Kambe Events – the company behind pioneering independent festival Shambala – has today announced a landmark transition to employee ownership, becoming the first festival in the UK to adopt this model.
The move sees the festival’s original co-founders step away from ownership, ceding the business to the team members who have helped build it over more than two decades.
The transition will see Shambala owned by an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), helping to ensure that the festival will remain independent, and that its team will share in future successes.
“All of us at Shambala have an emotional stake in what we have built over 25 years; now everyone has an ownership stake too,” explains Co-Founder and MD, Chris Johnson. “We would be nothing without our people, and they deserve to carry on the Shambala legacy as beneficiaries.“
This bold step comes at a time when many independent festivals are being acquired by major live entertainment conglomerates, marking a significant alternative path for the sector. By choosing employee ownership, Shambala is reinforcing its commitment to independence, sustainability and ethical stewardship.
“Shambala stands for independence and, in an increasingly commercialised festival scene, we simply could not sell to venture capitalists or the big promotion companies,” adds Johnson. “While exploring alternative paths, we fell in love with the Employee Ownership model.”
While recent years have seen a rise in community ownership of independent venues and a growing number of employee-owned retailers, this transition represents a first for the UK festival industry – setting a new precedent for how live events businesses can evolve, while keeping their core values very much intact.
“It is patently clear that the current capitalist model is fundamentally broken,” adds Dan Raffety, Head of Music and another of the festival’s Co-Founders, who has led Kambe’s transition to EO. “As a society we must explore alternative models of ownership as a way through which the massive power and potential of capitalism can be focused on serving humanity and the planet at large.”
“Employee Ownership is just the next, natural step in Kambe’s adventures towards a utopia – the next phase in our constant evolution towards justice and a better world.”
The move continues a long-standing tradition of thought-leadership and innovation for Shambala. Over its 26-year history, the festival has been at the forefront of industry change, particularly in areas like sustainability and ethical operations. This latest development adds to a legacy defined by forward-thinking decisions and a willingness to challenge the status quo.
By placing ownership in the hands of its employees, the festival is ensuring that its founding ethos – creativity, sustainability, independence and community – remains protected for years to come.
Turning up to tiptoe through the Tulips in the middle of a torrential downpour wasn’t exactly on the wishlist this weekend but as luck would have it – the wind and rain dies down just as we pull into Hatton Country World in Warwickshire.
The carpark is thoughtfully carpeted with full scale event flooring, meaning no matter how much water comes, we’ll still be able to get the cars out when we leave. Checking in is an absolute breeze as well, with scannable QR code tickets on our phones and a really cute tulip hand-stamp if you want to leave at any point.
Heading out into an absolutely adorable little courtyard area, we are immediately greeted by tulip displays everywhere, just as the sun is trying to break through the clouds. I wasn’t expecting so much infrastructure, I hadn’t pictured much beyond fields of tulips, but actually the set up is really cleverly designed for a complete day out.
For the social media inclined, there is no shortage of incredible places to take a photo – it’s clear that Tulley’s have really thought about what people will want here. From tulip laden trucks, to giant clogs, and layered height tulip boxes to peek through, there is no way you’re coming out of this without a new profile picture.
As it’s early afternoon we decide to get ourselves some food first, and there is a very decent selection of food trucks tucked into the corner of the courtyard with things like Pizza and Greek gyros up for grabs. We however, beeline for the Frik’n Deli Dutch Snacks van to grab some in-theme delicacies. Having been to Amsterdam a couple of years ago we knew we loved Bitterballen, so we tried some of the regular beef ragout ones and the cheese ones, alongside some Patat (fancy chips) covered in mayo and curry ketchup. The honest review is – as good as the Amsterdam ones and a perfect sharing trio.
No Dutch snack service can possibly be complete without a tray or two of Poffertjes, and the list of toppings here is frankly chaotic but brilliant. I went with a mix of Nutella and Dutch syrup (which tasted like liquified Stroopwaffel) and nearly made myself sick, in a good way.
We then head out into the tulip fields themselves, and all I can say is WOW. The fields are absolutely vast and stunningly vibrant. Rows upon rows of dancing tulips of every imaginable type. I feel quite dumb on the tulip front, but I truly didn’t know how many different shapes existed. Some were that traditional Miffy style tulip shape, but others were spikey and almost gothic, some were huge fluffy bursting clouds of colour, and then there were those with incredible toothed edges. Our whole visit was soundtracked with calls of “OOH come and look at this one!” and it was quite funny to hear everyone else there doing exactly the same thing.
There were a couple of musicians rocking about the fields playing a very amusing mix of songs on a portable drum kit and guitar, I particularly loved their renditions of Sweet Dreams and Backstreet’s Back. Another great thing to note about the fields, is the thoughtfulness of putting benches all around the edges for people to rest at on their way around. There were a few people attending that day with limited mobility, who were still able to enjoy time in the tulips as they could take a break.
I also really loved how many people had expressly come with the intention of getting photos amongst the tulips, there were a lot of families, women in beautiful dresses (despite the cold day), kids posing, and more than one puppy photoshoot in progress.
We were quite lucky with the weather in the end, the skies let up for a little sunshine while we were in the fields before another massive downpour later on, but I do want to note that since you book your day and time-slots in advance, there’s no telling what the April weather will do for you! The tulip fields do run into May, and they have different rows planted to come up on a rotation whereby there should always be heaps flowering whenever you come within the window.
After we had feasted our eyes on all the stunning tulips, we headed back up the field to the courtyard again, and into the little hut area which turned out to be a full on coffee shop with wooden booths inside. They serve a cracking hot chocolate, and really good brownies – especially useful if you need to warm up. Another thing to note is that there are lots of undercover spaces with tables/seating available around the courtyard – one family seemed to be throwing a whole Birthday party with cake in one of them, what a lovely idea!
