “Everyone give me a YeeeeHaww!” and commands the gods to stick a drink in his open hand. ‘Bad Day To Be A Beer’ is undeniably cheesy as a song, and obviously I can’t help but love it. Between the band making a dance-train across the stage, a cheeky Elvis ‘Burning Love’ cover (a nod to Drake’s past life as an Elvis impersonator) and him popping down to the front row to shake hands with everyone, it’s clear he came to dominate this UK performance and is absolutely succeeding.
‘Slow Dancin’ (To A Fast Song)’ has the entire arena grooving along with Drake and his hips. As he puts it himself “If nothing else, shake it for the critters and the squirrels”. It’s a stellar start to the weekend’s festivities, and a great Friday nightcap.
SATURDAY
Kicking off Saturday with Aussie gal Fanny Lumsden’s set is just the tonic, she bounces about in gingham bloomers and treats us all to a fantastic cover of Gotye’s ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ which I do think I like better than the original, and a particularly poignant song she wrote about the bush fires in Australia – ‘Great Divide’. Following her set, Fanny came out to the side of the stage to host a meet & greet alongside selling some of her frankly brilliant merchandise. With a name like Fanny and an Australian sense of humour – well, it’s gotta be the best seller of the weekend.
A stroll through the woods to Buddy’s Good Time Bar is required to catch Ireland’s Janet Devlin (of X-factor fame) was a great choice. It’s a busy space with a lot of people crammed into the front of the tiny tent, all attempting to jig along to Janet’s upbeat set. Joking about her song ‘Emotional Rodeo’ Janet laughs “I’m diagnosed BPD you know, so I’m a fun time” before launching into it. I also giggled a lot at her admission that she makes men call her Daddy (after her song of the same name), and even has it tattooed inside her lip – what a queen.
Back on the Rhinestone, we catch Lancashire’s Jake O’Neill crooning ‘Gotta Go My Own Way’ and having a little confidence wobble “Woah. This is a lot of people. Not gonna lie… shitting myself a lil bit!”. No worries required there Jake, your voice is stunning and everyone is appreciative. I also love the fact that we are seeing lots of home-grown country artists this year.
Next up we rock up to The Showground to watch the annual Hot Dog Eating Competition, which is usually fairly uneventful as mostly people forget that bread is hard to digest and only manage four or five. Today though? A hero has come to call. The winner takes the wiener (trophy) with an astounding TEN hot dogs consumed this year, which is both amazing and a little grim. For less challenging entertainment we decide to pop over to Lil Possum County to watch a water gun fight, and try our hand (feet) at some barn dancing at The Hitching Post.
On the main stage Mackenzie Carpenter shows up looking like cowgirl Barbie personified in a black two piece, with matching black hat and boots – not gonna lie, I wish I was her. During song ‘Country Queen’ she finds a girl in the crowd to gift a hat to, in a Taylor Swift-esque moment, and it’s clear the crowd is ready to boogie along with her. Laughing, Mackenzie says “All my favourite country women have songs about murdering their husbands… This song is a song about someone who’s gone fishing and they ain’t coming back” and proceeds to play the very catchy and funny ‘Gone Fishing’.
A cover of Cyndi Lauper’s (Country) ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’ is prefaced with “I just countrified it” to a huge crowd, Mackenzie has been such a highlight of this festival, and I am still kicking myself for not getting over to the merch shop for my own Country Queen hat.
Up next Larry Fleet gives a sweet performance of ‘Things I Take For Granted’ alongside his very fun band, including the aptly named bassist Crazy Legs who appears to mostly be made of elastic.
Taking another quick trip to The Showground for the Dog show, we are highly amused by the Dogstacle course, many hounds in bandanas, and one particular woofer whose ‘best trick’ is making things disappear… well, mainly food.
We also catch a little of the soaring vocals of Rissi Palmer at The Front Porch, under the gorgeous glowing festoon lights for the Colour Me Country takeover. Grabbing ourselves some pickleback shots and freebie pickles from the truck behind, we join the ranks of people taking a seat around the stage for a beautiful soft evening of soulful listening. Rissi absolutely commands the crowd, and every time I see her I am blown away by her voice – bring her back every year, I will never tire!
Tonight’s headliner hailing from Texas are Midland playing to the biggest main stage crowd I have ever seen at this festival, it really is a sight to behold in the gathering darkness of this late summer night.
Unfortunately the lighting design seems to be centred around the idea that we shouldn’t see their faces whatsoever at the beginning, and later on when we headed further back in the crowd, it did seem like the sound was extremely muted – despite other artists during the day not facing the same issues. Regardless, they roll through hits ‘Mr Lonely’ and ‘Longneck Way To Go’, but for my choice ‘Drinking Problem’ and their Mackenzie Carpenter guest appearance for ‘I Wish You Would’ are the stand out tracks tonight.
A lot of artists this weekend have commented on their view from the main stage over Stanford Hall itself, and Midland weigh in with “Is the Lord of the Manor in right now? I’m not used to this stuff… it’s pretty intimidating playing in front of a house like that. Tell you what I’d never invite you guys to party on my lawn man, all fifteen thousand of you?!” garnering a lot of giggles from the crowd.
As they move on to Brooks & Dunn cover ‘Boot Scootin Boogie’ they issue a warning that they’re heading into livelier territory “It’s a sexy song, are there kids here? Make sure that kid has earmuffs on” and give a heartfelt thanks to the UK crowd “As Mackenzie Carpenter said backstage ‘the vibes here are immaculate’, we are so grateful to headline here, thank you for supporting our music”.