The bathroom facilities were also decent – proper toilet blocks, and a number of separate disabled portaloos at ground level as well, we never had to queue for any of them despite it being fairly busy that day. There were also very knowledgeable staff all over site, checking in with people, chatty and super helpful. After taking a million photos of each other with every possible tulip, we clock the threatening skies and skip into the covered exit shop just before the monsoon began.
The shop is another thing I was surprised by, I expected tulip sales of course (but again, the available variety blew my mind) but there was a huge array of products, from ‘Tulip Fields’ candles which smelled amazing, to clothing, plushies and wooden carved tulips. You could even get yourself a ‘coffee and stroopwafels’ hoodie, which very nearly got me. We did come away with some gorgeous tulips to plant at home – which we learnt were actual ones leftover from this display, and will flower for the next four years.
Tulley’s Tulip Farm far surpassed my expectations, I think it’s a really well designed and unique day out – for all ages! There are still tickets going on the website, and Warwickshire is one of three sites in the UK that you can go to, it’s a strong recommend from me. There’s something very wholesome about giving your eyes something beautiful to look at now and then, to remind yourself that after a longgg winter – warmer days are on the way.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds today announce special guests for their sold out UK headline show at Preston Park, Brighton on Friday 31st July 2026 – their only UK show of the year. Joining the bill are The Flaming Lips, English Teacher, Cate Le Bon and Warmduscher. Brighton has been central to Nick Cave’s life and work for over 25 years, making Preston Park 2026 a truly historic homecoming event.
“I am thrilled beyond words to return to my beloved Brighton with The Bad Seeds to play Preston Park. It’s a homecoming! It’s going to be big, bad and beautiful. An epic show!!!” – Nick Cave
Long established as one of the most iconic, influential forces in alternative rock music, GRAMMY Award-winners The Flaming Lips bring a boundary pushing catalogue that balances darkness with moments of transcendence. Mercury Prize winners English Teacher represent a new wave of British guitar music rich with narrative depth and emotional nuance, while Mercury-Prize-nominated Cate Le Bon’s singular, art-led approach to songwriting and production echoes the more exploratory edges of The Bad Seeds’ work. Warmduscher, meanwhile, channel a raw, kinetic energy that sits comfortably alongside the band’s more unrestrained moments.
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds will perform a setlist which takes songs from all four decades of their storied career including their latest album Wild God.
The top 10 UK album Wild God was released in 2024 to great acclaim and brought fans the sold out Wild God European Tour, one of the live experiences of the year. Produced by Cave and Warren Ellis and mixed by David Fridmann, across ten tracks the band dance between convention and experimentation, taking left-turns and detours that heighten the rich imagery and emotion in Cave’s soul-stirring narratives.
Renowned for their exhilarating and unforgettable performances, The Bad Seeds are widely regarded as one of the most thrilling live bands in the world. This reputation was solidified in 2024, 2025 and early 2026 as critics and fans alike were stunned by The Wild God Tour as it travelled through the UK, Europe, North America and Australia.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds live line up:
Nick Cave, Warren Ellis, Colin Greenwood, Jim Sclavunos, George Vjestica,
American Express presents BST Hyde Park welcomes a true legend to the park this summer. The one and only Pitbull AKA Mr. Worldwide headlines on Friday 10 July. Today, BST Hyde Park reveals that two more iconic artists will join him in the park: Tinie Tempah and Lil Jon, joining the previously announced act, Kesha. Final acts to be added and tickets are on sale now, visit bst-hydepark.com.
International superstar Pitbull has sold more than 25 million studio albums and has more than 60 million monthly listeners on streaming platforms. The star has worked with everyone from Jennifer Lopez to Christina Aguilera to Usher and many more. With mega hits including “Don’t Stop the Party”, “Timber”, “Hotel Room Service”, “Time of Our Lives”, “Give Me Everything”, “Fireball’ and “Get On The Floor” the Grammy Award winner has secured his place as not only one of the pre-eminent figures in Latin music and hip hop, but as one of the biggest names in the pop world.
When Tinie Tempah exploded onto the scene with ‘Pass Out’ in 2010, he didn’t just score a hit, he rewrote the blueprint for UK rap forever. Over fifteen years later, with 3 Top Ten albums, 7 number 1’s, and a cultural legacy that paved the way for Britain’s Black music revolution, Tinie Tempah remains the architect of his own unstoppable momentum. From sold-out arenas to festival headlines, from chart domination to cultural zeitgeist moments, Tinie Tempah has consistently proven that longevity in this game isn’t about luck, it’s about evolution. His latest singles ‘Eat It Up’ and ‘Living Life’ make a statement of intent: Tinie Tempah isn’t just back, he’s here to remind everyone why he’s been the standard-setter all along. The game may have changed since 2010, but the throne remains his…
Louder and larger than life, Lil Jon is the undisputed king of crunk and one of hip-hop’s most influential hitmakers. Rising out of Atlanta’s club scene with Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz, he helped define the Dirty South sound with era-shaping anthems like “Get Low,” alongside landmark productions including Usher’s Grammy-winning “Yeah!” and “Snap Yo Fingers.” With a string of gold and platinum albums and a catalogue that spans hip-hop, pop and EDM, most notably the global smash “Turn Down for What” with DJ Snake, Lil Jon has remained a dominant force in music for over two decades. Renowned for his live sets, he now brings that same high-octane presence to BST Hyde Park as part of this year’s lineup.
For this special show, BST Hyde Park will also host an official GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title attempt for the Largest gathering of people wearing bald caps. The attempt builds on a phenomenon sparked by Pitbull’s devoted international fanbase, including his recent sold-out O2 Arena shows in London where thousands of fans arrived wearing bald caps. BST Hyde Park will bring this fan-led moment to its biggest stage yet, inviting audiences to take part in an official, adjudicated GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title attempt and be part of music history.
Headliners for BST Hyde Park 2026 also include: Garth Brooks (Saturday 27 June) and Lewis Capaldi (Saturday 11 July and Sunday 12 July), Maroon 5 (Friday 3 July), Mumford & Sons (Saturday 4 July), Duran Duran (Sunday 5 July), with final headliners to be announced.
Pitbull also headlines the inaugural American Express presents Roundhay Festival in Leeds on Friday 3 July, joined by Jason Derulo, Tinie Tempah and Lil Jon, with many more acts to be added. Visit roundhayfestival.com.
American Express presents Roundhay Festival, the newest addition to Leeds’ 2026 summer cultural calendar, is excited to announce three iconic names joining Pitbull on Friday 3 July: Jason Derulo, Tinie Tempah and Lil Jon. More acts to be announced and tickets for Mr Worldwide’s debut Leeds show are on sale now, visit www.roundhayfestival.com.
International superstar Pitbull has sold more than 25 million studio albums and has more than 60 million monthly listeners on streaming platforms. The star has worked with everyone from Jennifer Lopez to Christina Aguilera to Usher and many more. With mega hits including “Don’t Stop the Party”, “Timber”, “Hotel Room Service”, “Time of Our Lives”, “Give Me Everything”, “Fireball’ and “Get On The Floor” the Grammy Award winner has secured his place as not only one of the pre-eminent figures in Latin music and hip hop, but as one of the biggest names in the pop world.
With Pitbull in the driving seat, joined by Jason Derulo, Tinie Tempah and Lil Jon, this will be the undisputed party of the year – so grab your bald cap and get down to Roundhay Park.
With nearly 250 million followers across media platforms, Jason Derulo is a true multi-platform powerhouse and ranks among the top pop and urban artists of this or any era. While he may be recognizable worldwide as a multiplatinum singer and songwriter, Jason’s story starts unassumingly. The self-described, “Kid from a Haitian family in Miami,” has quietly and consistently grinded to emerge as one of his generation’s most prolific artists. With over 250 million singles sold and tens of billions of streams, his catalog includes platinum and multiplatinum generational anthems like “Talk Dirty [feat. 2 Chainz],” “Wiggle,” “Swalla,” and “Savage Love,” which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped charts in 16 countries. Whether collaborating with BTS, Nicki Minaj, Luke Bryan, or Michael Bublé, Derulo continues to blend genre, culture, and global sound with ease. His viral hit “Snake” with Nora Fatehi has racked up over 124 million views. Jason Derulo is also one of the most-followed males on TikTok and a top 10 largest music artist account overall, proving he’s as influential online as he is on the charts.
The global hitmaker continues his momentum with his latest single, “Sexy For Me,” alongside his new album, The Last Dance (Part 1). Over the past year, Derulo has been captivating audiences worldwide with his Last Dance World Tour, and now he’ll be bringing those vibes to Roundhay Park for Pitbull’s headlining show.
When Tinie Tempah exploded onto the scene with “Pass Out” in 2010, he didn’t just score a hit, he rewrote the blueprint for UK rap forever. Over fifteen years later, with 3 Top Ten albums, 7 number 1’s, and a cultural legacy that paved the way for Britain’s Black music revolution, Tinie Tempah remains the architect of his own unstoppable momentum. From sold-out arenas to festival headlines, from chart domination to cultural zeitgeist moments, Tinie Tempah has consistently proven that longevity in this game isn’t about luck, it’s about evolution. His latest singles ‘Eat It Up’ and ‘Living Life’ make a statement of intent: Tinie Tempah isn’t just back, he’s here to remind everyone why he’s been the standard-setter all along. The game may have changed since 2010, but the throne remains his…
Louder and larger than life, Lil Jon is the undisputed king of crunk and one of hip-hop’s most influential hitmakers. Rising out of Atlanta’s club scene with Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz, he helped define the Dirty South sound with era-shaping anthems like “Get Low,” alongside landmark productions including Usher’s Grammy-winning “Yeah!” and “Snap Yo Fingers.” With a string of gold and platinum albums and a catalogue that spans hip-hop, pop and EDM, most notably the global smash “Turn Down for What” with DJ Snake, Lil Jon has remained a dominant force in music for over two decades. Renowned for his live sets, he now brings that same high-octane presence to Roundhay Park as part of this year’s line up.
Pitbull also headlines American Express presents BST Hyde Park on Friday 10 July. Visit www.bst-hydepark.com
Lewis Capaldi has already been announced as the headliner for Saturday 4 July, joined by special guests Conan Gray and Jacob Alon, with more artists for this billing to be announced.
Roundhay Festival headliners, full line-ups and programmes are to be announced.Follow Roundhay on Instagram and X, and join their newsletter here for updates.
Today The Great Escape, taking place from 13-16 May 2025 in Brighton, unveils its full festival schedule for this year’s edition, which can be accessed via the official The Great Escape mobile app. The Great Escape mobile app helps fans navigate the mammoth line-up of 450+ artists, build personalised schedules, and receive live on-site updates. It is available to download for free here.
Following the schedule announcement, The Great Escape also reveals its 2026 stage hosts including media partners Billboard UK, BBC Introducing, Clash, DIY, Dork, Kerrang!, NME, Notion, So Young, The Independent, The Line of Best,Ticketmaster New Music, live agencies ITB, ROAM, WME, management company Raw Power, and independent record labels Bella Union, Hospital Records, Rough Trade, Transgressive Records, Third Man Records, among many more.