Lead singer Mark Wystrach heads down to the crowd to sign banners, and requests that everyone puts their phone torches on (lighters at festivals are well and truly a thing of the past now aren’t they) and gets everyone to yell ‘HELL Y’ALL’ whatever that means. Sadly the party atmosphere comes to a screeching halt in the middle of the last song due to someone in the crowd having what seems like a pretty serious medical issue, and needing to be seen to by EMT’s. After around 15 minutes they are moved out to be helped further, to a round of soft applause and the band asking that “Everybody please keep this person in your thoughts and prayers…”.
“Shall we finish the song or shall we not? What do you guys say? Well, let that be a reminder that life is precious.. be good to each other… cherish the moments.” a slightly sombre Mark says, before they finally close out the song and the night. A bit of muted ending, unfortunately.
Sunday morning and it is HOT already, and Southern belle Halle Kearns is heating up the main stage (with a very cute guest cameo from her husband for a duet, and enticing people to take off and wave their boots during ‘The Boot’.
Next up, one of my favourite performances of the entire Long Road weekend – Fancy Hagood. There is something so immediately disarming and charming about Fancy’s personality, that makes you just know you’d be good friends if the opportunity arose, and his vocals are just gorgeous.
“Wow this is wild. I’m Pretending I live in that house, and y’all are at my backyard party. I rang the bell for someone to dress me this morning and no one came.” “I’m living my best Downton Abbey fantasy here” Fancy jokes about Stanford Hall.
‘Forest’ is ethereally beautiful, as the name suggests, and with lyrical talent in spades as well, it’s a hard pill to swallow the reasons Fancy isn’t already topping the charts, but then you remember what being gay in the country music scene can mean.
“I’ve been dropped from every label I’ve ever been with, and I’ve been releasing music independently for years now” elicits a huge cheer from the crowd, “I found my sound in the UK, so thank you. I wrote this one here.” – ‘Don’t Blink’ has that high gospel sort of reach of a song that wouldn’t be out of place played to a huge arena, and I truly hope Fancy continues to make the UK a home base for his music so we get front row seats. Oh, and I loved his country cover of Robyn’s ‘Dancing On My Own’ too.
Over at The Showground, the Cowboy Olympics are showcasing some terrifying horse masks for a frantic piggyback competition, before we are faced with the frankly quite hard to witness Hot Wings Challenge. Last year’s champion David Tomás accidentally pulls his own name from the game hat (which was only put in there as a joke) so he gets a second opportunity to maim himself, and is joined by four other equally insane contestants at the chequered tablecloth of doom.
There are many rounds of wings, increasing steadily on both the Scoville and poor life decisions scale, one of the hot sauces is even served up in a tiny coffin, and everyone has to don gloves after round 3. There are many tap-outs, quite a lot of milk quaffing, and by some miracle David beats everyone to the top (and in a moment of unparalleled self-flagellation decides to try the final wing despite having already won) to take the very silly trophy. We caught up with David after a couple of hours, who told us that his lips still hurt quite a lot, but Donna who tapped out at wing 3 was also spotted later that evening, looking rather worse for wear and begging security to let her into the VIP area to use the fancy loos…
We take a little trip to the O’Donnell Moonshine bar for a tasting session, and despite some preconceptions/misgivings about moonshine, we all came away with a favourite and a plan to use them in cocktails. For my preference – Lime (in a spicy marg situation no question) and Tough Nut (hazelnut, tastes like a Ferrero Rocher) are going on my wishlist.
Suitably toasty on a moonshine high, food is calling – and it’s time to sample the delights of the Texas Smoker, a fire truck fitted with smoking drums and a siren that wails to tell you that your meats are ready for consumption. Brisket chilli nachos won out this time, but every single thing on that menu is genuinely fantastic. Honestly though? The Long Road has a very well curated food selection, and a LOT of choice for a smaller festival, you can’t go wrong with any of the vendors here.
Over on The Front Porch, Chuck Ragan’s delightfully raspy vocals are soaring out over the orange sunkissed haybales tucked into the little copse of trees there. Between the smoking chimney stack of the hut, the hazy glow of the oncoming evening, and Chuck’s southern charm, you really could think you were somewhere entirely other, than the Leicestershire countryside.
Alana Springsteen is jumping around the Interstate singing an excellent diss song to her ex who told her she was never going to make it as a singer, ‘You Don’t Deserve A Country Song’ is delightfully tongue-in-cheek and I love that for her. “He knows exactly what I mean when I sing this” she quips, looking every bit the cool girl in her green and black leather moto pants and mirrored aviators.
No question my favourite set of the entire festival is Seasick Steve, and frankly I knew he would be, going in. It’s pretty rare actually, to witness someone act as a lightning rod for music, but that’s exactly how I have to describe Steve. Sitting on a rocking chair atop a riser, dressed in raggedy jeans and a sleeveless tshirt with his white beard blowing in the slight breeze, Steve’s past life as a hobo is projected stage side.
There’s a distinct no frills necessity to the type of music Seasick Steve plays, unadulterated bluesy country with a side of rock and roll, and the entire show seems to be going completely off vibes instead of a plan. At any rate, he seems to be compelled to jump up and move often “I’m just practicing, because this song is called ‘Backbone Slip’” he jokes as he wiggle-dances at the front of the stage.
I particularly love his array of unusual instruments, like the Diddley Bow made from as he puts it “A piece o’wood… this is off a chevy… this is a can o’jolly green giant”, which he proceeds to play with a slide and make it sound like a whole damn orchestra.
Leaping from a stage side platform onto the front barrier, he picks out a girl in a white skirt who looks utterly bewildered, and takes her to the stage to play her a ballad. “I’m gonna pretend its summer in Tennessee, and that I’m courtin’ you. You’re gonna pretend I’m 50 years younger” he giggles, and plays the softly beautiful ‘Walkin’ Man’, as she sits next to him in awe.
The rest of the show includes another guitar made out of a license plate, him chugging a bottle of (possibly?) wine, and heading towards the crowd when a fight between two idiots broke out. “I ain’t kidding I’ll come down there and kick your ass” he threatens, and stops the song he’s in the middle of. “I ain’t kidding cut that shit out, ‘cause I need to boogie! That’s it boys, take that shit out” he calls to security who have finally arrived at the scene. Never a dull moment.
‘Dog House Boogie’ might be the jam in the sandwich, being Steve’s most well known song in the UK thanks to his OG Jools Holland appearance, and it is as brilliant as it ever was, but I can’t state enough that Steve’s entire performance was phenomenal.
Bristol duo True Strays are playing the very tiny VIP stage in High Fallootin’ and have a funny story about one of them being mistaken for James Bay once, and being in a lot of people’s photos before they realised. Whilst I’m mostly giggling at the story, I have to say I am digging their more rock n roll sound – I’d like to hear ‘Matters To You’ again on a bigger stage.
As the sun sets on this final Long Road night, James Bay joins the throng bathed in a gorgeous array of spray lighting, looking every bit an absolute rock star. You might be forgiven for thinking that James is merely a crooner, if you only know him through radio, but I am blown away by the strength of this upbeat show and his undeniable confidence as a performer.
Leading with ‘Up All Night’ is a great intro choice with the clap/stomp, I swear every foot in the arena is tapping along, it’s a huge crowd reaction. ‘Hopeless Heart’ is stunning, and he simply doesn’t stop moving and dancing as he’s playing, the energy is infectious.
“I’m gonna do a really old song now, if you know it sing it up loud” he calls before dropping into a flawless ‘Let It Go’, but afterwards has to take a second and jokes “You guys, when you have a summer cough you just play guitar and sing too right?”. Honestly, if he hadn’t mentioned it, I wouldn’t have even known up until this point because his vocals have been impeccable.
‘Scars’ comes with a sneaky little snippet of Elvis’ ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love With You’ and I love ‘Best Fake Smile’, but it’s smash hit closer ‘Hold Back The River’ that has a grip on this huge crowd. Everyone is singing, everyone is hugging or dancing, this is what a great headliner looks like. Kudos TLR, James Bay maybe looked like a rogue choice to some, but every bit of that was brilliant.
Verdict:
Despite weather reports threatening a gloomy weekend, once again The Long Road seems to be a shining beacon of hazy late summer, drenched in soulful wholesome vibes that are sure to put you at ease. It’s hard to put this festival in the context of festivals as a whole, because it feels as the tagline goes, like being ‘welcomed home’.
Whether you came for the boots, the beers, or the ballads, The Long Road 2025 delivered in spades. See you next year, old friend.
MOGA Essaouira, one of the world’s leading boutique festivals and late summer getaways, completes its eclectic line up for 2025 edition
with new additions all adding extra depth and breadth to an already cultured line up. They include techno innovator Dorian Craft, Spanish house star Enzo Leep, Carpets and Snares label and record store boss Jorge Caiado, inventive tech house titan Luca Saporito (Audiofly), Items & Things’s dark minimal and disco queen Magda, Scorpios Mykonos and Bodrum resident Rita Soko and many more, with over 70 artists confirmed to perform at the festival. These latest names are in addition to the likes of the already revealed Apollonia, Bonobo, Cabanne, DJ Tennis, Folamour, Janeret, Patrick Mason, Saiorse and many more.
MOGA Festival is the ultimate destination festival for music lovers and cultural explorers alike. Set against the stunning backdrop of Essaouira, one of Morocco’s most underrated coastal gems, MOGA offers far more than just music – it is a full spectrum of experiences for all of the senses. Think golden beaches, Atlantic ocean breezes and sun-drenched afternoons that stretch deep into hedonistic nights which mean this boutique gathering allows you to extend your summer in style. The vibrant local culture of Essaouira is blended with a finely curated, eclectic soundtrack of house, electronic, Afro and global grooves so whether you’re dancing in the medina, soaking up sunset sessions by the sea, or connecting with the global MOGA tribe, this is a journey for mind, body and soul.
The new additions have in part been curated by house music connoisseurs Deeproot, Bedouin Saga and Life & Death and bring even more depth to the lineup, favouring the underground with a focus on musical storytelling and organic grooves. These artists will soundtrack a truly unique experience across four distinct stages: Main, Garden, Wild, and Terrace, with each offering a different sonic journey beneath Essaouira’s sun and stars.
Running for five days, MOGA kicks off with its beloved OFF program on October 1–2 which has an array of free daytime activities, intimate parties and cultural activities scattered throughout the city’s historic medina. From October 3–5, the action shifts to Hôtel le Golf d’Essaouira & Spa, where the IN program takes over with full production, over 70 artists, two pools, four immersive stages and a palm-lined oasis perfect for dancing, connection and exploration.
Inspired by its surroundings, MOGA combines global electronic music with local rhythms, celebrating Essaouira’s rich Gnawa heritage and Atlantic soul. Like its sister edition in Caparica, Portugal, MOGA Essaouira also includes a holistic program of wellness sessions, creative workshops, culinary pop-ups, and artistic installations and is expected to welcome 16,000 attendees from around the world.