The Great Escape also announces a further 43 artists joining the 2026 lineup, continuing its commitment to championing the most exciting new talent from across the globe. Among the latest additions are fast-rising neo-soul voice Nectar Woode, boundary-pushing experimental outfit Mandy, Indiana, and the electrifying Working Men’s Club, whose fusion of post-punk and electronic influences has earned widespread acclaim. They are joined by a diverse wave of emerging and established names including Gabriella Cilmi, Walt Disco, Lizzie Esau, Rafferty, and Oumy, alongside international artists such as La Plata, Tian Qiyi, showmore, and BANSHIMOKU, reflecting the festival’s broad and forward-thinking musical scope.
Synonymous with new music discovery and acting as a springboard for rising artists, The Great Escape is the festival for new music. Playing host to over 450 up-and-coming artists and hotly tipped talent across 35+ walkable venues, alongside the music industry-led TGE conference, the festival will kick off the 2026 season from 13 – 16th May in Brighton, England. Tickets for The Great Escape festival are on sale here
WEDNESDAY 13 MAY STAGE HIGHLIGHTS
For 2026, The Great Escape continues to expand into the Wednesday of the festival, once again delivering four full days of music programming. Opening the week, The Line of Best Fit will host a showcase at Green Door Store featuring Sword II, The Healing Power of Horses, Pollyfromthedirt, and PISS. Meanwhile, BBC Introducing Sussex and Surrey takes over Concorde 2 with performances from Winter Gardens, Gilska, Room Service, and Lemonsuckr. Over at Patterns Downstairs, Notion will present Boutique Feelings, Elín Hall, Sword II, Hemi Hemmingway, and The Itch, marking a strong start to the festival’s opening day.
THURSDAY 14 MAY STAGE HIGHLIGHTS
On Thursday, The Great Escape continues its city-wide celebration of new music with an eclectic programme of showcases across Brighton. This year’s Lead Country Partner New Zealand hosts two showcases at Patterns, and So Young takes over Chalk with performances from Sylvie’s Head, Little Grandad, Madra Salach, and Westside Cowboy, while Rough Trade hosts at Charles Street Tap featuring Twat Union, Max Winter, Pigeon, Sunday Mourners, and The Orielles. At Dust, Hard of Hearing presents a diverse lineup including Morn, Slag, Annie Dog, Salarymen, Ribbon Skirt, Bathing Suits, and IBSXJAUR, while Resident hosts at Green Door Store with Brother Wallace, Ain’t, Saint Claire, BED, PISS, and Unsafe Space Garden. Over at Patterns, Clash curates a two floor takeover featuring artists including Clothesline from Hell, Really Good Time, BIG WETT, SILVERWINGKILLER, TAIGA, alongside Archie, Tukki, AVA Joe, Cowboyy, and more. Elsewhere, BBC Radio 1 presenter Jodie Bryant hosts a showcase at Revenge featuring Lukas Oscar, Au/Ra, Sexy Tadhg, and Girl Group, alongside additional takeovers at the venue from One Fiinx. On the seafront, Ticketmaster New Music and WME present beachside lineups including Lime Garden, Lottery Winners, and The Haunted Youth. Further highlights include a 20 year anniversary celebration from Raw Power at The Old Market, plus showcases from ROAM at Komedia Basement and ITB at The Prince Albert, bringing yet more emerging talent to the heart of the city.
FRIDAY 15 MAY STAGE HIGHLIGHTS
As the weekend approaches, Friday sees The Great Escape ramp up across Brighton with another wave of standout showcases. Returning news partner The Independent hosts a TGE Spotlight Show at Daltons, with Peaches supported by Bimini at the Brighton Dome Concert Hall. A major highlight for 2026 sees NME join The Great Escape as a new media partner, bringing its renowned tastemaker energy to The Old Market. Known for spotlighting the next wave of breakthrough artists, NME’s debut showcase features a lineup including Any Young Mechanic, Chanpan, Girl Scout, and Mandy, Indiana, marking an exciting new addition to the festival’s 2026 programme. Nearby, Notion takes over Quarters with Arima Ederra, Raghd, The Orchestra (For Now), Sassy 009, and PVA. Along the seafront, Billboard UK curates a packed beach lineup featuring artists including Adult DVD, Madra Salach, and Keo, joined by The Team showcasing emerging names such as My First Time. Across the city, DIY brings Spacestation, Marsey, and Men An Tol to Horatio’s, while Transgressive Records and Third Man Records host standout bills at Chalk and Dust. Elsewhere, Wordplay heads to Patterns, while Earth and Ones to Watch take over Revenge. From the Royal Albert Hall’s curated showcase at Brighthelm Centre to Pure at The Hope & Ruin and Free Trade at The Prince Albert, Friday delivers a city-wide snapshot of the most exciting new music around.
The Great Escape has also revealed details for The Late Escape, its official after-hours programme spotlighting cutting-edge electronic and club talent across Brighton. This year’s series is led by Hospital Records, marking 30 years of one of the most influential and trusted names in drum & bass, in a special collaboration with b:electronic. Taking centre stage on Friday, the takeover celebrates Hospital Records’ legacy with some of the top names in drum and bass such as Etherwood, Hoax, Solah, and Stay-C The night also features a Room 2 hosted by Brighton institution Tru Thoughts, further anchoring the event in the city’s rich musical heritage. Running from 11:30PM to 4AM, The Late Escape spans key Brighton venues across the weekend, with stand-alone tickets on sale now and The Great Escape wristband holders granted access subject to capacity.