FULL LINEUP
II FACES – ADASSIYA (LIVE) – ANTON – ANZAR – APOLLONIA – ARAPU – ARYMÉ – AVANGART TABLDOT – AVÖ – AWEN – BALOO – BARON – BEDOUIN – BONOBO – CABANNE – CHOUJAA – DANIEL BELL – DAOX – DEATRA – DJ TENNIS – DJUDAH – DJ SMEMO – DJ SWEET6TEEN – DORIAN CRAFT – ELISE JILIAN – ENZO LEEP – FELIX ID – FOLAMOUR – GARRETT DAVID (LIVE) – GIU NUNEZ – HOLLY MOLLY – JANERET – JAWORA – JC [HoMe] – JNJS – JORGE CAIADO – JUSTIN SHAFFER – KOSH (LIVE) – LATO – LIVER J – LUCA SAPORITO (AUDIOFLY) – MAGA – MAGDA – MAGUPI (LIVE) – MANUEL COTTA – MASSALA – ME.DI – MIISHU – MILUHSKA – MIROLOJA – MOBLACK – MOLYNESS – NEYL & NADRUMS (LIVE) – NATHABES – NITEFREAK – NOMADS – OSFUR – PATRICK MASON – PRASLEA – PRIKU – RAMYEN – RITA SOKO – SAADOON – SAFAR – SAIORSE – STEVE O’SULLIVAN – THOMAS MELCHIOR – TOMAS STATION – UVITA – YAYA (MA) – ZEINA – ZULU NAWFEL
Tao Group Hospitality announces the highly anticipated debut of the newly remodelled Marquee Nightclub New York followed by the grand reopening of the reimagined Marquee Nightclub Las Vegas. These transformative renovations mark a bold new era for the iconic nightlife brand, blending cutting-edge design, world-class entertainment, and an elevated guest experience in two of the world’s most dynamic nightlife capitals.
Marquee New York will reopen this September after undergoing its third complete renovation in 22 years.
Designed in partnership with Jack Hotho, the redesign is both a tribute to the original Marquee and a forward-thinking update built with today’s audience in mind. The space has been completely gutted and reimagined to feel warm, music-driven, and content-focused—highlighted by an upgraded LED system, immersive visual technology and a more expansive dance floor. Rich dark oak finishes and subtle purple accents bring depth and a moody elegance to the room. Above all, the renovation is an ode to New York, rooted in listening to what the crowd wanted and delivering a refreshed, future-ready Marquee with an artist line-up that includes Steve Aoki, Kaskade, Oliver Heldens, Francis Mercier, Chris Lorenzo, Elderbrook, and more.
Hot on the heels of the New York debut, Marquee Las Vegas will reopen this October, revealing a dramatic transformation of the main room of its legendary multi-level venue inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The remodel will introduce next-generation audiovisual technology with a high-resolution, 1.5 ton monolith LED screen, a moving LED centrepiece and an enhanced lighting and laser rig to bring festival-style production to the main room. Drawing inspiration from the amethyst stone, the space now features custom metallic wall coverings, bronze mirror panels, and lush burgundy and champagne velvets, all designed to let the music and visuals take the spotlight. Headliners at Marquee Las Vegas include Fisher, Alesso, Steve Aoki, Pauly D, Loud Luxury, Benny Benassi, Cedric Gervais, Claptone and more.
“Marquee has always been synonymous with energy, music, and unforgettable moments,” said Noah Tepperberg, Co-CEO of Tao Group Hospitality. “It’s more than a nightclub, it’s a cultural touchpoint that’s evolved with the times while staying rooted in the pulse of nightlife. With these remodels, we’re honoring the legacy of the brand while elevating every detail to meet the evolving expectations of our guests.”
Jason Strauss, Co-CEO of Tao Group Hospitality, added: “We’ve reimagined both Marquee New York and Marquee Las Vegas to deliver next-level experiences that reflect the future of nightlife. From design to technology to service, every element has been thoughtfully considered to raise the bar once again. We couldn’t be more excited to unveil this next chapter in two cities that mean so much to the brand.”
The updated venues will continue to host performances from the world’s top DJs and artists, paired with Tao Group’s signature hospitality and a renewed focus on immersive, experiential design.
This winter, Bohemia Beach Club returns with another unmissable Saturday series delivering even more world-class house music and unforgettable party experiences, all set within an atmosphere of opulent luxury and sophisticated style.
Last season set a new benchmark, with sold-out shows and standout sets from the likes of Loco Dice, James Hype, Chris Stussy, Diplo, Sonny Fodera, Chloé Caillet, Miguelle & Tons b2b Ben Sterling, Rossi, Franky Rizardo, Jan Blomqvist, Paco Osuna, Roger Sanchez, Arielle Free, Sarah Story, Hot Since 82, HoneyLuv, Defected and many more.
As the new season dawns, Bohemia Beach Club once again promises more than just a party. It’s an escape and celebration of music and connection in a setting that stimulates every sense: ultra-luxury loungers, a stunning glass infinity pool and sweeping views of Dubai Marina, Palm Jumeirah, and Ain Dubai elevate every moment.
Golden afternoons flow into star-lit nights, where guests dance beneath the sky, sip signature cocktails, savour indulgent shisha and fully embrace the unmistakable ‘Vibe at FIVE’.
The new season opens in spectacular style on 4 October, with returning Belgian superstar Lost Frequencies, the hitmaker behind “Black Friday”, “Are You With Me” and countless other hits that have amassed over one billion streams. He has headlined past Bohemia beach parties in front of sold-out crowds and now sets the tone for the full season ahead with Serve Cold & Grigoré, Sam Oui and Quilliam.
After him, on 11 October comes innovative Afro-house star SONA who has collaborated with Drake on “Texts Go Green” which earned him the #1 spot on the Billboard R&B Producers chart, and he plays with Sparrow & Barbossa, and Mr Goodalf b2b Anrey. 18 October is the seasoned dance talent Robin Schulz fresh off another epic residency in Ibiza, with Laurenano also playing. 25 October welcomes Global house tastemaker Sonny Fodera and Sam Oui, Jenn Getz and Alfie, then progressive house heroes Anjunadeep take over 1 November with key artists 16BL, Because of Art, Durante, Jody Wisternoff, and Qrion.
The world renowned Defected return on 8 November following their famous 25th anniversary celebrations here last season with the soulful disco house sounds of Purple Disco Machine plus DiOSA and Kori Hall, and then 15 November is Brazil’s leading house champion Vintage Culture, who has defined the melodic scene with his unique sounds, and he is joined by Fabricen and Hilde. Then it is underground favourite Adam Ten on 22 November alongside Fabrice b2b Stasi Sanlin and Franky Rizardo on 29 November bringing all shades of house and tech next to Jixo & Danz and Codeface.
Victorious Festival remains an impressive inclusive music festival by the beautiful south coast.
The Southsea event offered the strongest headliners of the summer, with Queens of the Stone Age on the main stage on Friday, with the nutty boys, Madness, on the Castle Stage at the same time. Saturday offered man-eater Nelly Furtado and Vampire Weekend, while Sunday was a spicy choice between Melanie C and Kings of Leon.
It’s such a shame we can’t be in two places at once, as each of those artists deserves to be seen.
The beauty of Victorious Festival is that they always book an impressive headline-worthy artist to begin proceedings each day and this year was no exception.
On Friday, The Charlatans kicked off the main stage. Singer and frontman Tim Burgess does not appear to have aged a day since they first arrived on the indie scene in 1990 with ‘The Only One I Know‘. Playing a crowd-pleasing greatest hits set at 1pm definitely got everyone in the mood for the entertainment ahead.
In a positive change this year, the comedy performers took to the main stage, rather than a small big-top. This was a relief for many who in previous years have struggled to get into the crowded performance tent.
Comedian and Masked Singer presenter Joel Dommett followed The Charlatans on the main stage and stated he was slightly daunted at the size of the huge crowd who had come to see him in the Southsea sun. Mixing tales of his innuendo filled intros from the Masked Singer, to his own self- deprecation of playing his early rap-tape, it was an inspired decision moving the comedy so more people could enjoy it.
Following this great start to the family event, much has been written in the news about the silencing of a certain Irish band. The festival has already issued a statement and an apology for the way events transpired. At Summer Festival Guide, we are here to review events and festivals across UK and Europe and look to ensure the crowd are having a great time – they certainly were all weekend and Victorious have stated they will be making a generous donation to humanitarian efforts.
Elsewhere over on Castle Stage at the same time, many were enjoying Daniel Beddingfield who is embarking on something of a comeback, playing a mix of garage music, before finishing with his hits ‘If You’re Not The One‘ and ‘Gotta Get Through This.’
Victorious has so many stages on offer, and the Seaside Stage is one of the most beautiful locations overlooking the coastline. Following in the footsteps of Barrioke in 2024, this year was Massaoke – humurous rock legend wannabes, with leotards and gold spandex on offer. The colourful band played the music and backing tracks, while the crowd were encouraged to sing all the words displayed on the screen to classic 70s and 80s power ballads and cheesy rock classics. Modern karaoke never sounded so good (or so bad when we joined in for ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ briefly…)
Before the Friday-night headliners, party starters Kaiser Chiefs bound on stage, with arguably the biggest crowd of the day. Reminiscing how its been 20 years since their debut seminal album ‘Employment’ was released, Ricky Wilson still has bundles of energy, scaling the stage scaffolding while entertaining, with hits including ‘I Predict A Riot‘ and ‘Ruby‘.
The crowd knew and sung every word. They are about to tour the UK in the coming months and based on the audience reaction, many tickets would have been sold after this electrifying performance.
Queens of the Stone Age (QoTSA) followed and Josh Homme certainly knows how to begin in style. Some bands save their biggest songs for the end of their sets, but QoTSA went straight into ‘You Think I Ain’t Worth a Dollar, but I Feel Like a Millionaire‘, ‘No One Knows‘, ‘Burn the Witch‘, then ‘My God Is the Sun‘ – arguably four of their biggest songs.
Halfway through the set, Josh Homme stated they’d come across the Atlantic to play for their fans and asked the audience what they wanted to hear. At request they played, “Little Sister‘, before a young audience member displayed a sign asking to join the band on-stage. Ironically the singer stated they weren’t the Foo Fighters, although Dave Grohl was previously this bands drummer…
As well as the music, as stated earlier, Victorious Festival prides itself on being a family orientated festival. The kids area this year offered a number of highlights, from meet’and’greets with Sonic the Hedgehog and Peppa Pig, through to impressive old-school British Empire Wrestling, and the famous ‘World’s Biggest Bouncy Castle’ which we’ve tried at many other events across the UK – well worth a mega-bounce if you see it.
Saturday began with the impressive Rizzle Kicks – who truly kicked things off in style. The crowd (and band) were jumping and the duo certainly don’t take themselves too seriously, with huge flowers in pots on stage.
Not to be outdone, Scouting for Girls followed, with their James Bond theme. Singer Roy Stride previously played the smaller acoustic stage here a couple of years ago, but now won the crowd over on the main Common Stage. With his selfie-stick, he filmed the audience while proclaiming everybody wants to be on tv.
Victorious also offers many slots for local bands, from the impressive Southsea Alternative Choir over on the aforementioned Seaside Stage, to breakthrough opportunities on the main stage.