SATURDAY 16 MAY STAGE HIGHLIGHTS
Bringing The Great Escape to a powerful close, Saturday delivers a final burst of bold new sounds across Brighton. On the seafront, Get In Her Ears hosts a high energy beach showcase featuring Jessie Mac, Steel., YAKKIE, The Baby Seals, and Problem Patterns, while Bella Union heads to Quarters with a lineup including Family Stereo, My Precious Bunny, LuxJury, Patche, and Congratulations. New for 2026, the festival introduces its New Press initiative, inviting emerging media platforms to host their own stages. Highlights include The New Age Magazine x Still Listening at Horatio’s, Crafting Room at Komedia, and Kinda Weird taking over Patterns, alongside further showcases from Negativeland at The Prince Albert and The Indie Scene at Water Bear. Sounds Australia will return to host all three stages at TGE’s beach site. Closing out the weekend in style, Dork returns to host the festival’s official closing party, promising a huge final send off with a special secret headliner still under wraps, bringing four days of new music discovery to an unforgettable finish.
Returning partners for 2026 include ACS, AWAL, Bandcamp, Downtown Music, PPL, PRS Foundation, PRS For Music, Qobuz, SESAC, The Orchard, Vevo, and Virgin Music, while Country and Trade partners include CIMA, M For Montreal, CNM, Zeitgeist, Music from Ireland, NOMEX, Creative Scotland, Showcase Cyrmu, Export Music Sweden, and Swiss Music Export.
FULL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE REVEALED
The full schedule for The Great Escape’s industry-leading conference is revealed today, featuring a host of newly announced sessions. Highlights include a keynote conversation between boundary-pushing artist Peaches and TRANS VOICES co-founder ILĀ, presented by The Independent, alongside new panels from PPL, PRS and AWAL. The programme also includes the return of speed networking sessions, offering delegates the opportunity to connect with global festival bookers, live agents, music supervisors and promoters. Taking place from Wednesday 15 – Friday 17 May, the conference will mark its 20th anniversary with its most ambitious and expansive edition to date.
Yardworks Festival returns to SWG3 on Saturday 2 May and Sunday 3 May 2026, marking its 10th anniversary with its most ambitious edition to date. Across two full days, the venue will once again be transformed into a working canvas, bringing together international muralists, local pioneers and emerging talent for a packed programme of live painting, installations, workshops, music and street culture.
Since launching in 2016, Yardworks has grown from a grassroots gathering into Scotland’s leading festival of graffiti and urban art, now firmly established on the European circuit. For its anniversary year, the programme expands beyond the walls, with a broader focus on participation, education and the role of street art within the city.
Across the weekend, visitors can watch large-scale murals unfold in real time, with artists working across SWG3’s indoor and outdoor spaces. This year’s line-up features more than 120 artists, spanning internationally recognised names alongside the next generation shaping the scene.
New additions to the 2026 edition include PEACHZZ, recently ranked among the world’s leading street artists, alongside .EPOD, whose work blends graffiti with fine art and futurist influences. Also joining the programme are ZURIK, known for bold WildStyle lettering, and WILLIAN, whose detailed character work draws on vintage illustration and themes of identity.
Representing Scotland are KMG & Pizzaboy, with further UK names including Katie Scott, Aroe, Tech Moon and Tizer. The international line-up is further strengthened by ESKAE and HOACS from the USA, alongside Nexus and Strapper from Australia, reflecting the depth and global reach of the scene. Beyond the murals, Yardworks continues to expand its interactive offer, with an enhanced programme of drop-in activities, workshops and participatory installations across the weekend.
The Family Zone will run across both days from the SWG3 Warehouse, included within the ticket price, offering a wide range of hands-on activities. These include Spray Can Upcycling, transforming empty festival cans into colourful ornaments, and T-shirt Design, where visitors can rework previous Yardworks garments into new pieces using fabric pens, patches and heat press vinyl. Building Blocks, supported by Quickblocks, invites children to construct large-scale structures, while returning favourites such as The Cube and Posca Walls encourage collaborative, open-access creativity for all ages.
The Doodle-a-thon also returns, with Yardworks once again aiming to create the longest collaborative doodle at a public event, building on last year’s unofficial record attempt.
A new and expanded workshops programme will run across the weekend. For younger visitors, 30-minute spray painting sessions offer the chance to design and create a canvas piece to take home (£20). Adult workshops introduce more specialist techniques, including Design Your Deck, where participants create a bespoke artwork on a skateboard deck (£45), alongside sessions in traditional signwriting and Japanese calligraphy.
New for 2026, Yardworks introduces a series of additional events and satellite activity. Beyond SWG3, the Kingston Bridge Satellite Site will see 16 pillars transformed as part of the ongoing Yardworks GRID placemaking programme, while the Clyde Walkway will host a refreshed programme of live painting across its established legal wall.
An expanded talks and industry programme will run across the weekend, including a book launch, film screening and roundtable discussions exploring the role of graffiti and street art in culture, identity and regeneration. Alongside the art, street food traders and SWG3 bars will run throughout the weekend, with indoor and outdoor seating across the site. The event remains fully accessible and family-friendly, with activities designed to be explored at your own pace.
As always, there will be plenty on offer for you to eat throughout the weekend. Some of the city’s best street vendors, including Wow Burger, Streat Scullery, The Wee Taqueria and more will head down to serve up fried chicken, bao buns, tacos, pizza, loaded fries and award-winning churros from Loop and Scoop, as well as ice cream from Tony’s Ice Cream Van.
SWG3’s bars will be stocked with all your favourite drinks, making it the perfect event for a get-together with friends and family, with plenty of outdoor seating areas that are ideal for sitting down and taking in all the action.
Artist Line-Up (2026) 120 artists including collectives will take part in this year’s festival:
5STAR 7TH PENCIL .AGES .EPOD AGNES AKME ALKO ANSLEY RANDALL ANTONE AROE ASER B-SIDE BATZ BIRDIE BMORE SKETCHY BONZAI BOOTY CHRISTIAN KERR CLAIRE KOSTRIC CONZO DAVID ALVES ED HICKS EKTO ELNO EMSKY ESKAE EVADE FRODRIK FUNKY GENT GILLIAN LAW HANS HOACS IKUL INUK IZMO JAPHER KATIE FORBES KATIE SCOTT KITSA KMG YEAH KONE LIGHTBODY LOURS MAGS MARIANNA DE SANTOS MIKHAELA MARTIN MOLD MOLLY HANKINSON MR OREO NEXUS NITRAM JOKE NIZMO ODDHOUSE OUTR PEACHZZ PELIKAN BABA PHYSIKS PIZZA BOY PLED POSEA POUT PROTEST & SUFFERAGETTES PSA RABB RASK RBF CREW RECKLESS REVES ROLEK SECK SHAUNA BLANCHFIELD SHONA HARDIE SIDOK SLIDERBANDITS SMT CREW SNUB SODA SOUPY SPRITE STOCKE STRAPER TAP END TEF TECH MOON THE LAST ONE THEME THIS ONE TIWS TOCS TOOTS TIZER TRENCH USTO VERNIS TORINO VISUALANTI VUES WEE THISTLES WILLIAN WOM COLLECTIVE YARD WARRIORZ ZURIK
Tickets for Yardworks Festival 2026 are on sale now here.
The finished artwork will be available for public viewing from 10am-4pm, Monday to Thursday.
To book a tour or workshop for a school or community group, email: [email protected]
Are you ready for the battle to end all battles (dinosaurs optional)?! Presented by Westons Stowford Press, the METAL 2 THE MASSES grand finals start in Cyprus on April 19th and roll through 30 locations across England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Norway, as well as Cyprus!
Every winner will perform a 30 minute slot on the Stowford Press New Blood Stage! Round up your mates and get along to your local night – help shape the line-up of the festival and support grassroots venues and bands.
Dates and locations shake down as follows:
April 19th – Cyprus – Savino Live, Larnaca May 8th – Belfast – Voodoo May 23rd – Leeds – The Belgrave May 23rd – Scotland – La Belle Angele, Edinburgh May 23rd – Sheffield – Corporation May 29th – South Coast – Bear Cave, Bournemouth May 30th – Northants – The Black Prince, Northampton June 6th – Manchester – Rebellion June 6th – East Anglia – Brickmakers, Norwich June 6th – Birmingham – The Flapper June 13th – Norway – The Tribute, Sandnes June 20th – North Wales – XS @ Penny Black, Wrexham June 20th – South Wales – Corn Exchange, Newport June 20th – Hitchin – Club 85 June 20th – Somerset – Cobblestones, Bridgwater June 20th – Newcastle – Trillians June 20th – Kent – Leo’s Red Lion, Gravesend June 26th – Channel Islands – The Pit @ St James, Guernsey June 26th – Cheltenham – Frog and Fiddle June 27th – Nottingham – Saltbox June 27th – Burnley – Sanctuary June 27th – Coventry – The Arches July 4th – Merseyside – Box Park & Arc:Hive, Liverpool July 4th – London – The Dome July 4th – Brighton – Daltons July 4th – Devon & Cornwall – Livewire, Saltash July 5th – Nuneaton – The Queens Hall July 11th – Oxford – The Jericho Tavern July 11th – Stoke – The Underground July 12th – Bristol – The Exchange
No other festival does more to support grassroots metal and local venues across the UK and beyond. That commitment was recognised at the 2024 Heavy Music Awards, where BLOODSTOCK and the Metal 2 The Masses initiative were honoured with the prestigious “H Award” for exceptional contribution to the underground scene.
You can get a flavour of what Metal 2 The Masses is all about here.
In exciting news for all BLOODSTOCK’s M2TM winners this year, fellow sponsors ESP and Engl Amps are offering up 3 incredible prizes, to be chosen from amongst the M2TM victors performing at the festival and presented on Sunday evening. The prizes include a new-for-2026, EC400 Quilted Maple guitar in See Through Black, a Phoenix 204DX bass in Redburst, and a Ravager IR amp head with a matching 1×12 Cab!
Got your tickets? Without further ado, let’s reveal a massive 24 more bands joining the heavy metal party this August! While you’re waiting for those M2TM finals to get underway and shape the majority of the New Blood stage line-up, BLOODSTOCK HQ has chosen a few other favourites from hundreds of cross-genre submissions to complete the bill. Stop by and discover your new favourite band! On Friday, you’ll be able to see death/doom devotees VOID BELOW, alt prog rock Londoners TEMPLES ON MARS, boisterous hardcore-metal alchemists NEGATIVE FRAME, and CONCRETE AGE, with their distinctive mix of ancient world music with extreme metal.
Joining them on Saturday, are old school riff merchants THRASHERWOLF, N.Irish melo-death purveyors IMPERIAL DEMONIC, young aggressors CHAINED SAINT, and dark prog metal fiends IMBRIUM (featuring former members of Dreamcatcher, Memoreve and The Defiled). Not to be outdone, Sunday invites OVERPOWER, who forge together riffs of early influences like Metallica and Slayer, with the savagery of UKHC.
BLOODSTOCK is also excited to reveal the full line-up for the new and improved EMP stage! Now situated in a new location in the main arena for less noise bleed, with a bigger stage and a bar, it’ll play host to more than a dozen up ‘n’ coming attention getters, so if you like to discover hot new music first, make sure you check out some bands here as well over the festival!