Crystal Tides, an energetic Portsmouth indie-band played in the afternoon before local singer songwriter Marley Blandford had the opportunity of a lifetime to play before his biggest crowd to date – in the style of Ed Sheeran, he mixed acoustic guitar with looping pedals to create an impressive collection of tracks – one to watch in the future, especially with his cover of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody‘ to close the set.
Shed Seven returned to the festival in their usual cheeky style, with singer Rick Witter reading out many fan messages he’d received from fans young and old. Chucking his maraca to a young 9 year old in the crowd, he asked if anyone remembered the 90s, before playing their crowd pleasers ‘Going for Gold’, ‘Chasing Rainbows‘ and even a cover of The Smiths ‘There Is A Light Which Never Goes Out‘ with it’s darkly comic lyric
‘…And if a double-decker bus, crashes into us To die by your side, is such a heavenly way to die…’
Quite!
Scottish legends Travis followed, and Fran Healy sung ‘Why Does It Alway’s Rain On Me‘, although based on the dust around the site, it was clear Portsmouth and Southsea were basking in some particularly fine summer sun.
Back over on the Seaside Stage, 90s pin-up Betty Boo dazzled crowds with her old hits ‘Where Are You Baby’ and ‘Doin’ the Do‘, before concluding with ‘Pure and Simple‘ made famous by Hear’Say on the first series of Pop Idol. Utah Saints followed with an impressive DJ set, mixing classics from The Prodigy and New Order (both of whom have headlined Victorious in previous headliners.)
Talking of headliners, we chose to see Nelly Furtado over at the Castle Stage. It was surprising how many hits she’s had, from ‘I’m Like A Bird’ to ‘Promiscuous‘. She also played a couple of covers including ‘Get Ur Freak On‘ and James Morrison’s ‘Broken Strings,’ before sending the huge crowd away happy with ‘Man-eater.‘
Food-wise, a special shout out must go to Lidl and their Bubbles and Bangers stall. They offered a substantial hot-dog, and a glass of chilled lemonade for £7.50, or even better, a hot-dog with prosecco for £9.50. Considering many bars were charging the same for a can of gin’n’tonic this summer for the same price, this was the best deal of the summer. All profits went to the NSPCC charity also, so a big shout out must go to everyone’s favourite low cost supermarket for saving pennies. There was also the chance to win some merch or a bucket hat to keep cool.
Sunday, with everyone feeling slightly jaded from two days partying, there needed to be a big act to get everyone moving. Wow, and what an act to start the day.
Craig David brought his TS5 show to Southsea and had everyone singing all the words to his hits, from ‘Re-rewind (Bo-Selecta)‘, to ‘Fill Me In‘, ‘Walking Away‘, and finishing of course with ‘7-Days‘. It must be said this was a tough act to follow, and possibly based on the immense size of the crowd, Craig could have been headlining any of the nights.
Bradley Simpson, singer of The Vamps followed. Many of the audience had clearly come to see him, with banners held aloft and screams from his adoring fans. He certainly worked the stage, climbing over the speakers and strutting the stage like a true boy-band professional.
Jasper Carrott provided the comedy of the day and defied his 80 years with good humour, although some of the material regarding fax machines and prostate examinations left the younger audience members baffled. Definitely one for the older audience.
The Zutons followed, with a cover of Amy Winehouse’s ‘Back to Black‘, before performing their own ‘Valerie’ made famous by the late-great singer.
The Reytons followed and it was a surprise to hear they’re one of the biggest unsigned bands in the UK.
Frontman Jonny Yerrell proclaimed “This is the best festival in the UK…full of so much love and energy“. Who are we to disagree.
Bloc Party played a greatest hits set list, with singer Kele proclaiming this was a great place to perform the final night of their tour. Many of the audience may not have heard them before but recognised a couple of their songs used recently in adverts.
Headline wise, Sunday was the biggest possibly seen by Victorious and the biggest of any festival this summer. American superstars Kings of Leon took to the main stage and brought an incredible close to the weekend. Normally singer Caleb doesn’t say a word to the crowd between songs, but he stopped many times to thank the huge crowd. He even spotted a Tennessee flag in the audience from his home state and seemed in good spirits throughout.
It was an absolutely flawless performance from KoL, with songs played from their 25-year career. The biggest cheers went out for ‘Use Somebody‘ and ‘Molly’s Chambers‘, but of course, the crowd sung every word when they finished with ‘Sex On Fire’. They certainly did not disappoint.
There were so many other impressive acts we saw which we haven’t had time to cover. From Everything Everything with their indie-dance music to Public Service Broadcasting with their conceptual approach of using archival footage from old films and documentaries – there really was something for everyone at Victorious.
We can’t wait to return next year – this was a memorable year, but for all the right, positive reasons we keep coming back. The festival keeps on expanding and you can see why. Kings of Leon are going to be a difficult act for Victorious to beat next year, but we are excited to find out who they book.
Following a legendary debut that proved you don’t have to wait for summer for festival season to begin, Hospitality Weekender is back in January 2026 with its one-of-a-kind indoor raving experience, and has just announced an unrivalled lineup for three more days of non-stop drum & bass from Friday 30 January to Monday 2 February 2026.
Transforming the iconic South Coast holiday resort into a fully immersive raver village, the Weekender delivers an all-in-one festival that brings global talent and Hospitality’s signature family together for a unique and unmissable start to the year. Hospitality, guided by its ‘Spread Love’ motto welcomes all ages, races, genders, and sexualities, fostering a safe, vibrant, and united community under one roof, all powered by a shared love of drum & bass. All ticket packages include on-site accommodation at a range of price points, so get yours now at https://weekender.hospitalitydnb.com/
With exclusive access to the entire 60-acre Butlin’s Bognor Regis site across all three days, ticket holders can enjoy world-class music just steps away from their cosy bed after a full day (and night) of raving. A variety of comfortable on-site accommodation is available from self-catered apartments to hotel-style rooms with packages starting from just £252 per person.