Rounding things off on Sunday are hardcore fans STITCHED, electro alt rockers WREX, modern metal squad FOLLOWING THE SIGNS, power trio THE CARTOON CARTEL, and dark alt crew AETHORIA. If these bands are new to you, you have 4 months to get to know them!
To help you pass the time, BLOODSTOCK has also set up eleven special club nights around the U.K. where you can win BLOODSTOCK tickets to the day of your choice! For a riotous night out, put on your glad rags and run-don’t-walk to the following:
Sat 25th April – Camberley, Agincourt – Old Skool Rock and Metal NightSat 25th April – York, Bluebox – DeadboltSat 25th April – Manchester, Rebellion – Deadbolt Sat 9th May – Bristol, Basement 45 – Apocalypse Fri 5th June – Guildford, All Bar One – Schism Sat 6th June – Brighton, Above – Apocalypse Sat 6th June – Birmingham, RedCorc Bar – Eddie’s Rock Club Sat 6th June – Nottingham, Rock City – Alpha Omega Sat 11th July – Isle of Wight, Strings – Apocalypse Sat 25th July – Southampton, Sobar – Apocalypse Fri 31st July – London, Elektrowerkz – Voodoo
Stay tuned for more BLOODSTOCK news very soon.
BLOODSTOCK’s 25th anniversary is going to be truly unforgettable. BLOODSTOCK 2026 is delighted to present RJD headliners LAMB OF GOD, SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL, JUDAS PRIEST, and SAXON. Sophie Lancaster stage headliners will be CRYPTOPSY (None So Vile 30-year anniversary set), WEDNESDAY 13, LEPROUS, and CARPENTER BRUT. You’ll also be able to see BODY COUNT, SEPULTURA, MUNICIPAL WASTE, DEATH ANGEL, TESTAMENT, NORTHLANE, BLEED FROM WITHIN, VENDED, ORBIT CULTURE, THE SCRATCH, IMPERIAL AGE, LIFE OF AGONY, OF MICE & MEN, BIOHAZARD, 200 STAB WOUNDS, THE HELL, BLACK SPIDERS, SHINING, NEVERMORE, EVIL SCARECROW, HEAVYSAURUS, SKYND, PARTY CANNON, BATTLESNAKE, INHUMAN NATURE, KITTIE, CASTLE RAT, GRAPHIC NATURE, BOOTYARD BANDITS, EXCREMENTORY GRINDFUCKERS, HIDDEN INTENT, SELLSWORD, NECKBREAKKER, SEETHING AKIRA, HAMMER, STAMPIN GROUND, URNE, CELESTIAL SANCTUARY, THROWN INTO EXILE, VIKING SKULL, BOUND IN FEAR, IMPERIUM, FROGLORD, MUSHROOMHEAD, DREAM STATE, TRIVAX, MANTIS DEFEATS JAGUAR, BLOOD COUNTESS, GURT, OUTERGODS, FLAYED DISCIPLE, NOISEPICKER, ACID THRONE, and ALUNAH. And there’s still more bands to be announced.
All weekend tickets (including Kyrr) are now sold out, but you can still snap up day tickets for £99 (+fees) to be part of the fun! Not been to the festival before? A day ticket is a perfect taster to see what you think! Child tickets are also available and under 4’s attend for free. Head over to the ticket store to see all options and if you’re coming by car, pre-book to save on car parking!
For the most up to date festival information, visit the official website atbloodstock.uk.com. BLOODSTOCK 2026 will take place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 6th – 9th August, 2026.
Thursday 9 April 2026: Download Festival and Kerrang! Are set to make Brighton rock once again at The Great Escape 2026 next month, hosting a specially curated stage from Wednesday 13 to Friday 15 May. Packed with the wild and diverse performances fans have come to expect from the world’s greatest rock and metal festival, the stage will showcase TGE acts who are tipped for a bright future at Donington Park ahead of this summer’s DLXXIII.
Resident noisemakers set to appear throughout the week include Native James, Comastatic, Oversize, Frozemode, Eurotripp, Ally Nicholas, Heave Blood & Die, Mudrat and more between 6-10pm across three days of programming, which will bring Download face to face with Brighton fans at the festival for new music.
Kerrang! Presents The Download Stage at TGE sees the festival continuing to nurture new and alternative talent in rock music. Having been a pilgrimage for young rock and metal fans – many of whom went on to start bands and take the stage themselves – Download is, in its 23rd year, supporting the next generation of headliners via The Great Escape’s unrivalled network of support for independent artists and grassroots venues.
Synonymous with new music discovery and acting as a springboard for rising artists, The Great Escape is the festival for new music. Playing host to over 450 up-and-coming artists and hotly tipped talent across 35+ walkable venues, alongside the music industry-led TGE conference, the festival will kick off the 2026 season from 13–16 May in Brighton, England.
DLXXIII will see Limp Bizkit, Guns N’ Roses and Linkin Park headline, joined by the likes of Halestorm, Architects, A Day To Remember, Cypress Hill, Trivium, Bad Omens,Electric Callboy, BABYMETAL, Ice Nine Kills, Pendulum, The Pretty Reckless, Black Veil Brides, Behemoth, Daughtry, Mastodon, The All-American Rejects, Feeder, Scooter, and many more legends from the worlds of rock, metal, and all that’s in between across five days and various stages. Final remaining Download 2026 tickets on sale now: www.downloadfestival.co.uk.
For 45 years Kerrang! has been at the forefront of alternative music, first with the biggest-selling weekly rock magazine, and now with a global music platform that reaches millions of people a month. Rock, metal, hardcore, punk, emo, grunge, thrash, and everything in between, Kerrang! has been there for all of it, and continues to proudly fly the flag for the best new artists on the planet.