In true Hospitality style, the Weekender delivers the full spectrum of drum & bass across four custom indoor arenas from liquid to jungle, rollers to neuro, and everything in between. Pioneers, legends, and next-gen tastemakers will set the tone for 2026 with stages hosted by some of D&B’s most iconic labels and sound systems.
Highlights include Hedex’s long-awaited Hospitality debut, Kasra b2b Samurai Breaks fresh from their headline set at Shogun x Flexout’s sold-out Cause takeover, and a historic first-time collaboration unites the legendary Valve Soundsystem and Virus Recordings. Adding to the exclusives, Camo & Krooked go b2b with Kanine for the very first time, while DNB Classics make their debut at both Hospitality and the Weekender, celebrating the sounds that shaped the scene.. They join over 100 artists including Metrik, A Little Sound, Flava D, Sota, DJ Storm, Roni Size, DJ Hype and many more.
There is an abundance of bars, restaurants and takeaways, plus an on-site supermarket to keep you fueled for more than just raving, with various activities,a 24-hour arcade, waterpark pool parties and a £15M indoor activity centre all easily accessible. Butlin’s Resort itself is just over an hour from London by train, with easy access via the M25 for Gatwick Airport.
Says Maya De N’Yeurt of Undivide & Hospitality Weekender: “After an unforgettable debut, we’re beyond excited to bring Hospitality Weekender back to Butlin’s in 2026. For one weekend only, the South Coast becomes our very own drum & bass village, a space where every corner of drum & bass is celebrated, with something for everyone. Now the blueprint’s been laid, we’re pushing to deliver an even bigger, better, and more unforgettable edition. We can’t wait to welcome you back once again in January.”
Hospitality Weekender is one of the flagship events from the worldwide foremost drum & bass authority. With the same attention to detail and careful curation that it has championed for over 25 years, it’s the best possible way to escape your winter blues.
Game-changing new West London venue Gallery Club has announced its full Season Two programme for this autumn. The new schedule features the likes of Damian Lazarus, Jeremy Underground, Dennis Ferrer, Krystal Klear, Silvie Loto, Beltran, Rossi., Reznik (Keinemusik) and others, with more to come throughout the season.
Launched in spring 2025, Gallery Club has quickly gained recognition as a place for cultured electronic music in the capital. With a capacity of 400, it is an intimate space that already hosted notable acts such as Seth Troxler, Pete Tong, Kaz James, Nic Fanciulli, Blond:ish, Rossi., and Prospa.
Designed to offer a high-spec audio-visual experience, the club features a 360° central DJ booth, an immersive lighting setup, and a d&b audiotechnik sound system as well as The Club Room, a Cuban-inspired cocktail bar with Latin-influenced programming, a hidden, invite-only area for intimate sets called The Studio Room and even Carlo’s Pizza for tasty late night slices.
Co-Founder & Creative Director Barth Rougier says “We are bringing the most exciting electronic acts week in, week out, from the most up and coming names to the most established. We have so many more special guests that we will be announcing throughout the season as well.”
Season Two A–Z Line-up (more to be announced):
ABEL, AGELESS, AJ CHRISTOU, BELTRAN, BLACKCHILD, CAMERON JACK, DAISYBELLE, DAMIAN LAZARUS, DELILAH, DENNIS FERRER, GREGGIO, HALFPINT, JEREMY UNDERGROUND, KRYSTAL KLEAR, LAOLU, LIV RAVDEN, MATTEO DIOP, MAYSSA, MINNA, ODRIK, PAISLEY JENSEN, PAREA, REZNIK, RICHE, ROSSI., SAM KARAM, SARAGA, SILVIE LOTO, TOMAN, TOMMY GOLD, VILLANOVA
For more info and tickets head to galleryclublondon.comFollow @galleryclublondon for further updates.
We Out Here is a beautiful melting pot of a festival – embracing so many genres, from rap, reggae, funk, disco and jazz – there truly is something for everyone with a passion for great music.
Curated by legendary DJ Gilles Peterson, it should come as no surprise that the music on offer each year is truly special.
Looking through the line-up, there are few artists which may be household names…yet. But that does not mean it is not one of the strongest selection of music found at any festival this year. With WOMAD festival taking a hiatus in 2025, this is the true kaleidoscope of the year and offered the best discoveries of 2025.
There are too many highlights to list – record stores selling incredible signed vinyl, talks from inspirational writers, or even the chance for a wild dip or paddle-board in the surrounding rivers or relax in the Sanctuary. You can take part in art therapy or yoga classes…or even the simple glory of finding some shade from the Dorset sun next to the rollerblade disco.
As previously mentioned, with over 100 artists across the weekend, there is something for all lovers of good music. There were so many discoveries which have been added to heavy rotation on Spotify playlists once returning home.
The appropriately named Lush Life stage offered artists – from the lesser known Fulu Muziki (an Afro-futurist music ensemble from the Democratic Republic of the Congo with an incredible rhythm section), to the well known A Guy Called Gerald. Hearing him on vinyl or in a bar is enjoyable, but seeing him live is truly where the magic happens and the only way to fully appreciate the man’s work.
Rhythm Corner is a mix of hay-bales and superstar DJ’s including Carl Craig, Josey Rebelle, Ben UFO and one of jungle scene’s most respected names, Roni Size.