To mark the 10th anniversary of the passing of one of the greatest artists who ever lived, the spirit of David B will return to the Scottish shores he loved so deeply for one weekend only. On 7 and 8 November 2026, Cameron House on the banks of Loch Lomond will host Bowie: Live on the Loch, a two-day charity celebration in aid of Save the Children. Featuring an extraordinary reunion of Bowie’s original band members across two evenings of live performance, rare never-before-seen film footage, an extensive photography exhibition and a world-class dining experience, culminating in a spectacular charity guitar auction and a globally live streamed concert.
The weekend will serve as a powerful continuation of Bowie’s philanthropic legacy and his profound connection to Scotland. He had many seminal moments in the country: from the birth of his iconic Ziggy Stardust persona, to his legendary 1997 performance at the Barrowlands in Glasgow. The event will coincide with the 60th anniversary of Bowie’s first show in Scotland on 3rd April 1965 at the Palais in Dundee as David Bowie & The Buzz, supporting Johnny Kidd & The Pirates.
A Weekend Immersed in the World of Bowie
The celebration begins on Saturday 7 November with an exclusive black-tie gala dinner set within Cameron House, prepared by Michelin-starred chef Graeme Cheevers of Glasgow’s renowned Unalome. The centrepiece of the evening will be Regent Sounds Presents: Earl Slick’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Guitar Auction. Hosted by Bowie’s longest-serving guitarist and the legendary London guitar shop – the auction will feature a once-in-a-lifetime collection of priceless, signed, collector-grade guitars. Confirmed contributors already include rock legends Peter Frampton and Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses), with further names to be announced.
On Sunday, 8 November, a once-in-a-lifetime live show will see Earl Slick joined on stage by past members of David Bowie’s band, including Mike Garson, Mark Plati, Sterling Campbell and Gail Ann Dorsey, alongside special guest performers. Woven throughout the weekend’s music and storytelling will be a screening of rare, never-before-seen film footage of Bowie and a curated photography exhibition showcasing rare and iconic imagery hosted within Cameron House’s cinema and event spaces.
Anchoring Sunday’s live performance will be a house band comprising legends who helped define David Bowie’s sound across five decades, reuniting the band that played Bowie’s historic Glastonbury 2000 headline set. Performers include Bowie’s longest-serving bandmate, pianist Mike Garson – whose avant-garde genius shaped everything from Aladdin Sane to the triumphant 2003/2004 A Reality Tour – and guitar force Earl Slick, the razor-sharp sonic architect behind Young Americans, Station to Station and the acclaimed 2013 comeback album The Next Day. They are joined by powerhouse bassist and vocalist Gail Ann Dorsey, immortalised by her spine-tingling “Under Pressure” duet at Glastonbury; musical director and multi-instrumentalist Mark Plati, the pivotal co-producer behind Earthling and the legendary Toy sessions; and dynamic drummer Sterling Campbell, the rhythmic engine room for modern masterpieces like Heathen and Bowie’s final monumental global tours.
Bowie: Live on the Loch echoes the historic impact of his 50th birthday concert at Madison Square Garden – also held in aid of Save the Children – bringing that enduring legacy to one of the world’s most breathtaking settings. Cameron House, a celebrated five-star luxury resort set within the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, serves as the perfect home for an event of this scale and ambition. Funds for Save the Children will be raised through ticket sales, the charity auction, exclusive event merchandise, live pledge moments and the global livestream. The money raised will help children all around the world, including the UK, providing children with access to vital education, healthcare and protection.
Reflecting on the unique format and historical tie-in, Earl Slick says: “David had a lot of motivation to help out. It wasn’t a big bragging thing – it was just done. That’s what I loved about it. He did it under the radar. We all live in increasingly uncertain and turbulent times around the world. More kids need more help. So it’s time to do it and I cannot think of anything that David would rather lend his support to.“
George Graham, Executive Director of Global Impact at Save the Children, says: “With so much instability and uncertainty around the globe, it is an exceptionally challenging and dangerous time to be a child in so many corners of the world. At Save the Children, our only goal is to support children so they can have a safe, happy and healthy childhood. We are deeply grateful to everyone who is honouring David Bowie by backing this star-studded weekend, which will help bring a better future for children here in the UK and around the world.”
Will Oakley, Managing Director at Cameron House Resort says: “It is a privilege for Cameron House to host such a landmark cultural event. David Bowie’s impact on the global music landscape remains unparalleled, and welcoming his original band members to the banks of Loch Lomond is a special prospect for the resort. We look forward to providing a world-class setting for this historic reunion, and we are proud to support Save the Children in continuing Bowie’s philanthropic legacy.”
Bowie himself was a supporter of Save The Children, famously giving the proceeds of his 50th birthday celebration at Madison Square Garden in 1997 to the charity. An all-star cast for the show included Frank Black, The Foo Fighters, Sonic Youth, Robert Smith, Lou Reed and Billy Corgan.
Who: Earl Slick, Mike Garson, Mark Plati, Gail Ann Dorsey, Peter Frampton, Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses), Michelin-starred chef Graeme Cheevers, and further artists TBA.
What: Bowie: Live on the Loch – a David Bowie 10th Anniversary celebration weekend in aid of Save the Children UK (Registered charity no. 213890). Features a black-tie gala, Michelin-star dining, multimedia exhibitions, unseen film, live performance, global livestream and Earl Slick’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Guitar Auction.
When: Saturday 7 November & Sunday 8 November 2026
Where: Cameron House, Loch Lomond, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, G83 8QZ (Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park).