Over on the main stage, there truly were some inspirational acts to discover. One highlight included Jalen Ngonda, who is such an incredible talent. Wearing flares and an incredible smile, Jalen will surely be a future headliner, not only at We Out Here but possibly Glastonbury – he’s that good. With an incredible soulful voice on par with John Legend, with touches of Marvin Gaye’s falsetto, it truly was a stunning performance.
On Sunday, the main stage opened with Kahil El Zabar – possibly the best jazz multi-instrumentalist you’ll see this year. At 70 years young, he’s a 5-time recipient of the Jazz Journalist Association’s Percussionist of the Year award and no wonder. Sublime. In the eloquent words displayed on stage during the set ‘we need to release the spirit within both as an act of resistance but more importantly as an act of love.’
The headliners this year certainly did not disappoint either, with such a diverse mix. Thursday offered the beautiful Noname, a Chicago rapper with boundless energy and charisma. Friday offered a treat with MJ Cole performing his album ‘Sincere’ in its entirety. Live it still sounds as good today as it did when it was released, the true test of a timeless classic.
In the words of Gilles Peterson ‘the Saturday headline felt like a perfect embodiment of everything I ever hoped WOH could stand for.’
The Rotary Collection 222 was truly mindblowing and such a privilege to experience. Celebrating the life work of Charles Stepney, who I’m ashamed to admit I was not familiar with before this festival, it was dazzling how many people have recorded his songs, or sampled his creative genius. From working with the beautiful Minnie Ripperton to Earth, Wind and Fire, he has also been sampled by the mighty Jay-Z and Kanye West.
No-one can sum up their performance better than Gilles himself – ‘Bringing together tradition, family, energy and a large community of musicians from disparate provenances to express the beauty of Charles’ compositions and arrangements with a packed field singing and swaying in the light of the moon was beyond anything I could have imagined. The goosebumps and tears were real – a true expression of what music can make us feel.’
It was incredible to see, and be part of the crowd – the musicians truly appreciated the adulation from the audience also and responded to the love they richly deserved.
Unfortunately, Michael Kiwanuka had to cancel his remaining summer shows due to an ongoing illness, so we didn’t get to see him at We Out Here, or the upcoming Victorious festival over the bank holiday weekend.
But what a replacement the festival managed to secure at the last minute. Loyle Carner, having headlined The Other Stage at Glastonbury drew in the biggest crowd of the weekend. Such a young talent, it’s no wonder he won the Mercury Music Prize and will shortly embark on an arena tour throughout the UK. Clearly he loved the festival, saying simply : “This is the best festival I’ve ever been to in my entire life”.
We couldn’t argue with that. We Out Here truly was special.
Gilles Peterson brought proceedings to a fitting close in The Bowl with a celebratory, genre-spanning set. He finished an incredible weekend by summing it all up so well “I want to say thank you to everyone who’s come this weekend. Honestly, last night with Rotary Connection and bringing over Shirly Wahls was unbelievable. For me it was a career highlight. When I was there listening to 10,000 people singing the words to ‘Les Fleurs’ in a field in Dorset, in England, I couldn’t believe it. Thank you so much ‘cos that’s what it’s all about. The way we can mix the heritage music, the forward-thinking music, the UK DJ culture; there’s nothing like it anywhere in the world.”
We Out Here truly is a joyous festival and we can’t wait for it to return to Dorset next year.
This truly is one of the, if not THE best festival for discovering exciting new music in the UK.
The global bingo rave phenomenon brings its wildest night yet to the iconic Cow Palace, with 8,000 partygoers, outrageous prizes, and a two-hour sensory overload of music and madness
The Bay Area is in for a party like it’s never seen before when BINGO LOCO XXL lands in San Francisco for its largest ever event on Saturday, November 15, 2025. The legendary Cow Palace will be transformed into a wild collision of music and mayhem with colossal prizes, dance-offs, confetti showers and much more. Tickets are available now at bingoloco.com.
What to Expect at BINGO LOCO XXL:
– Eight thousand participants in a high-octane bingo showdown
– Insane prizes from vacations to cars, giant inflatables to absurd mystery boxes
– Epic DJ sets, dance-offs, lip-sync battles, and surprise celebrity appearances
– Confetti showers, CO2 cannons, and non-stop party anthems
– Hosted by the infamous BINGO LOCO MCs, known for turning quiet nights into full-blown raves
Bingo Loco has already taken over more than 200 cities across the globe and made its indelible mark everywhere from New York to London, Dubai to Sydney, with more than 1200 successful shows in the US alone. Now, the viral live experience is bringing its electrifying experience to California for a full-throttle rave-meets-game-show that blends confetti explosions, high-stakes bingo and unpredictable party energy into a two-and-a-half-hour spectacle.
BINGO LOCO co-founder Craig Reynolds says San Francisco is in for something truly unforgettable with this XXL special;
“We’ve taken over concert halls, theaters, and even churches. Now it’s time for something truly outrageous. Cow Palace is legendary – and what we’re planning for San Francisco will blow minds.”
This supersized edition follows Bingo Loco’s explosive rise in the US and shows launching in more than 120 cities in the last 18 months alone. Its inescapable energy has made it the go-to night out for birthday, stag and hen parties, wild friend reunions and corporate blowouts and all with a reputation for being the most unpredictable experience imaginable.
After touring across over 200 cities worldwide, selling out in New York, London, Dubai, and Sydney, BINGO LOCO is pulling out every stop for this landmark XXL edition.
Event Details:
● Event Name: BINGO LOCO XXL
● Date: Saturday, November 15, 2025
● Location: Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva Ave, Daly City, CA
